Your Black Brothers

How Do You Feel?

2008-03-18T16:53:00.001-07:00

Brothers,

How do you feel when you hear of someone being murdered or killed in a robbery and the victim is a white girl or white guy? Are some of you like me when I see these kinds of atrocities that I internally weep for the victims but hope that the "person of interest" is not a brotha?

Recently, two young ladies were killed, both from Georgia, one in Georgia and one in North Carolina. I have friends who are professors at both schools (Auburn and North Carolina-Chapel Hill respectively) and asked how things are going. They say it is kind of hard and a big deal on campus. I do pray for the fathers and mothers of these two young ladies, I know the pain of watching a mother bury her own child. Somehow, it ought to be the other way around.

How do you feel when you see that the "person of interest" is a black man? I can tell you how I felt. Being a child of the south, I know how it does not take much to raise the southern current of black man/white woman trouble. After all, the blockbuster film, "Birth of a Nation" was anchored in the notion that the Klan stood as the protectors of white women against the "foaming at the mouth" freedmen seeking to claim white women as some kind of prize. How do you feel when you see one of us being led to jail for the murder of a young white woman for "chump change"?

How do you feel about our men and our people when we find that one of us is at the center of the investigation? It hurts me heart...

In Peace,

Cyrus Marcellus Ellis

Be All You Can Be?

2008-03-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

My mother always taught me to be the best of the best. She said that being mediocre wasn’t an option for a black male in today’s society. America isn’t built for African Americans and even more so young Black males. Hearing this information as a ten year old didn’t resonate in my soul until I got older. As I grew in years I realized that hard work doesn’t pay off for everybody. Why do I have to study 20 hours to achieve the same goals of my white counterpart? I’m working double the time and not receiving double the payoff. How does one group of people seem to get further than another with the same amount of work and effort? We can easily say discrimination is the answer but the underlying cause of this issue extends further than discrimination. In my opinion it’s not only a matter of discrimination but a lesson in social mobility. Wikipedia defines social mobility as the degree to which, in a given society, an individual's social status can change throughout the course of their life. In this column I will look at how social mobility plays a role into the lives of everyday Americans.

Shaquana, Davonte’, Aaliyah, Porscha are all historically African American names. These names are vastly different to Michael, Amy, Christy, and Jonathan. Employers don’t even have to discriminate based on skin color, they can just look at your name. It’s hard to fathom that a special thing like your name could prevent you from realizing your potential. Of course I don’t have the proof, but it’s my firm belief that discrimination/racism is alive and well in other covert forms. Simple things like your name can hinder your social mobility. I feel blessed that I have my name because if I was named Dontrell or Andre I might not get hired based on the ethnic origin of my name. Just think about all the famous African Americans you know with “African American” names that aren’t athletes. Condoleeza Rice and who else? NOBODY. Other things such as gold teeth, dreads, tattoos and piercings can limit your social mobility. When is the last time you have seen anybody in Congress or in your local doctor’s office with any of the aforementioned body accessories? Society is becoming increasingly accepting of different lifestyles but there remains a bad stigma attached to things like gold teeth and dreads.

Lifestyle preferences such as religion, sexual orientation and even style of dress can hinder your social mobility. I personally don’t agree with homosexuality, but I don’t believe anyone should be stopped from being all they can be because of their sexual preference. Maybe if society had more of an open mind, we may have a gay president. MAYBE? The hip-hop generation also catches a lot of slack for its style of dress. The baggy pants, expensive sneakers, and gaudy jewelry are all hallmarks of this lifestyle. People still attach mischief and thuggery based on the sheer appearance of people who embrace this culture. Societal norms usually force most of us to conform, but why can’t I dress the way I want? I’m not advocating wearing a pair of Timberlands to a board meeting, but I am promoting a form of expression. Something that our Constitution guarantees and something we don’t stand by always. Racism has changed a lot since its early inception but it’s more institutional and mental than ever. Age old systems didn’t change with the inclusion of a couple civil rights laws they just found other ways to prevail. I’m not so skeptical of society that I think there is MASS plan to keep African Americans down but I do recognize certain things that are in place that prevent my people from succeeding.

For example, your teacher stresses to you to do your homework and you’ll eventually get A’s. What if you have a learning disability and it prevents you from reaching a certain level of understanding? Learning disabilities isn’t indicative of low intelligence, but it does hinder your cognitive process in some capacity. Some people with learning disabilities are straight A students. This disorder doesn’t predict your grades or intelligence it’s only indicative of your psychological process in regards to processing information. Learning disabilities aren’t caused by environmental factors, cultural differences or economic challenges, yet they are some of the main reasons why this problem is prevalent. How can a child with no medical insurance receive the proper attention for their condition? They won’t receive care and most children won’t be diagnosed if they don’t receive the proper attention early on. Some African American children are improperly diagnosed with learning disabilities such as ADD and ADHD by school counselors and doctors. In my opinion some of our children get prematurely diagnosed because schools and physicians don’t have the care or patience to deal with our children. African American children that show signs of hyperactivity and overall disruptive behavior in some schools are often left heavily medicated due to this lack of improper diagnosis. Public schools that are already suffering from economic issues can’t afford to pay a psychologist/psychiatrist. Most colleges don’t have a mental health education program installed and they require way more money to maintain than public schools. Imagine being put in a class with the so-called special kids and you’re not supposed to be there, but you are because you’ve been improperly diagnosed. That “special-child” treatment over time plays into the psyche of the person over time and most children and parents buy into these false diagnoses. Students are often tagged “dumb” and “slow” by their peers and even treated with lesser respect by teachers. How can a person progress in a society when their needs aren’t being addressed correctly? For every Malcolm Jamal Warner or Danny Glover, all of which have learning disabilities, there will be thousands of children that won’t succeed because of the stigmas attached to their learning disability.

In every society there are norms and at the expense of not being considered an outcast, I agree with conformity to some degree. However, I’m greatly opposed to modes of oppression that keep people from progressing as individuals in a society that worships the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. We pledge of allegiance for the liberty and freedom of the people, but do we honestly promote this ideal?

Reflection on Education and Blackness

2008-03-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

Brothers and Sisters all,

I teach a graduate level course in Social and Cultural foundations, or what some call "the multicultural course". While I try very hard to try and provide insight to my students on a variety of cultural matters, I tend to always get stuck on the point about education and being African American. I am not stuck concerning the misrepresentation of African Americans and our educational ability in our media, I am stuck on the power of one written exchange between Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson that does not always see the light of day. It is the hallmark of my talks when given to kids who come from hard hit economic backgrounds (like myself) and who may have been tricked to believe that education is not for them.

We know of Benjamin Banneker's ability in designing the layout of Washington, D.C. and for the almanac, but he also tried, through his writing of the Queen's english, to have, then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, address the state of slavery that existed in the new land. Mr. Banneker's words were of the highest order and eloquence and it demonstrated that he had mastered the slave master's words in order to provoke the need for freedom for his people. Some of his words read like this,

"SIR,
I AM fully sensible of the greatness of that freedom, which I take with you on the present occasion ; a liberty which seemed to me scarcely allowable, when I reflected on that distinguished and dignified station in which you stand, and the almost general prejudice and prepossession, which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion...

Sir, I freely and cheerfully acknowledge, that I am of the African race, and in that color which is natural to them of the deepest dye ; and it is under a sense of the most profound gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, that I now confess to you, that I am not under that state of tyrannical thraldom, and inhuman captivity, to which too many of my brethren are doomed, but that I have abundantly tasted of the fruition of those blessings, which proceed from that free and unequalled liberty with which you are favored ; and which, I hope, you will willingly allow you have mercifully received, from the immediate hand of that Being, from whom proceedeth every good and perfect Gift.

This, Sir, was a time when you cleary saw into the injustice of a state of slavery, and in which you had just apprehensions of the horrors of its condition. It was now that your abhorrence thereof was so excited, that you publicly held forth this true and invaluable doctrine, which is worthy to be recorded and remembered in all succeeding ages : ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' Here was a time, in which your tender feelings for yourselves had engaged you thus to declare, you were then impressed with proper ideas of the great violation of liberty, and the free possession of those blessings, to which you were entitled by nature ; but, Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of Mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of these rights and privileges, which he hath conferred upon them, that you should at the same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren, under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves. ..."

