NY Jets Running Back, Thomas Jones, Launches Record Label

1. August 6, 2008

I think and feel that I must congratulate the NYJ star Mr. Thomas Jones for his courage and exciting future contribution to the music industry here in the U.S. Hopefully, God willing he maintains his consistency there and keeps up his promotion of the game of football as played within the U.S. of A and later sets a good example for future musicians and assorted people involved in the music business.

And, for teachers, and guidance counselors within different regions of the USA, and especially within a black community and future educational endeavor situations, I laud your efforts and hope to read more about the differing contributions within the various fields of academics and professionalism from a U.S. of A and a "globally aware" standpoint.

Also, I must add that I find the seperation of black interests within AOL (like the Chinese-American?) somewhat confusing. As an Asian-American, I have lots of free opinions to offer (wanted or not-but please feel free to correct me online if you want to) and a little to say about "differing" happenings throughout today's modern U.S. of A communities and hope that not too much gets in the way of honest and real communication between people from different places and personal backgrounds!

John E. at 9:48PM on Aug 4th 2008

2. Look. There is mainstream press and media which hardly ever would cover a story such as this and let the positive perspectives of a minority group get light. This allows a group of people to have a forum that relates to issues in their culture and community.

In a society that has for so many years repressed and many times murdered our ability to promote our concerns it is a blessing that AOL gives us this forum to communicate. We need it and always will because even though this is America, things in the media and general society are still NOT fair and balanced in the coverage of the African American culture.

In the mainstream you will always see more negativity than positivity because the proprietors are only concerned with ratings and the power they have to shape opinions even if those opinions are slanted. i.e. Fox News -Bill O'reily and Sean Hannity
(Hannity's America in NOT my America)

Here we are not as concerned with what's going on with Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton, but we still get regular news from around the country about what's going on in America or even on Wall Street. You should start a campaign to have Asian-Voices if you think you would like to know more about what's going on in the Asian-American community. You can always go to any site on line to find out about mainstream America which will likey not be carriying a lot of positive news about the Asian or African American community.

But I wouldn't go on that site and query as to why you would need a section dedicated to your cutlural issues because it obvious that everyone needs a place to go that represents them and let's them speak freely. It just so happens that mainstream media IS the White Voices of America.

***This blog is really supposed to be about Thomas Jones' efforts to start an urban/pop record label which I absolutely applaud. It will not be easy for him because the market for Hip Hop is in flux right now, but pop is still hot and if the talent is solid and he builds a good network, an independent label can have great success with less sales than a major label.

One solid act and he can achieve great things in the industry and get off to a good start, but only time will be the judge. As the VP of A&R for N-fluence Records, I welcome them into the fold and hope that he is successful in bringing more diversity into the industry.

Marcus LeGall III at 3:33PM on Aug 5th 2008

3. I AM VERY HAPPY FOR MR. JONES AND HOPE THAT HE HAVE GREAT SUCCESS. BUT I MUST BE VERY BLUNT ABOUT THIS THAT I AM TIRED OF SEEING THE RICH BLACK ATHLETE AND MOVIE STARS PUTTING MONEY INTO SUCH TRIVIA ENDEVORS. FOR EXAMPLE THE BEST THEY CAN DO IS, RESTURANTS T-SHIRT CO, BASKETBALL TEAMS, CLUBS ECT.. IF EVERY RICH BLACK MOVIE STAR AND BLACK ATHLETE POOL THERE EXCESS MONEY THEY COULD BUY CHRYSLER AND PUT OUR YOUNG BLACK COLLEGE KIDS A JOB IN ENGINEERING AND GOD NO WHAT ELSE IN THAT FIELD, OR THEY COULD PROMOTE SOME KIND OF COMPUTOR NETWORK LIKE MICROSOFT BY PUTTIN SOME OF OUR YOUNG BALCK SCIENTIST TO WORK. OR GO OUT AND BY UP SOME AGRICULTURE. SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE A REAL IMPACT IN THIS COUNTRY. WHAT I SEE IS LOT OF SELFISHNESS IN THE UPPER RICH CLASS OF BLACK PEOPLE YET WE THE POOR AND MIDDLECLASS PEOPLE PUT THEM UP ON A PEDESTAL. BUY ALL THE RECORDS, HELP THE CAUCASION PEOPLE SUPPORT THERE GAMES, BUY THERE MOVIES ECT. WELL YOU MIGHT SAY THE WHITE ACTORS DO THE SAME. WELL THEY DO BUT THEY HAVE OTHER WHITE PEOPLE IN HIGHER POSITION THEN THEY ARE SO THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. WE CAN'T, JUST LIKE WHITE WOMEN CAN RAPE TEN AND TWELVE YEAR BOYS, WHITE MEN CAN SELL DRUGS RIP OFF CORPORATIONS, AND YET DO LESS TIME. BUT WE CANT. I SORRY TO SAY I'M GETTING SICK OF THE FAKENESS THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE PORTRAYING ON ONE ANOTHER. IT'S TIME WE REALLY EVALUATE WHAT WE WANT TO BE AS A PEOPLE AND AS A LEADER FOR OUR CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE.

RICKFEDUP at 9:04PM on Aug 5th 2008