Russell Simmons and Navarrow Wright on News and Notes

November 18, 2008

Farai Chideya of NPR’s News and Notes sat down with Global Grind’s CEO Navarrow Wright and principal investor Russell Simmons to dicuss Politics, and the future of social media networking. Russell had some wonderful thoughts on the urban space and its influence on the world. I’m sure Navarrow had some great thoughts too, but Russell didn’t give him the opportunity to share them. Can you imagine trying to run a company with Russell Simmons looking over your shoulder? I understand Russell has a lot of money riding on Global Grind, but isn’t Navarrow capable of answering the questions directed towards him? I mean honestly, who’s the expert? I had the opportunity to speak with Navarrow one on one, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s more than capable of running Global Grind, I just hope Russell believes it too. Lets just hope this was a bad interview, and not a peek inside the Global Grind board room.

Category: Social Networking, social media, web 2.0 | Tags: fariai chideya, global grind, navarrow wright, NPR, Russell Simmons

L Martin Johnson Pratt

Funny thing i have been a consultant to a similar venture by a music mogul turned internet/technology guru it was hell the music ceo tried to run the technology firm like a record company i walked away with nothing but my sanity :). The technology company failed after much hoopla i mean seriou hoopla like VP Al Gore praising this company as 1st Black ISP to truly be able to bridge the digital divide and such. I dont think that Russell will fail however i do believe that the music biz executives are use to applying unbelievable amount of pressure and demands. I pray that Brother Wright is centered and has a lot a lot of love for what GG's mission is and what his vision for GG is. Because at the end of the day that is all a second in command has!!

Ananda Leeke

Thanks for sharing. I will go back and lisgten to the interview.

STodd

Mr. Simmons, thank you for addressing the disturbing issue of imprisonment of our young women and mostly the young men. There is something terribly wrong when a white woman was indicted for selling drugs to school-age kids with a bond of only $12,000 and a black man in the same town was found with 3 $20.00 bags of marijuana and his bond was $15,000. He was subsequently sentenced 120 months for $60.00 of drugs he bought for himself. He was convicted of the felony intent to manufacture, sell and deliver. We must do something to keep our people from what I call "organized slavery". Who in their right mind is willing to house this man for 10 years for $60.00? Know that we are tired of these actions as you well know already.

Thank you for having the courage to address the issue and I wish there was more that I could do other than just write about it. What can we do to change this? There's also the fact that the law enforcement officials do this to generate income for what are private prisons. I am appauled that there is such a thing as a private prison for profit.