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One feature of your magazine is called the "Sticky Wicket Questionnaire." Can you explain that?
"Sticky Wicket Questionnaire" is the section where we ask those questions that we all want to ask but don't because we might seem racist. For example, what is your initial reaction when you encounter young interracial couples? Or I have perceived notions of people white/brown/black and otherwise who cover their bodies with tattoos, piercing and branding, does that make me racist? There is an old-school thought that there are only three races (white, black and Asian) and new school of thought that there is no such thing as race. Which school of thought is correct? Or, why is there a notion that white parents are more involved with their children than minorities?

How do you research and answer these tough questions?
We have writers go out and talk to experts in various fields such as anthropology, psychology, history, etc. We have also solicited contributors from all races and ethnicities around the country to ensure we have very diverse opinions, views and subjects in the magazine. Our racial and ethnic diversity is also seen in our production and business staff.

What are the projected demographics for RiseUp?
Generally we say our demographics are 18-70 years old, at least high-school educated and clearly all races. We will launch with almost 4.5-million circulation across the country in publications such as the New York Daily News, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, Louisville Courier-Journal, Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Atlanta Sunday Paper and my hometown newspaper, the McComb (Miss.) Enterprise-Journal.

How does RiseUp compare to other ethnically specific publications such as Essence, Ebony, Latina, Hispanic Lifestyle and and Audrey?
Our magazine is not targeted to one ethnic group; our goal is to educate all of us about each other.

Can you explain your business model?
We are similar to Parade [and USA Weekend] in that respect, we have negotiated with newspapers to distribute [our publication].

Where did you get the initial funding to start up the magazine?
My husband and I run a family business, and we are the sole investors in this venture. Revenue for the magazine is supported by advertisements.

Anything else we should know?
I just want to reiterate that the mission of RiseUp is to provide an ongoing conversation for all races and ethnicities to better understand each other to build stronger communities, cities, nations and a better world. Each week, important topics will be covered in the areas of health, education, politics, business and cultural uniqueness.

You make some good points, but you must consider history as a whole, and realize that there are "good" people and "bad" people.(I used quotations because most people have their own idea of what good and bad are or is) You mentioned that blacks and women being able to vote were partial to whites who changed the laws. My question for you is "this should never had been a law in the first place since America's contitution say's freedom and rights for everybody not just white men. Due to racial conflicts in the past that were caused by whites is the result we see America suffering from racism now. In the early 80's my sister had rocks trown at her just because her father was black and she looks mixed. Yet she is never expressed hate for whites except when they did rscist actions. Remember cause and effect, it is one of the basic reactions that we learn as chidren. Also the saying."I will whip you so hard your children's children will feel it" this saying to some extent has become a reality. When the white Europeans slaughtered the Indians on a uncanny level, and yet know ine calls this racism or terrorism, yet they killed over 150 million native Americans to obtain goals. Due to these fears racism develops, I don' believe it is right that whites are blamed when they are blamed for something we didn't do, but because we are to blame for the start of this problem we should also be the first inline to fix it. I come from a mixed family my self and i have seen racial slurs directed at blacks in my family who were not doing anything, just taking their kids to the park or walking down the street, and getting called names for no reason.
I believe that anything that can cure this cancer of racism that we suffer from as Americans we should support unwaverly. I say give the magizine a chance, because if it can pull just one person from the darkness of racism whether they are black, white, mexican, or other. Then it is worth it.

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Posted By: Slave of The Subduer @ 06/23/2008 4:59:19 AM

I think this magzine is good, if people just give it a chance. As lang as it doesn't start catagorizing homosexuals and people who tatoo themselves all over as being those who are also subject to racism since gays and freaks fall into a different catagory.
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Posted By: Slave of The Subduer @ 06/23/2008 4:52:09 AM

You make some good points, but you must consider history as a whole, and realize that there are "good" people and "bad" people.(I used quotations because most people have their own idea of what good and bad are or is) You mentioned that blacks and women being able to vote were partial to whites who changed the laws. My question for you is "this should never had been a law in the first place since America's contitution say's freedom and rights for everybody not just white men. Due to racial conflicts in the past that were caused by whites is the result we see America suffering from racism now. In the early 80's my sister had rocks trown at her just because her father was black and she looks mixed. Yet she is never expressed hate for whites except when they did rscist actions. Remember cause and effect, it is one of the basic reactions that we learn as chidren. Also the saying."I will whip you so hard your children's children will feel it" this saying to some extent has become a reality. When the white Europeans slaughtered the Indians on a uncanny level, and yet know ine calls this racism or terrorism, yet they killed over 150 million native Americans to obtain goals. Due to these fears racism develops, I don' believe it is right that whites are blamed when they are blamed for something we didn't do, but because we are to blame for the start of this problem we should also be the first inline to fix it. I come from a mixed family my self and i have seen racial slurs directed at blacks in my family who were not doing anything, just taking their kids to the park or walking down the street, and getting called names for no reason.
I believe that anything that can cure this cancer of racism that we suffer from as Americans we should support unwaverly. I say give the magizine a chance, because if it can pull just one person from the darkness of racism whether they are black, white, mexican, or other. Then it is worth it.
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Posted By: tariknouri @ 06/22/2008 5:53:16 PM

I was employed at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix AZ for the last four years on 01/25/2008 i was retaliated on because i complained to Human Resource about my supervisor sexually harassing me i lost my job beacause they were protecting her,she was here on a work visa from Turkey.