Amnesty International defines human rights as fundamental freedoms and protections inherent to every person, based on dignity, equality, and respect, regardless of background. These rights, outlined in documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), are universal, inalienable, and indivisible, including civil/political rights (life, expression, fair trial) and economic/social/cultural rights (health, education, housing, work).
Key Characteristics:
Universal: Apply to everyone, everywhere.
Inalienable: Cannot be taken away.
Indivisible & Interdependent: All rights are equally important and interconnected; taking one away affects others.
Core Examples (from the UDHR):
Right to Life, Liberty, & Security: Freedom from slavery, torture, and arbitrary arrest.
Equality & Non-Discrimination: Equality before the law, regardless of race, sex, religion, etc..
Fair Trial & Justice: Right to a fair hearing and recourse for rights violations.
Freedom of Expression & Belief: Holding opinions, freedom of thought, religion, and peaceful assembly.
Economic & Social Rights: Right to education, health, adequate housing, food, and work.
Right to Asylum: Freedom to seek refuge from persecution.
In essence, human rights ensure fair treatment and the ability to make choices about one’s life, forming the basis for a just and dignified existence for all people, protected by international law.
Thanks to #JuliaWright for posting this to the #MumiaAbuJamal listserv!
i want back my rocking chairs,
solipsist sunsets,
& coastal jungle sounds that are tercets from cicadas and pentameter from the hairy legs of cockroaches.
i’ve donated bibles to thrift stores
(mashed them in plastic trash bags with an acidic himalayan salt lamp—
the post-baptism bibles, the ones plucked from street corners from the meaty hands of zealots, the dumbed-down, easy-to-read, parasitic kind):
remember more the slick rubber smell of high gloss biology textbook pictures; they burned the hairs inside my nostrils,
& salt & ink that rubbed off on my palms.
under clippings of the moon at two forty five AM I study&repeat
ribosome
endoplasmic—
lactic acid
stamen
at the IHOP on the corner of powers and stetson hills—
i repeated & scribbled until it picked its way & stagnated somewhere i can’t point to anymore, maybe my gut—
maybe there in-between my pancreas & large intestine is the piddly brook of my soul.
it’s the ruler by which i reduce all things now; hard-edged & splintering from knowledge that used to sit, a cloth against fevered forehead.
can i let them both be? this fickle faith and this college science that heckles from the back of the classroom
now i can’t believe—
that the bible and qur’an and bhagavad gita are sliding long hairs behind my ear like mom used to & exhaling from their mouths “make room for wonder”—
all my understanding dribbles down the chin onto the chest & is summarized as:
Since there is no #DoctorWhoChristmasSpecial….Wrote this in this #YouTube video’s Comments section in November and scheduled it here for today (X-Mas)
Right on time!!! • I watched #MaryPoppins over the (American) Thanksgiving, and I was like, “Ahh….” I’m stuck on No. 9. The Doctor is supposed to be a hero scientist who acts like Poppins, not the opposite. I love mythology, but #DoctorWho is not a purely mythological show–yes, “full-time fantasy mode.” I mean, #Lux (one of my favorites!) had a #MaryPoppins segment! That’s what I recognized! • I also agree with No. 10. #NcutiGatwa didn’t spend his entire life wanting to be The Doctor. A young and ambitious man, it’s clear he would have been OK if he had gone with his other request to his agent, #WillyWonka. His becoming a supporting character in his own show was not a problem to me as long as the writing was excellent (#73Yards). • The re/bi-generation issue is not a big one for me. Agreed that the Rani thing only made sense because it gave her someone with whom to chat. Yeah, lack of a plan…bad mysteries (ex: snow? Why?) • #RubySunday and #BelindaChandra had no time to develop. Ruby’s family was better developed. • #Disney didn’t get it and just wanted it to work on its own as a legacy program. • Fourteenth should have started with #Boom. Like many a #DisneyWho episode, it felt like a bad and discarded #SarahJaneAdventures idea. Once you do episodes like #VincentandtheDoctor and #HellBent / #HeavenSent, you can’t go back and emphasize the goofy parts of say, #TheEndofTheWorld. • My verdict: too much freedom and confidence are bad for an artist, particularly one wanting to spend a huge budget and get a new audience while trying to serve an old one. But art does require risk, and they were indeed taken. In this case, as was this past season of #StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds, it was too much of, in the words of the Purple One, the immortal #Prince: “Let’s go crazy/Let’s get nuts…”
#DoctorWho #WhoCulture #EllieLittlechild
P.S. DECEMBER 23rd TWEET:
Todd Steven Burroughs @ToddStevenBurr1
TheWarBetweenTheLandAndTheSea is no #DoctorWhoSeason4 or #DoctorWhoSeason9, but it has made the often-painful excesses of #DisneyWho go down much smoother. Totally worth it! #DoctorWho #WhoCulture
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AI Analysis:
The shift from “NuWho” (2005–2022) to “Disney Who” (2023–present, under RTD2) represents a pivot toward higher-budget fantasy, emotional intensity, and international audience appeal. While both eras under Russell T Davies share similar DNA—focusing on modern-day companions and high-stakes finales—the Disney era introduces a more “fairy tale” tone, increased focus on emotional performance, and a glossy aesthetic.