It has always stood out to me that these excerpts do not rise to the light of day. It is a testament to how the power of sound education can address the needs of the self and of a people. To me it is the brilliance of our people, like those in a particular dimension of the Rap game who can articulate the struggle of a people. It ought not be surprising of Mr. Jefferson's response,

"I THANK you, sincerely, for your letter of the 19th instant, and for the Almanac it contained. No body wishes more than I do, to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren talents equal to those of the other colors of men ; and that the appearance of the want of them, is owing merely to the degraded condition of their existence, both in Africa and America. I can add with truth, that no body wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced, for raising the condition, both of their body and mind, to what it ought to be, as far as the imbecility of their present existence, and other circumstances, which cannot be neglected, will admit.

I have taken the liberty of sending your Almanac to Monsieur de Condozett, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and Member of the Philanthropic Society, because I considered it as a document, to which your whole color had a right for their justification, against the doubts which have been entertained of them.

I am with great esteem, Sir, Your most obedient Humble Servant,

THOMAS JEFFERSON." This is not an exceprt, this is the entire response.

Although Mr. Jefferson did not respond as an obedient servant , the power of Mr. Banneker's words serve me as the example of how we can use education to further our causes and that education has been, is and will always be as central to our people as the freedom struggle itself.

Much Love,

Brother Ellis

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Dr. Cyrus M. Ellis is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education and the author of It's All Gumbo to Me: Examining our world through the metaphor of Gumbo. You can access Dr. Ellis' book by going to http://www.lulu.com/content/1906060

It's Not About You Today Sweety....Tuesday Works Better

2008-02-27T23:55:00.000-08:00

Its things like half-off drinks for ladies, free admission for women until 11pm, or if you wear tight jeans you get in for free that irks me. Whenever I go to the club its “Ladies Night” or something to the extent of women being catered to that night. Women make the club an enjoyable place for males, so from a business standpoint I understand. I mean if I wanted to see guys then I would’ve called my friends over for a game of NBA 2K8 on XBOX 360 on a Saturday night. It’s not the fact that women get in for free or they get their drinks half off on one night. It’s EVERY NIGHT for the most part. When is it about me?

Guys get shafted on everything. When you are a child, you are taught that Mothers Day is the second most important day next to your birthday. I can live with Mother’s Day being a big day of appreciation for the ones that brought us into this world, BUT WHAT ABOUT DADDY? True, your mother carried you for nine months and that’s an awesome deed considering she used to be skinny before she had you, but WHAT ABOUT DADDY? I guess daddy didn’t supply his set of chromosomes to make you! I guess daddy doesn’t work two jobs to support a household! I guess daddy’s not important because his name is Shawn not Sharon. Father’s Day is one of the most underappreciated holidays in America. It sucks in comparison to all the other days for women. The sales at department stores for Father's Day even suck. Target and Macys roll out the red carpet for Mother's Day.

Valentines Day is one of these women-holidays that men get shafted on. Some women will tell me that Valentines Day is just for women and men get properly recognized on “Sweetest Day”. First of all, I didn’t even know what “Sweetest Day” was until I was an adult. Secondly why do guys have to get such a feminine name for their day of appreciation? In my opinion, it’s like calling a man Delicious. It’s not going to happen!!!! Valentines Day is sooooo one-sided. Women might buy you something but really they want you to cater to their every want and need. That’s cool, I’m not a mean guy, but WHEN IS IT ABOUT ME?

It’s never about the man. When you get into an argument with your lady/girlfriend/wife/mother/aunt/grandmother you will find out quickly that it’s not about you. It’s about how you hurt THEIR feelings. It’s about how YOU don’t care. It’s about THEM. Forget the fact that you hurt my feelings. Forget the fact that you’re the inconsiderate one. It’s not about men ever. It almost scares me to get married because I know my sense of self will be completely diminished once I get married. IT REALLY won’t be about me.

I’m starting a revolution. Any guy who feels the same way that I feel please tell a female in your life (don’t tell your mother, aunt or grandmother) in a very calm, cool and collected voice. “It’s not about you today!!!”

MOCA on the way

2008-02-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

Advising the Men of Color Alliance (MOCA) on a campus (Emory and Henry College) that has less than 50 people of color (forget about men) has been exciting and nerve racking. Being untenured (my final review is in a couple of years) made me naturally concerned about how I might be perceived advising a group of young and mostly black men. As we are well aware, the initial perception of such a group will likely be seen as negative. But when it's right it's right. To be there in that room and here young men of color express their views for the first time about what it means to be racially different is something I would never genuinely see in the classroom. To hear them talk about what it means for them to be men was such a learning experience that I had not anticipated. And last week, for them to honestly converse with their sisters of color on campus and try to rebuild the bridges between them was an opportunity I would not trade for anything. There will be so much more to come. This group i think will have the vision to make great change on campus. But of course that can be problematic as well. Radical change is often seen as dangerous. This is something that we need to be concerned about. Either way, one cannot say we didn't try. After all if you aren't trying, then what are you doing?

Peace and Love

Dr. Aris Winger
www.dcsouth.com

Dog The Bounty Hunter: He Should NEVER come Back

2008-02-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Boyce Watkins
www.BoyceWatkins.com

I just listened to the recorded phone conversation between Duane Chapman (aka Dog The Bounty Hunter) and his son Tucker. The conversation was about “that black girl”, also named Monique. Apparently, Dog was worried about losing everything he has worked for because some “f*cking n*gger” might overhear him using the word “n*gger”.

Dog The Bounty Hunter explained to his son that the reason he could not work for him is because they sometimes use the n-word around the house, and that he didn’t want America to take it the wrong way.

So Dog, how are we supposed to take it?

I listened to Dog The Bounty Hunter’s words with an open mind. I honestly felt bad for the guy, who was just sold out by his own son. It was clear that Dog was feeling the pressure of someone under a constant spotlight, since the bigger you get, the more haters you have. He made reference to people threatening to record him and take his words to national magazines to embarrass him.

Too bad for Dog The Bounty Hunter, it turned out his threat was right under his nose, as his son Tucker sold him up the river by recording the very conversation in which he expressed his concern about those trying to get him. Man, that sucks. I actually feel bad for the guy. There is also an almost comical irony to it all.

I am not sure where Dog The Bounty Hunter is going or where he belongs. But from the tone of his conversation, it’s clear that he doesn’t hold black people in very high regard. He seemed to have a problem with his son dating Monique, and I got a strong indication from his tone that it was her blackness and not much else, that kept her from having an opportunity to become part of the family. That’s the problem Dog…you rejected her because she was black. You made that clear in the conversation.

Before we all stand on our soap boxes and condemn Dog, we have to realize something. Dog, in some ways, is nothing more than a Sean Hannity with long hair. He says, in his own “Dog the Bounty Hunter” way, what a lot of America is thinking or says behind closed doors. He reflects sentiments that are quite common, as there are plenty of white folks, teachers-doctors-lawyers-professors-scientists-judges in America who would not want their child dating a black person. What is most ridiculously amazing to me is that these people will then turn around and claim not to be racist.

Sorry to tell you this, but if you feel that African-Americans are not good enough to date your children, then you are a pure cut, USDA-approved, Grade-A, good old fashioned, straight off the assembly line racist. White supremacy is very subtle, and many of us are victimized by it. You can’t claim to believe in equality while maintaining beliefs that are so blatantly laced with white supremacy.

As for Dog The Bounty Hunter, I hope he pays a high price for his mistake. He has the right to say what he wants at home, but he doesn’t need a show to say it. Besides that, I am not sure if his network has any black hosts anyway, perhaps it’s time they find one.

