About The Bloggers

Rikyrah
Editor

A quick bio from Rikyrah herself:

I'm Rikyrah. Thirtysomething from the midwest (Chicago). I graduated with a degree in Political Science, & later went back to school to get an MBA. I spent five years working in inner city schools - on the business end. Got out of it because it deflated my spirit. I now work in finance. I enjoy reading, movies, television, nearly all sports and politics. Got away from politics because of the 2000 and 2004 elections, but was drawn back for the 2006 elections, and the bug is definitely back for 2008. I vote for more Democrats than Republicans, but don't consider myself devoted to a party. Fiscally, I'm more left, but on social issues, I think we've lost our way as a country, and definitely as a community. I spend my time trying to be as positive a member of ' The Village' as I can be.

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The Angry Independent
Founder/Editor-in-Chief

30 something from the Midwest & founder of this here blog. I recently earned a Master of Arts Degree in Management & Leadership studies (w/ an Organizational Security focus) from Webster University. Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Administration. I'm currently a grad student at Washington University, in the International Affairs program.

I was born into a military family (Army), and both parents, a brother, and several uncles have served in the U.S. military in wartime. Each one of my fathers 4 children was born in a different Country. I moved around quite a bit growing up. I have never really had the sense of "home", or a home city, although St. Louis is my hometown.

I consider myself an Independent, part of a growing number of Americans with no representation in Washington D.C.
Political observer, and Music lover (all sorts, although not a fan of Hip Hop). I have been a serious follower and student of Politics for at least the past 15 years. Love writing and staying informed about current events. Areas of interest include Homeland Security, World affairs, political reform, campaign financing, the need for more major political Parties (a viable 3rd and 4th Party), current events, Foreign policy, and African American issues. I'm the all around political and news junkie. Another topic will be my love for various kinds of music, especially Jazz, Rock, and old Soul music. Music is one thing that I can’t do without. I hate to describe my politics in a slogan, other than to say I am an independent thinker.... I just hate the categories. However, a lot of people wonder how I would label myself in terms of my overall position on politics. I recently came up with the following as the best way to describe where I am on the political scale. I would say that I am "an Independent Progressive with a few Conservative tendencies".

I started this blog to give myself a canvass to write on & share information. But also because I got fed up with the often distorted State-Run Fox News view of the world. When you flip through your channels (radio or TV) you get the same thing shoved down your throat, often in a 24 hour news cycle. It’s not much about news or analysis…it’s more a form of entertainment, created for ratings. Too many expert pundits who are not really experts at anything other than being pundits. They are often paid by the networks to say the things that they say. There HAS TO BE another viewpoint that someone could put forward. The net is one of the few places where you can get a wide range of genuine viewpoints, because it’s a medium that has not yet been thoroughly corrupted by corporate greed.

Mirror On America is not a "Black Blog", and was never intended to be. Although it is often mislabeled as such by those who want to place the site into a certain category or box. Instead of being a "Black Blog", Mirror On America is a blog of diverse interests, that covers some of the issues important to Black Americans. Covering a variety of topics, having a diverse group of bloggers, having a diverse readership and a diversity of viewpoints was what I always invisioned for this blog. Being labeled a "Black Blog" or a "Black Blogger" would not allow me to have the kind of wide ranging blog that I wanted when I started. The "Black Blog" label is like the kiss of death in the context of the wider blogosphere (at least in my view); because with that label, people will make assumptions about you from the outset. As soon as you are hit with the label, a trap door opens and you fall right into "the box". My interests and the subject matter covered here are more varied than what "a black blog" would imply. It's a label that is too confining to describe me or the blog.

I also started this as an experiment…. I don’t know how long I will stick with it. I think I will leave it when it begins to feel more like work rather than an outlet… OR if my personal situation changes.

Where Do I Stand on the Issues? Find Out Here.

Comments & Suggestions are welcomed. Readers are also encouraged to help the site by sharing my individual story links with other blogs or by sending them to friends. If you are a blogger, I encourage you to link the blog entries if you find something of interest.


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Dr. Marvin King (King Politics)


Dr. Marvin King is an assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He is also a blogger and sports analyst. Dr. King runs the blog "King Politics". He also blogs for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger newspaper.








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Andy (Political Realm)

Bio:

Andy is the founder of Political Realm, seeking an outlet for his political interest and opinion. An educator by trade, he was born and raised in Iowa, but currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to an interest in politics, Andy enjoys The Office, is a dedicated fan of the Oakland A's and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and his favorite author is the late Kurt Vonnegut. His political views are slightly left of center, but not owned by any party ideology.

The Political Realm launched on February 2007, provides analysis of the important headlines, original political commentary, and insight into races across the country. Our work has been featured on Reuters, USA Today, CNN, Fox News, and several other political news and opinion sites.

We do not claim to be nonpartisan, but we do hope that our coverage is fair, astute, and interesting. Our four authors come from across the spectrum, bringing political balance and experienced judgment.

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Liberal Arts Dude

(a proud independent)

Bio in his own words:

I am a thirtysomething Filipino-American man who lives in Washington DC . I am an immigrant and a naturalized US citizen. I graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Sociology and a minor in English in 1994. I recently completed a Masters degree in Communications from American University in 2007. I currently work as an Online Communications Specialist for a DC area educational organization.

My online persona references the fact that I was a Liberal Arts major in college, and went through the trials and tribulations in the job market of finding gainful employment. I worked as an intern, coffee shop barista, waiter, housepainter, temp and dishwasher for almost four years before I was able to get my first gig in publishing in 1998. And it’s been (happily) a satisfying uphill climb professionally ever since.

Politically my main concerns are social and economic class—I see politics and economics primarily through a class-based lens. I am also a proponent of structural political reform to level the playing field so that third parties and Independents can have a fighting chance to organize, get into ballots, and get elected. I believe that ordinary people are very far away from the centers of power and influence in the USA . Much of the problems ordinary folks face will get solved if that power imbalance were to shift in favor of ordinary people rather than the elite.

My Blogger Bio

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Dr. Errington Thompson

Dr. Errington Thompson is a surgeon, scholar, sports fan, author, blogger, podcaster, & part-time political activist. One of the most prophetic & incisive voices in the blogosphere, he is active in a number of community projects and initiatives. Through medicine, he strives to improve the physical health of all he treats. He is the author of the book, A Letter To America. Through the book he hopes to share his thoughts and reflections on the current political landscape.

Dr. Thompson, is also an associate director of trauma/surgical critical care in Asheville, North Carolina. His profession allows him to see the real-life, physical affects of government policy, which gives him a unique perspective on current issues. He attended Emory University and Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, where he was raised. He received further training at hospitals in Shreveport, La., and St. Louis. Although he has written more than 20 professional articles and book chapters, A Letter to America is his first non-medical book.

Dr. Thompson has his own blog entitled, "Where's The Outrage".

You can also hear him on his podcast- The Errington Thompson Show.

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