Elements of a “Nu Who” Story (2005–2022)
Sci-Fi/Horror Focus: Often emphasizes “harder” science fiction elements or psychological horror (“Midnight”), with a grittier, more “scrappy” feel.
The Time War Context: Early NuWho was heavily defined by the emotional weight of being the last of the Time Lords.
Companion-Driven Emotion: Focused on the domestic life and personal growth of companions (Rose, Donna, Amy, Clara) and their “modern 21st-century girl/boy” perspective.
“Runaround” Pacing: Fast-paced, often 45-minute episodes that “swing for the fences,” cramming maximum ideas into a single installment.
Humanity-Focused Adventures: Many stories take place on modern-day Earth or involve humanity’s future, frequently featuring Davies’ signature mix of humor and kitchen-sink drama.
The “Know-It-All” Doctor: The Doctor is often immediately aware of threats, treating them with a mix of awe and fear.
Elements of a “Disney Who” Story (2023–Present)
Fantasy and Magic Over Sci-Fi: The second RTD era has shifted from pure science fiction to embrace “fantasy” and “superstition,” including characters like the Toymaker or goblins.
Glossy, High-Budget Aesthetics: Stories are visually enhanced by increased production budgets, allowing for cinematic VFX and “magical” realism (e.g., Wild Blue Yonder).
Emotional & Physical Display: The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) often exhibits more overt emotions, with scenes focused on crying, hugging, and high-intensity dramatic acting.
“Musical” or Theatrical Elements: Inclusion of non-traditional elements like musical numbers (“The Devil’s Chord”) and a more theatrical tone.
Mystery Box Storytelling: A very deliberate, season-long mystery (e.g., Ruby Sunday’s origins) designed to keep viewers engaged across streaming platforms.
“Soft Reboot” Approach: Designed to be accessible to a global audience, treating the new era as a fresh starting point (“The Church on Ruby Road”).
Thematic Focus on Love and Betrayal: While still featuring classic monsters, stories often center on the emotional, personal, and thematic, rather than just the physical threat.
The Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) is deeply saddened by the passing of longtime journalist James L. Wright Jr., a three-decade writer for Black newspapers such as The AFRO-American and The Washington Informer as well as mainstream newspapers such as The Washington Post until his death at the age of 62.
Wright died of natural causes in his Seat Pleasant home, according to The Informer, the newspaper in which he was most associated.
The proud Texan became a pillar in the Washington, D.C. community. Wright covered business, politics and pivotal moments that shaped our city. DC Mayor Muriel Bower said, “I knew him from my earliest days in government as a strong, fair, and honest writer who cared deeply about his city. Most of all, he loved Washingtonians and telling the stories of the least, the lost, and the left out. His connection to his readers was unparalleled.”
Many of DC’s political leaders on social media remember the dignity Wright put into his work, and the impactful stories he told. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton wrote on Facebook, “James interviewed me many times over the years as he covered the District with uncommon depth, fairness, and genuine respect for his fellow DC residents.” Councilmember Janeese Lewis George wrote on X, “He was an extraordinary journalist who truly cared about centering DC history and local stories.” Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie wrote, “James L. Wright Jr.’s voice was a trusted mirror and a steady bridge across the city. His journalism meant a great deal to our city and its residents, informing daily life, building trust, and sharing the stories that uplifted the very best of our city.”
Wright’s impactful work reached global audiences as he sat down with foreign leaders, including Moammar Gaddafi of Libya and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. His work expanded across the United States, and all over the world including Afghanistan, Ghana, South Africa, Libya, Zimbabwe, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
At WABJ’s 2025 Special Honors & Scholarship Gala, WABJ President Phil Lewis shouted out Wright for his efforts in lending a helping hand with the gala. Phil Lewis said, “James Wright was a fierce advocate for journalists. He loved this city and his work. He will be deeply missed.”
Wright joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Eta Gamma Chapter at Prairie View A&M University in 1984. He became a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha, and served through the Mu Lambda Chapter. He formerly served as vice president of the Seat Pleasant City Council, and was the church historian at Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.
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Founded in 1975, the Washington Association of Black Journalists is an organization for African-American journalists, journalism professors, public relations professionals and student journalists in the Washington, D.C., metro area. WABJ provides members with ongoing professional education opportunities and advocates for greater diversification of the profession.
Drums in the Global Village 