More Stories on Dog The Bounty Hunter

Story: Dog The Bounty Hunter Off the Air After Being Caught Using Racial Slur Against His Son's Girlfriend

See Video on Dog The Bounty Hunter Below:

Dr. Watkins responds to emails from Dog The Bounty Hunter Fans Below:

I Speak English...What About You

2008-02-17T22:08:00.000-08:00

Math has always been one of the hardest subjects for me to grasp. I've never been an x=3 type of guy. English has always been one of my stronger points. I figured if I wanted to run my mouth all the time then I might as well do it a high level. I'm frustrated at the companies, schools and other people who hire "people who don’t speak English" well. Our country is built on immigration (Whites, Blacks, Mexicans...etc), so I have no beef with people who have a different background or dialect. My beef lies in the fact that I have to talk to people who don’t speak English well on a “CUSTOMER SERVICE” line for a company that’s in “America”.

Customer service is a key component of any company. It sustains and builds relationships with the buying public. Why would you jeopardize your company by putting someone in a customer service position that doesn’t speak English well? It angers me to no end to see and hear people in customer service positions that don’t speak English well. I find myself asking “what did YOU say” and “can you repeat that” more than my original intent, which is CUSTOMER SERVICE. I understand companies try to save LOTS of money by hiring overseas help, but why let consumers like me be frustrated by hiring this type of help. It’s nothing against these people that are hired because I’m sure my St.Louis “right thurrrr” accent throws a lot of loops in the game. I pay too much money to go to school to have to translate what a teacher says. I want to learn more about math in my MATH class but it feels like I’m in Spanish 302.

I hate to pick on the human race like this because computer automated systems are worst. How many times do you call the 1-800 number and you end up talking to Mr/Mrs Computer 5000 that has 5 responses to your million wants/needs? I get tired of pressing one and star to go back to the home screen. I get so mad when I have to repeat myself because the machine can’t differentiate between representative and help. Companies are just lazy nowadays. I’m scared of what life will be like when I’m 60. I might be able to walk into McDonalds and they will know my order because of my past history. What if I change my mind and decide to have a McFish instead of McFlurry.

In conclusion I would like to say that I’m not discriminating against people who don’t speak English. There are jobs for you, but customer service is not the correct position.

In the words of Sean Diddy Combs to an aspiring artist

“If I put you up there on stage like that, people would be laughing their ass off….don’t get mad because you can’t dance.”

*Diddy’s a millionaire who understands Customer Service*

Tavis Smiley's Response to Obama's Camp

2008-02-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Someone sent this over to YourBlackWorld in response to the reactions of readers to our previous posts about the rift between Smiley and Obama. We thank them for this submission.

Senator Barack Obama and the State of the Black Union 2008
Tom Joyner Morning Show
Thursday, February 14, 2008

By now many, if not most of you, have either read or heard about the letter faxed to me by Senator
Barack Obama yesterday to officially inform me that he would not be attending the State of the
Black Union symposium next Saturday, February 23, in New Orleans, live on C-SPAN. The letter
was apparently made public on the Internet by the Obama campaign.
This morning a few thoughts now about the letter, about Senator Obama and for that matter, about
Michelle Obama.
First, I want to thank Senator Obama for his letter, although I regret his decision. I said on Tuesday
and I reiterate today, that I believe that this is a critical miscalculation and a missed opportunity.
Having said that, I also feel that should Senator McCain or Governor Huckabee, like Mr. Obama,
end up denying our invitation to appear at this annual Black think tank, it would also be for them as
well, in the long run, a critical miscalculation and a missed opportunity.
Particularly for Senator John McCain, who appears to now be the presumptive Republican nominee
and who decided, as you recall, not to appear last year before Black America in Baltimore.
Indeed, I personally expressed that sentiment to Senator McCain earlier this week. Don’t think that
in the general election, should he be the nominee, that he ain’t going to get reminded frequently that
he kept passing on opportunities to speak to Black and Brown audiences. That’s pretty much
Political Science 101. That’s going to happen, trust me.
Two. For the record, with regard to this letter and the statements made therein, my office was never
contacted by the Obama campaign offering Michelle Obama as a proxy speaker. It never happened.
No letter. No fax. No e-mail. No phone call. No document whatsoever from the Obama camp to
my office, ever, regarding Michelle Obama. She was never offered, it was never discussed.
Three. While I have great admiration and affection for Michelle Obama, had she been offered to us
I would have respectfully declined. Just as we would have declined had Hillary Clinton offered Bill
Clinton; had John McCain offered Cindy McCain; had Mike Huckabee suggested Janet Huckabee.

By any measure, by any measure, Michelle Obama’s personal story is empowering and inspiring. I
am moved by her personal story, as I have been, since I first met her. From the South side of
Chicago to Princeton, to Harvard Law, it is a quintessential American story of overcoming.
That said, last year at Howard, live on PBS, we spoke to candidates only. And that’s what we intend
to do next Saturday, February 23, in New Orleans, live on C-SPAN, speak to candidates only, with
all due respect.
And speaking of Howard, point number four. When we invited Senator Obama last year to
Howard, with all of the other announced Democratic candidates at the time, so many people, so
many people, said publicly, that Tavis is stacking the deck in Obama’s favor. Black college. Black
book. Black audience. Black journalists. Black moderator. “Smiley is stacking the deck for
Obama,” they said.
The Washington Post Editorial Board said that to me to my face. “Aren’t you stacking the deck for
Mr. Obama?” Now, eight months later, another simple invitation, along with all the other
remaining viable candidates, and now he’s being boxed in by me?
Respectfully, that dog just won’t hunt. Because by that logic, at this point in the campaign, any
gathering of Black thought-leaders, opinion-makers and influencers who invite Senator Obama to
appear on stage at a nationally televised event, that invitation --- in and of itself, given that logic ---
would be tantamount to “boxing him in.”
This was simply an invitation, nothing more. There has not been, there is not now, nor will there
be, any effort on my part to snap on the Obama campaign, or the McCain campaign or the
Huckabee campaign, if they choose not to attend. It was just an invitation to him and every other
candidate. Accept or reject. An invitation, nothing more, nothing less.
I’ve lost count now of how many debates the Democrats have had to address other issues that, in
fact, do matter to us. But I can tell you exactly how many times they’ve gathered to specifically
address our issues. There is no comparison.
Point number five. Senator Obama is on a mission. As he suggested in his letter, his mission is to
become the next President of the United States. And I ain’t mad at him. As I’ve said before, and I’ll
say it again, I revel in his historic run for the White House. As a Black man, I celebrate his past
accomplishments. I celebrate his future aspirations.
Respectfully, I knew Barack Obama long before most of us learned to pronounce his name
correctly. So long ago, in fact, that years ago Barack Obama was working with the kids in my
Foundation, speaking to them about leadership development way back when.
I have no personal animus toward Barack Obama.
To quote that great philosopher, George Wallace, “I love him and there ain’t nothing he can do
about it!” That said, I love Black people, too. And I have a vocation. I have a calling. I have a
purpose. And since this ain’t just about me, you have a purpose too. You have a calling, you have a
vocation as well.

And I would hope, this morning, that at the center of our collective calling, is an unconditional love
for Black people. His job right now is to get elected. Our job is to do our part to ensure that
whoever gets elected will be held accountable to the issues that matter most to Black people.
And in that regard, all that I have ever tried to do, with the media platforms, including this one, that
I have been blessed to have access to, is to attempt to speak a love language, to ask critical
questions, to engage in sober assessment and to counsel wise enthusiasm.
If Barack Obama is your candidate, I ain’t mad at you! If Hillary Clinton is your candidate, I ain’t
mad at you! I am not personally in the endorsement business. My small part is to engage in
Socratic questioning. As a Black person, a member of the media, I’ve said many times on this
program, my job is to ask questions, raise issues, address topics, and profile people that otherwise
wouldn’t get that kind of air play.
Now, as the old folk used to say, “I done spoke my piece.”
Senator Clinton has decided to join us. Senator Obama has decided not to. Senator McCain and
Governor Huckabee, we shall see.
But once again, it has never, ever been about them. It has always been about us. We cannot
confuse candidates with the cause. The cause of suffering Black people who are catching hell every
day.
So, I personally; I can only speak for Tavis, I personally have no intention, no interest in discussing
this matter beyond this commentary no matter what’s said about me. Except to promote the
Symposium, which I’ve done every year for almost 10 years now.
I’m told by the folk in the Lt. Governor’s office in Louisiana that it looks like we will have the
largest gathering of volunteers for a single day next Friday on our Day of Service, since Katrina hit
back in 2005. That’s what matters. Loving and serving everyday Black people.
Our conversation next Saturday promises to be spirited, soulful and inspiring.
Finally this morning, as I always say...today, more than ever...love wins. Love wins. Love wins.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tavis Smiley's Haterology on Barack Obama

2008-02-13T06:45:00.000-08:00

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By Dr. Boyce Watkins
www.BoyceWatkins.com

I couldn't help but notice that while many of us have been carried away by the Barack Obama train, some have refused to buy a ticket. I understand completely, because I am the last person to buy anyone's hype. Healthy skepticism is a good thing, and we should all keep it in our pocket.

But haterology is a serious science and diagnosing it can be an art.

My latest patient is Mr. Tavis Smiley. I like Tavis as a person and respect him a great deal. Tavis Smiley has branded himself as one of the top black leaders in America and is right up there with Marc Lamont Hill as one of my most respected colleagues.

While my respect for Brother Smiley runs deep, I know he is also human. In our humanity, one must be realistic when considering the fact that Tavis understands that his business is a business. There is a marketing philosophy that must be implemented, some degree of competition and ultimately, some lines that must be drawn in the sand. After all, there is more than one Tavis Smiley out there, and his work with The Tom Joyner Morning Show (among others) has allowed him to separate himself from the pack. Brother Smiley's success, prominence and power were planned, it didn't just happen by accident.

Barack Obama, by announcing his candidacy for the White House DURING Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union was, to some, a serious line being drawn. I am sure Brother Smiley felt that anyone who is anyone in the black community must be part of his conference. Barack Obama didn't feel that way, and seemed to be less than willing to pledge allegiance to existing Black Leadership.

Tavis Smiley's State of The Black Union conference, along with his work on The Tom Joyner Morning Show and his Covenant with Black America have done a great deal for the black community. However, they have done far more for Tavis Smiley's book sales and power within the community. I can't hate on that. After all, I am a Finance Professor, so I fully understand how capitalism works. Also, my work in media allows me to understand that you're nobody until you convince somebody that you're somebody. It's not what you know, it's.....well, you get the point.

Simultaneously, Tavis Smiley must work through the demons within him that have always christened himself as the next Barack Obama. Shit, I'm sure Tavis Smiley thought he would be Barack Obama before Barack Obama thought he would be Barack Obama. So, it must be incredibly confusing for Smiley to watch Obama go from "just some guy" to the next JFK. Tavis Smiley, Al Sharpton and others have, quite honestly, been humbled. Brothers like Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton don't like being humbled.

Smiley's tone of "putting people on blast" for not attending his conference is somewhat problematic and reminds me of an area of Finance called Agency Theory. Agency Theory always questions the incentives of the manager or protector and allows you to wonder if the leader is doing what is best for his constituency or himself. Tavis Smiley's decision to "put people on blast" begs larger, more relevant questions: Are you being careful to balance your personal agenda with the broader needs of the community? You, Brother Smiley, sacrifice a great deal for black people, but are you willing to also sacrifice your personal power? If Barack Obama were serving your interests a bit more, would you have a different disposition?

In layman's terms, this sacrifice is like asking a man to allow another man to sleep with his girlfriend if he clearly knows that the other man would make her happier. Only true love would make a man say "yes" to such a request. Similarly, only true love for the black community can lead Tavis Smiley, or anyone else, to give up their own black power to open the gates for someone who might be a bit more effective. I am not sure if Obama is that guy, but alot of people think he is.

I am not assuming that Tavis Smiley's intentions are not honorable. But I am certainly assuming that he himself struggles with this issue, as we all do at some point. Again, it's about being human. Would a bad mother give up her child to a good one? Would a star athlete sit on the bench if it will help the team win?

The same questions can be asked of many other power brokers in the black community, all of whom have been somewhat undermined by Obama's sudden rise to prominence. Obama owes no one, he has a new team and he refuses to be beholden to the Civil Rights Movement. He is like Al Capone coming to Chicago to run the liquor business "the right way". Such boldness makes the haters come out of the wood work. That's a fact.

Obama is benefiting from a landslide of black support, built on social credit being extended on campaign promises. The Black Community is like the loving, committed spouse, willing to ignore immediate needs so their partner can conquer the world. But at the end of the day, something must be delivered.

Smiley understands this and that is why I believe he works hard for black people. At the same time, Tavis must remember the wise words of Spiderman's Uncle: With great power comes great responsibility.

Translation: Tavis - please make sure your attacks on Obama are about the community and not about you. Most of us can't quite tell the difference.

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If OJ has a Set of Gloves Then Why Doesn"t McDonalds???

2008-02-05T15:01:00.000-08:00

It's 5 in the morning in beautiful East St.Louis, Illinois

1. Lisa, a stripper, takes her night's worth of salary home and counts it.

2. Most of the dollar bills have been saturated with vaginal juice, alcohol, sweat and possibly various forms of communicable diseases.

3. Lisa is hungry after a 10 hour shift, so she decides to fulfill her hunger at McDonalds. She takes 3.50 of her $500 worth of work and buys an Egg McMuffin Value Meal.

4. Ernest, the McDonalds morning crew manager, takes these storied bills and places them in his register.

5. Ernest proceeds to make the Egg McMuffin Value Meal with NO GLOVES ON.

6. Lisa devours the Egg McMuffin Value Meal that was prepared with NO GLOVES ON.

7. Daunte (me) orders 2 Sausage, Egg and Cheese Value Meals.

8. Ernest, the McDonalds morning crew manager, takes my money and places them in his register and gives me back 3 dollar bills. (The same 3 bills Lisa gave him)

9. Ernest prepares my 2 Sausage, Egg and Cheese Value Meals with NO GLOVES ON.

10. I quickly scarf my meal that was prepared with NO GLOVES ON.

11. Daunte’s sick

The End

This story sounds very far-fetched and possibly outlandish, yet at least 2 or 3 of those gross things occur at McDonalds every time you go.

Every time I go to McDonalds I see one or more of the following:

-workers preparing food with NO GLOVES ON

-managers taking money from customers and then preparing my food with NO GLOVES ON

-workers using the bathroom and not washing their hands

When I was around 6 0r 7, I distinctly remember food service being cleaner; workers used gloves, there was a distinct system of duties that didn't allow people to handle money and prepare food. Where has all of that gone? I'm sorry but hand sanitizer isn’t good enough for me, people need to wash their hands with HOT water and used gloves. I don’t mean to just point out McDonalds because Popeye’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and many other fast food places don’t use gloves. I'm glad restaurants don’t have a visible kitchen because I'm sure there are worse.

I know McDonalds has the best fries but just be mindful that you might be eating a Big Mac with cheese, influenza, yeast infection and ketchup. Just a thought.

If Obama Was Dark-Skinned

2008-02-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

As the primaries and debates become more and more intense I realize how I'm so out of touch with politics. I've never followed politics and honestly I don’t really have an interest in it. I'm voting for God, he's ran my life without a problem. I'm listening to the conversations amongst my peers and it seems that most of them are voting for Obama. He "Appears" to be the best candidate for some people. I wonder how much of that interest in Obama is "biased". Some of my African American counterparts will lie to me and say "Oh I like his stance on blah blah" but in reality you just want him to win because he's Black. Some people that I ask will come out and be honest and say "I want him to win because he's Black". I appreciate that honesty, but it’s still the wrong reason to vote for somebody. Part of my African-American-ness wants Obama to win. It would be a monumental day in history to see the White House turned Black, but I cant be blinded by the fact he's black.

I'm sure that brother (Obama) is qualified. I'm sure he would do a bang-up job as president. While I'm very confident in the brother's skills, I'm also quite afraid for him and his African American supporters. He will be a Black president but he won’t be "Black people's president" I'm not saying he will go in the office and turn colors and forget about Black people, but I have a strong belief that every action he makes in that position will have to appear un-biased. Rightfully so, yet a lot of people think he's the savior for Black people. Our country hasn’t made a true effort to put Blacks on the same schedule as Whites, I don’t think one man can turn all that around in 4 years. I feel for Obama if he gets elected because he will be the most watched, dissected, hated and loved president of all time. Our country is barely ready to see Black senators, a Black president is a MAJOR stride in our racist society.

I had a very deep conversation with my roommate and a fellow friend about politics. One of the issues that kept being brought up was the idea of perception in politics. Perception plays a role in our everyday lives. We give a lot of instant credibility based on perception. If the person looks competent then we believe they are. How many times have you thought somebody was a certain way based on first impression? This instant extra credit that we give people is sometimes validated but oftentimes its not. In relation to these elections, I have a theory. I could be totally wrong but I think that I'm totally right. I don’t think Obama would have this much support from the White community if he was dark skinned. I'll repeat for the people who thought I was joking by saying that, "I don’t think Obama would have this much support from the White community if he was dark skinned" Honestly speaking, I think some Black people would have that same issue as well. Our country is very image driven. Lets be honest, Obama could never have dreads. Obama looks like the ideal African American candidate at this time in our society. Some people will say that Jesse and Al Sharpton(both past candidates) were a tad bit darker. Obama is almost fair skinned like Lena Horne. I believe darker skin adds a new element of instant credibility than lighter skin. We can go back to slavery and see that. I would have been outside in the fields regardless of my intellectual capacity. Obama would be in the house. We know that brother is real smart and he deserves every accolade that he gets, but I believe that if he was dark-skinned White and Black people alike would be more skeptical of voting for him. If you look at corporate America, music videos, television and other places you'll find that most of the people you "HEAR and SEE" are lighter skinned Black people. I know there are a lot of dark skinned successful people but the public wants to see that lighter skin. Its something about that lighter skin that makes people feel comfortable. I believe our society can accept a dark skin brother/sister excelling in sports but in the realms of education and corporate America we want to see lighter skin. It’s a lot of self hatred and racism out there believe me. Don’t get this article confused I think Obama is the man, but his bi-racial-ness has definitely helped him.

Kwame Kilpatrick Addresses Sex Scandal in Public

2008-01-31T06:33:00.000-08:00

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has, for the first time, publicly addressed a sex scandal that has rocked his administration. Giving a speech while holding hands with his wife, Kilpatrick asked the city of Detroit to forgive him for his sins.

"I would never quit on you, ever," said Kilpatrick. "We've got a lot of work to do. And with your help, I am going to continue to lead this city in getting the work done."

Wednesday, the Detroit Free Press reported that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may have lied under oath about having an affair with his Chief of Staff, Christine Beatty. Kilpatrick was also accused of lying about his firing of Deputy Chief Gary Brown.

Kym Worthy, the county prosecutor, has announced that an investigation is being opened into wrong-doing. If found guilty, Kwame Kilpatrick could face time in prison.

Rather than denying the affair, as Bill Clinton did nearly 10 years ago, Kilpatrick took full responsibility, stating, "To all of you who have believed in what we have been doing in this city since 2002, to all of you who have believed in me and my leadership, to all of you who have stuck with me through difficult times, to all of you who have prayed for me, I'm sorry."

Mayor Kilpatrick's wife, Carlita Kilpatrick also stepped in to provide support for her husband. She also noted that she and Kwame were having problems.

"Like all marriages, ours is not perfect," she said. "But through our commitment to God and each other, my husband and I will get through this. Yes, I am angry, I am hurt, and I am disappointed. But there is no question I love my husband."

Kwame Kilpatrick refused to discuss details of the sex scandal during his speech.
"Because there are legal matters pending at this moment, unfortunately I am unable to discuss any of those issues at this time."

Kilpatrick finished off his speech with a public apology.

"Most of all tonight, I want to make a public apology to my entire family, and specifically to the four people who I love the most in this world," said Mayor Kilpatrick.

"First, I want to apologize to my sons, Jelani, Jalil and Jonas. For the first time in my life I had to have a conversation with my 12-year-old twin sons about very grown up things. It was, without a doubt, the hardest conversation that I've ever had in my entire life.

"Finally, and most importantly, I want to make a public apology to my wife, Carlita, who I fell in love with when I was 19 years old. We decided to build a family together and we did that. Our marriage has not been perfect, but it has been great."

Reporters were barred from Kwame Kilpatrick's speech, given in a relatively empty room in the church that he and his family attend. Kilpatrick did not address the woman that he allegedly had the affair with, Christine Beatty. Instead, he focused on his marriage to his wife, Carlita Kilpatrick.

"This has been a situation where, yes, it's been embarrassing, yes it's been painful," the mayor said. "But through all of that, through the grace of God, we've also had a feeling of thankfulness and freedom. We have committed to moving forward together to make our marriage better and stronger."

Whether the public chooses to forgive Mayor Kilpatrick is up to debate. The American public forgave Bill Clinton for his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, but there are some who doubt that a young black politician can be as easily forgiven.

Kwame Kilpatrick, one of the youngest mayors in America, has been under a great deal of controversy since he took office. While being supported strongly by the city of Detroit, many have criticized his unconventional style of leadership as arrogant and overbearing. It is yet to be seen if he can overcome his most recent controversy.

Old School

2008-01-28T12:20:00.001-08:00

It really irks me to no end to hear old people say, “When I was young such and such happened”. I know that groceries used to cost less than two dollars, I know school used to be a 30 mile walk each way and I know that clothes used to be cheaper. All of this I know, yet I still have to give my elders their just due. Their stories keep me in touch with my present if that makes any sense. The wisdom that elders pass on to me might seem very useless and redundant at times because it sounds like that cassette tape that you’re mother plays every time she cleans up the house. As I mature in age and experience I realize that their advice is helpful. In society there has always been a clash between old and young, innovation against tradition and so forth. The young feel like the older generation doesn’t let them create new traditions and feel oppressed by their ranting and raving about respect. The older generation feels like the younger generation doesn’t have any sense of history or respect for their generation. Both sides have equally valid points, but who’s right?

I wasn’t around 23 plus years ago, but I can tell there has been a disconnect somewhere along the path. KRS-One, rapper, scholar, activist, is constantly reminding the younger generation to know their roots because history repeats itself. The idea of reverence for the past has come up a lot in hip-hop as most of the older artists feel like the new school artists don’t give them their praise for their. I agree with the older rappers because most of the stuff on the radio is a reverberation of older music. Newer artists have put their fresh spins on it but it’s still old. 50 Cent’s smash hit “I Get Money” was highly successful because it used a sample from Audio Two’s “Top Billing”. Rapper Nelly is nothing more than a modern day LL Cool J, rappers Foxy Brown and Lil Kim are borrowing a lot of the swagger of female counterparts MC Lyte and Salt-N-Pepa. These artists are certainly ORIGINAL but history does play apart in the present lives of these artists.

If we look at history there have always been clashes between generations. This idea hasn’t started with the addition of this generation. One thing I have learned is that the game doesn’t change, but the players do. I used to think that the things that I was listening to or the way I dressed was newer and hipper but in reality I was a throwback to the older generation. I used to try and emulate Kanye West’ preppy fashion and I thought it was so original and fresh. Then I learned that he borrowed a lot of his style from suburban white kids. There is a lot of originality in every generation. History keeps us all connected. Every generation builds upon the next. Lebron James had to learn from his predecessors just like Michael Jordan had to learn from his.

In order to keep our generations from clashing we must always realize that no idea is original and nothing’s new under the sun. We must learn to be tolerant of the old and new and have respect for each other. Keep the lines of communication open and most importantly learn to love your history.

Do We NEED to be Around Each Other?

2008-01-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

So it finally happened. I had been teaching at this southern rural college for 3 and a half years. I was the only black tenure track professor. There were only dozens of black students out of the population of 1000. But there they were last Friday at my door ready to change things...
We had a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on campus and that provided the spark. The spark wasn't unusual. MLK day celebrations definitely will (and should) do that. But this time it seems like it's going to turn into a wildfire.

"I really think we need a group as men of color on campus," one of them said. I was stunned. Of course they would ask me to be the adviser for this newly formed group. But this wasn't about me. I continued to listen and ask questions:

"What do you want his group to be?"

"What are you hoping to accomplish?"

"Why do you feel you NEED a group?"

The last question is the the real issue. I have struggled (and continue to struggle) with it for most of my life as most men of color should. Why do we feel we NEED to be around people who look like us? It may seem natural. Indeed, when I asked them to explain exactly why they needed the group, they stumbled over their words in trying to explain. It's not an easy question. Being trained as a mathematician, I clearly have been influenced by and surrounded by peers who were not black. Moreover, I have never had the need to be around people of my own race. I have always enjoyed it, but never NEEDED it. That may have to do with my background; being a graduate of Howard University and a native of DC may have something to do with that. Maybe I am just used to it.
Intuition however, would argue in the opposing direction. Why don't I feel a need to be around my own people when my past has me being around them all of the time? Why am I not struggling having the problems that people thought I would have in adjusting down here in a rural area? Why don't I have a problem with it? If I don't have a problem then why am I thinking about it? Is there something that I am missing?
I pose the questions to you; Explain your need to be around people like you. Would you go crazy if you couldn't hang around black people? Why? I haven't heard an eloquent explanation, but I am looking for one. We'll be talking about this issue on the show this Tuesday. Feel free to call in to show and express how you deal with this situation. We should be talking about this topic around 9:30pm. You can get info about the show at dcsouth.com under the radio show tab. Look forward to hearing from you.

Peace and Love,

Winger

She's White

2008-01-24T06:49:00.001-08:00

My friend Jeremy told me she had long hair, thick legs, a nice behind and was very endowed in the bosom area. Jeremy slid me the phone number and I called the next day. We had a lot in common; we liked the same movies, music and even shared similar goals. I forgot to mention she was White but that shouldn’t matter. Should it?

Me and this young lady (I wont disclose her name) dated for about two months before making it official. I must admit I wasn’t the most comfortable brother walking around my own neighborhood knowing that I had a White girlfriend. The “brothers” in my neighborhood would say “she thick as hell B” or “at least you gotta White-Black girlfriend”. My White girlfriend wasn’t the stereotypical White girl as some would say. She got what they called a “black card” by some of the African American community because of her social connections and affinities with the culture. The “sisters” AKA African American women looked at me funny when I walked in the mall. I constantly got the “mutha*@@* you must be tripping” look as I walked hand in hand with her. My African American female best friend didn’t say much when I told her the colorful news but she gave me that “look”. Any man can attest to the “look” that a woman can give you when she disapproves of something you’re doing. That look was classic, but nothing compared to the conversation with my Black mother.

A school Junior Ring Dance was coming up at my high school and I was planning on taking her. My mother asked me who I was taking and I told her the name of the young lady, so I left it at that. UNTIL THE DANCE PICTURES CAME BACK. My mother looked at the pictures and said “she’s White”. I nervously said “Naw mama she Jewish” hoping to get the oppressed people sympathy, but it didn’t work. She just shook her head and retreated to her room. I thought to myself “this isn’t gonna last long”

Even when we were dating I didn’t feel comfortable because I knew how my mother would take it. She wouldn’t approve and not because she’s racist but rather because it would put a bad mark on me. She said it was hard enough being an African American
without having someone criticize you for dating outside of your race. She says in a perfect world interracial dating would be okay, but the world isn’t on the same page with the issue. I agree but I still had to try and see for myself. Another issue that my mother had with interracial dating is the re-creating of interracial babies. When a baby is born to a Black and White couple, what racial-identity does the baby assume? I’ve seen a lot of cases where an interracial child preferences one of his nationalities over the other. Some of those reasons could be based off of socialization based on physical or socioeconomic attributes or self-hatred. I have seen cases where both cultures are recognized and respected seemingly equally. Tiger Woods, Mariah Carey are a few of these examples.

I haven’t dated outside of my race since that incident and a lot of it has to do with the perception that others have. I would love to say “I don’t care what other think, but I do and almost have to care in certain instances.” It was just a several decades ago when African American men were lynched for “liking” White women. I don’t think our society has fully embraced interracial dating. I don’t think I have either. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it but I have reservations about it. The reservations I have are based off perception and not racial discrimination. To each is own. Society is becoming more and more accepting of these types of issues but we still have a lot of work to do. My experience taught me a lot of about the baggage that I carried around because of my race. I would love to say we are all the same and we can do whatever, but we aren’t there yet. However, we are making strides.

In Honor of Black History Month

2008-01-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

In honor of my brothers and to all of the brothers,

I am submitting this to all of you, in honor of our collective ancestry, a notice about my new book entitled, "It's All Gumbo to Me: Examining Our World through the metaphor of Gumbo."

This is the beginning of a life's work that attempts to record and detail the impact of our human interactions in this world. I wanted to join the ranks of so many of you who have produced scholarly work to make life better for all people, but especially those in African American communities. Below is a description of the work and how it can be obtained.

I have been blessed to give a keynote address at the National Black Graduate Student Association in March in chilly Chicago where I will be discussing this topic to that audience. I am trusting that some of you who read this blog will be there so we can meet and build stronger bonds of brotherly care. Cheers to all!

About the Title. This book focuses on multiple layers of the culture of the United States. It is a text that addresses cultural phenomena through the metaphor of Gumbo, a southern cuisine developed by African slaves. It’s All Gumbo to me is ideal for students, educators, and interested persons studying cultural diversity, humanities, multicultural education,counseling, psychology and African American Studies. This book brings together key cultural dimensions of the American fabric synthesized through the metaphor of Gumbo.

This is a multi-volume set that addresses a variety of social concerns.
The initial edition contains:

• A detailed Author’s preface that lays the foundation for American culture and how the metaphor of Gumbo is to be used.

• Six original essays concerning key cultural phenomena impacting American society.

• A new and fresh look at American society from an established and emerging
academic leader in the field of Counselor Education.

• An Epilogue that makes a link to the next book in the series.

It’s All Gumbo to Me is designed to be read and enjoyed all
around the world to assist concerned individuals to positively impact their communities.

Excerpts from the book:

“The gumbo pot and its contents serve as a
means to understand the need to create communities
through grass roots activities so people
can better relate to themselves, others and the
world around them.”

“Hope is made up of burying our past baggage,
leaning on something that you may not be able
to see, preparing the self & preparing others, and
being altruistic.”

“We live in a society that has, what I have called,
Contradictory Rules of Engagement. Contradictory
Rules of Engagement refers to the Inequitable impact of our nation’s ideology on
people of color, women and the poor.”

Online Sales at www.lulu.com.
Type in the title in the Search Window,
Then select your purchase option:

1. Download the book to your
Computer for $15.00.
2. Order the hard copy book
for $22.01.

Binding: 6”x9” Paperback, perfect
binding, 40 pages of comprehensive
content.

Publication Date: 1/20/2008
Release Date: 1/25/2008

Reflections on Martin Luther King's Birthday

2008-01-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Brothers and Sisters,

I am writing this on the eve of the Observance of Dr. King's Holiday. Every year I take time out to teach my daughters about the movement that placed Dr. King at the forefront of a people's quest for freedom.

I grew up, as many of us did, learning about Dr. King and his service to a people yearning to be treated as full citizens inside of a nation that claimed to be the example of freedom for the world.

I was born in February 1967. Dr. King's life ended the next year. I wish I could have heard him in real life. I visited the Lorraine Motel many years ago with my daughter when she was about 7 years old. If you have never visited that landmark, you may want to visit it soon.

The tour was self directed, but you also had the ability to have a guided tour. I chose to walk with my daughter and explain what we were viewing as a moment to bond and build a relationship with my daughter. The museum was quite interesting. When my daughter and I happened upon a burnt out bus, she inquired why would an old bus be in a museum. I began to tell her why the bus was burned in the first place. She gave me a look of confusion that only a young girl could who did not have the context of that time in our nation.

We happened by a replica of a jail cell. We went in the jail cell and sat on the iron beds. She asked why are we sitting in here? I explained that many, many times in Dr. King's life and in the lives of others the jail cell was a meeting place as much as it was a place for "the bad guys". I began to explain that Dr. King and many people, men and women, were arrested for trying to make a difference in the lives of people who were not being treated fairly and that often times large groups of people were put in prison for the smallest of reasons. She gave me the same look she gave me while looking at the burnt bus. I stated to her that one of Dr. King's most famous letters was written from a jail cell. I also told her that a jail cell, when occupied for justice, is more a place of triumph than it is a place of shame and degredation (Dr. King taught me that lesson).

The tour ends with a view of the rooms Dr. King and his people were staying in before he was assasinated. The rooms are said to be left in the condition they were in at the time of the killing. Mahalia Jackson (at least at the time of my visit) was singing in the background. At this time, I was not talking to my daughter, I was working very hard to hold back the tears. I was always emotional over this event, but seeing the room-the plates, coffee cups, bed turned back-and looking out at the spot on the balcony AND hearing Mahalia sing was a bit too much. I was glad my daughter did not ask me a question at that time, nothing would have come out.

I encourage all of us to pick up a speech and read it, pick up a book of Dr. King's life and read it, or find someone who kinda knows about the man and the movement and speak to them about it. I encourage all of us to re-engage in the study of what it meant to speak out when death could have been the result of our words and actions.

On the eve of Dr. King's observance, let us endeavor to re-educate ourselves and educate others of the cost of freedom....

Until the next time,

Cyrus Marcellus Ellis

Bob Johnson Should Have Backed Off Barack Obama

2008-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

"Why Bob, why?" That's the only question I asked as I watched Bob Johnson attacking Barack Obama in favor of Senator Hillary Clinton. I have endorsed Barack, but I am not in love with him. I am completely out of love with Hillary, and I thoroughly enjoy a good verbal sparring match. Dialogue can be healthy.

But damnit Bob, did you have to come off like THAT?

I am not a big fan of Bob Johnson, but part of me understands him. I am a financial expert, so I know full well how the profit motive in American business consistently contradicts productive community activity. I understood why he made his billions shaking booties on BET. I understand why every black celebrity, from Michael Jordan to Snoop Dog must kiss Bob Johnson's ass to make him happy. I understand why Johnson enjoys the power that comes in a world where people only judge you for how much you have and have little concern for how you actually got it.

But there are times when even I am shocked at the lengths that hard core capitalists will go to in order to shamelessly promote their own agenda. I've seen more ethical behavior from drug dealers.

Attacking Barack Obama by casually referring to the mistakes of his past is lower than low. It is even lower when you are making the attacks in support of a candidate who might be called "The Crypt Keeper" for the number of skeletons her family has in its closet.

Hillary Clinton has a husband who didn't inhale, was receiving oral sex in the White House and then lied on the stand to try to cover his tracks

Yet, you are only pointing fingers at Obama. Having a black man point the finger at Obama was clearly a more effective strategy for Hillary, since having a black man take down one of his own allows you to remain the angelic overseer. How disgusting.

Bob Johnson will continue to be Bob Johnson....a man who honestly thinks that money is more important than integrity and that who you are as a person is measured by the size of your bank account. I've seen this in some of my other friends who are unable to satisfy their wives happy in the bedroom. An implant might do the trick.

I feel sorry for Mr. Johnson. One day, he is going to realize that his worth as a man is not diminished nor increased by the size of his bank account. For when it comes to his commitment to the black community, the man is completely bankrupt.

Fox News and Their Smear Campaign Against Barack Obama

2008-01-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a video of what Fox News has been doing to smear the name of Barack Obama. I know about this first hand, since O'Reilly spent an entire week saying things about myself, Syracuse University and CNN that were not true. Obama seems to be wise to it all, as he has not appeared on Fox since February of 2007. I am proud of him for doing this. Fox is a disgrace to modern journalism and it's about time they become exposed for what they are.

Before I knew that Barack had joined me in a boycott of Fox, I had privately told the producers of Bill O'Reilly's show (also Hannity & Colmes) that I am not interested in making anymore appearances for them. I am not a fan of Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, for they are far worse than David Duke, Don Imus and nearly every other racist in America's recent past. The fact that they appeal to so many people says that our country has alot of work to do.

Here is the video below. It's a good one.

TI: The Greatest Rapper Ever?

2008-01-09T05:57:00.001-08:00

TI is still the best rapper in America. Jail or not, he is as talented as Tupac. Tupac was great, I used to listen to him every morning when I was in graduate school. I still love his stuff, and he became great when he got with Dr. Dre (in my opinion). But TI is the stuff that legends are made of. He and Chamillionaire also both possess the ability to understand the complexities of racism, business, politics and social injustice and I predict that they will become more politically involved through time.

Oh that weapons charge on TI? I'm not sure how that's going to turn out. But I honestly think that TI, as sharp as this brother is, will find a way to get out of this one. Not to say that he won't do any time, he has a target on his back and the feds are looking for him to slip up. He probably does slip up at times. But this brother has CEO/Rocket scientist genius, and I know that he is going to bounce back.

I use alot of hip hop with my show, "Boiling Hot with Boyce Watkins". Some people like it, some don't, I personally don't give a damn. Someone once asked me "You are a highly educated brother, and why do you dumb yourself down by connecting yourself with rappers?"

I looked at the stupid &^%$*@ and said "Don't you realize that rappers are smarter than most PhDs I know? It's just a different form of intellect, and you are not smart enough to understand it." People assume that because rappers talk about the street that they are not as sharp as some one-dimensional geek who has spent his whole life inside a physics book.

I beg to differ.

Actually, it takes more intelligence, creativity, discipline, determination, focus, passion and courage to make it in the street than it does to make it on a college campus. If you slip up in college, you go live with your parents. You slip up in the street, you end up dead. There are fewer resources to use, more obstacles to overcome, more traps set out for your demise. When you can dodge all those bullets and still end up on top, you are clearly representing survival of the fittest. Most of my friends at Ivy League schools could never make it in such an environment.

Bottom line: when a rapper has overcome all this and still ends up on top (i.e. TI, 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Eminem) they clearly represent survival of the fittest. This achievement beats out the accomplishmnts of a pampered, overprotected clown like George Bush any day.

Nuff said.

Out of respect for the late Tupac, I included one of my favorite Tupac songs below. This will balance things out, because when you compare two artists this great, nobody loses the contest.

Golf Channel Analyst Says Golfers Should Lynch Tiger Woods

2008-01-08T16:16:00.001-08:00

Kelly Tilghman, a former golfer for Duke University and now a play-by-play analyst for The Golf Channel, said some things on air that would have made Don Imus and Bill O'Reilly blush.

During a telecast of the PGA Tour's opening event, Tilghman said that today's young players should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley."

According to Newsday, a spokesman for the Golf Channel said that Tilghman apologized during Sunday's broadcast and has "reached out to Woods' representatives to express regret for the comments."

"I've reached out to Tiger to make an apology, and I've done the same with our viewers," Tilghman said.

"I can assure you that there was never any intention to offend anyone. I'm sorry for any misunderstanding."

The Golf Channel representatives have stated that they plan no disciplinary action.

Michael Vick Switches His Jail House

2008-01-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick left his jailhouse home and got a new one. Vick was recently transferred to a Kansas prison to serve out the rest of his 23-month prison sentence on a federal dogfighting charge.

The camp is in Leavenworth, Kansas, said Traci Billingsley, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Yahoo! Sports stated that Vick is attempting to enter a drug treatment facility at Leavenworth. If he successfully completes the program, he will be eligible for parole in 12 months.

Vick was convicted on federal dogfighting charges after he and 3 co-defendants were found to have raised pit bulls with the intent of dog fighting. The dogs were found on Vick's property in Virginia and Vick was connected with the events that took place on the property.

Kenyan Election Violence Still Continues

2008-01-06T21:58:00.001-08:00

A week of post-election violence in Kenya has left 250,000 people homeless and over 300 dead. This is a surprising reality, given that the nation of known for being a safe haven for those fleeing war ravaged countries.

"I can't believe it. We're refugees in our own land," said Dan Mugambi, a 35-year-old teacher who was among about 15,000 people sheltering in a primary school compound in the North Rift Valley village of Kachibora. "This has never happened here before."

Kenya has turned chaotic after supporters of the opposition leader Raila Odinga accused President Mwai Kibaki of rigging the presidential election. The election was held on December 27.

Odinga blames Kibaki for the violence, claiming that he armed militant gangs in Nairobi slums to cause the chaotic violence after the elections.

It has also been reported that former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been called in to help find a solution to the violence.

The United States initially congratulated Kibaki for the election, but then retracted after the EU and Great Britain called the outcome into question. The only country on record for congratulating Kibaki is Uganda.

“You need to address the genesis of this violence,” Odinga said during interviews. “Most of this has been done by Munguki, the government has armed illegal terrorist organization called [Munguki] organization who started long before. They are responsible for killing people.”

Bill O'Reilly Allegedly Attacks A Barack Obama Aide

2008-01-05T19:04:00.001-08:00

Fox News Host Bill O'Reilly appeared at a Barack Obama event at Nashua High School. Upon O'Reilly's presence, the crowd took notice, since O'Reilly has been accused of being racist and heavily against Barack Obama. However, it wasn't his presence that got the most attention.

Obama staffer Marvin Nicholson, a close aide to Senator Barack Obama, was standing next to Obama as he was taking handshakes. O'Reilly then yelled for Nicholson to get out of the way of his camera's shot. Nicholson also said that O'Reilly proceeded to move beyond the barricade protecting Obama, demanding a closer look.

"Then he grabbed me with both of his arms and tried to push me out of the way," Nicholson told the press.

Fox News has no comment about the incident.

"I told him, 'Sir, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't shove me anymore.'

"He called me 'low class.' He was pretty upset."

Secret Service agents assigned to protect Obama strongly ordered O'Reilly to get back behind the barricade, at which point, Obama extended his hand. O'Reilly then asked if Obama would appear on his show.

Nicholson, who has worked on other presidential campaigns in the past, said that he has never seen anything like this in his long career.

"I've never seen a member of the press lay hands on a staffer before," he said.

Democrats, to this point, including Obama, have refused to appear on Bill O'Reilly's show, as have most African-American leaders. Fox was forced to cancel a Democratic debate after none of the candidates agreed to appear.

"The senator said he would think about going to the show after the primaries," Nicholson said.

Some say O'Reilly's show has lost credibility in recent months, as he has been accused The New York Times, CNN, MSNBC and many major networks of being biased. Being accused of attacking a close aide of Barack Obama isn't likely to help his reputation.

Where are the Roles for Women in Black Leadership?

2008-01-04T09:13:00.001-08:00

Written by Mary Alice Miller

Many Black "leaders" decry the lack of massive support when calls go out for community action. They wonder why outrage is not spontaneous and ubiquitous. Black leaders actually vocalize their wonder when the masses go about their business as if nothing is going on.

What most Black leaders miss are these facts: the leaders are Black men, the issues revolve around Black males, those expected to engage in community action are Black women, and issues related to the well-being of Black women and children are ignored.
Under normal circumstances, male leadership stands for the well-being of the entire community- men, women and children. In the Black community, male leadership are generally concerned only with themselves, and other males. The well-being of women and children, in the community and the home, do not seem to be of paramount concern. The low rates of stable marriages among Blacks, and the doubling of Black children in single-parent families (from 35% in the 1960's to 70% at the beginning of the 21st century) are two examples of the absence of "operational unity" in the Black community.

During the Civil Rights Movement, with Black men in leadership roles, Black women and children were the backbone. Rosa Parks' courageous defiance was the spark of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Black children were at the center of integrating Little Rock High School. Black male leadership strategically used Black children as fodder for water cannons, dogs and filling jail cells during Civil Rights marches. What did Black women and children get for their efforts? Dismissed.

Years of sustained action culminated with the August 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which led to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the National Voting Rights Act in 1965. The March on Washington was organized by A. Phillip Randolph (international president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters), Whitney Young (president of the National Urban League), Roy Wilkins (president of the NAACP), James Farmer (president of the Congress of Racial Equality), John Lewis (president of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King (president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference) and Bayard Rustin (organizer of the first Freedom Rides).

Black women played the central role in a wide variety of Civil Rights organizations and actions, including Daisy Bates (president of Little Rock NAACP who recruited the Little Rock 9), Pauli Murray (lawyer and feminist who had staged the first sit-in at a Washington restaurant during World War II), Dorothy Height (president of the National Council of Negro Women), Diane Nash (student leader and organizer of the Freedom Riders in the South), Jo Ann Robinson (college teacher who worked with a group of middle-class Black women to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott), Ella Baker (acting director of King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference, advisor for Black college students who formed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and Rosa Parks (long time activist and catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott). Despite the sacrifices of these and other Black women, the organizers of the March on Washington refused to let even one Black woman speak.

Black women thought the Civil Rights Movement included our well-being, in spite of Black men marching with large placards tied to their torsos declaring in huge black lettering, "I AM A MAN." Black women thought we were included when we got arrested at protest marches side by side with Black men. It was our children who were strategically used as human targets for water hoses. But when Stokely Carmichael (who appropriated the term "Black Power_" from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.) was asked the role of the Black woman in the movement, he slipped up and honestly (from his point of view) retorted, "On her back."

Popular culture was sometimes not much better. A classic Parliament Funkadelic line: "Stupid Jill forgot her pill, and now they have a son," as if Jack, who had no concern for the well-being of Jill or his son, was not responsible for the situation he created. Blaxploitation movies glorified "pimpin" and being a "playa" at the expense of Black women, nurtured children and stable families. Gangsta rap is no better when it tells the world Black women ain't nothin' but hos, not wives.
Last season's Survivor: Cook Island graphically illustrated how casually Black female opinion is dismissed. The 16 participants were divided into 4 teams- Black, white, Asian and Latino. The Black team members, Sekou, Nathan, Sephanie and Sundra were asked to make a decision. Without thinking, Sekou grabbed Nathan's shoulder, stepped forward and conferred for a decision. Left out of the team process, Stephanie and Sundra looked at Sekou like he was stupid. Later, it was no surprise that Sekou was voted out. Sekou's analysis of the vote was that the team made a mistake by voting him, their leader, out. It never occurred to Sekou that a true leader takes into account the gifts and opinions all team members bring, including Black women.

In spite of this and other increasingly public and private indignities, our love for Black men has kept hope alive.

For decades, Black women have been the backbone of community action. Interestingly, when many of these same women (who are members of any number of community groups) ask for development of community action around issues related to the well-being of Black women and children, they are told they are being "divisive". Many Black women, not wanting to be "divisive", have dropped their inquiries and calls for action. This has been going on for years.

Who are really the "divisive" ones? When Black male leadership chooses "Black issues", why are they (with few exceptions) limited to support for Black male challenges with the criminal justice system? Could it be that addressing the well-being of Black women and children would require Black men to look at and amend their selfish male privilege instead of myopically focusing on white racism? The greatest risk to the well-being of Black women and children is not racism or police brutality. The greatest risk to the well-being of Black women and children is the behavior and attitudes of Black men. Consider, for example, the large numbers of Black children on welfare and the family and community instability attendant with Black women begging for food stamps to feed Black men's children as if it is a glamorous lifestyle. Why has no Black male leader called for a rally at the welfare center demanding that Black men get their children off welfare? Why has no Black male leader held a march in support of children who feel threatened when they are sexually harassed while walking to school?

There are a few glimmers of hope. Tamika Mallory has led the National Action Network's Decency Initiative in challenging denigrating lyrics in Hip-Hop. Girls For Gender Equity, under the leadership of JoAnn Smith, gives young teens tools to deal with street sexual harassment. Kevin Powell has been hosting monthly men's meetings after his successful Black and Male in America conference. Byron Hurt produced Beyond Beats and Rhymes, a documentary look at misogyny in popular Black music. Taharka Robinson recently organized a march against domestic violence.

In the meantime, Black women need to speak up, even at the risk of being called "divisive" by "divisive" male leadership. The survival of the Black community is at stake.

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