Why are Black Couples Not Staying Married?

Are black men or black women the ones to blame in the decline in African American marriage?

Tiger Woods 911 Call

A neighbor calls 911 when Tiger Woods slams his car into a tree.

Black News: Police Still Can’t get to Tiger Woods

Florida troopers who sought to interview golf great Tiger Woods and his wife on Saturday about how his SUV struck a fire hydrant and a neighbor’s tree were told by his agent to come back the following day.

Two Florida Highway Patrol vehicles had arrived at Woods’ $2.4 million mansion outside Orlando, but the patrol later issued a statement that the interview was postponed to Sunday.

"The Florida Highway Patrol has received information that Tiger Woods and his wife were not available to be interviewed … as we had previously scheduled," Kim Montes, a sergeant with the FHP’s Orlando division, said in a statement.

"This announcement came from his (Woods’) agent. Troopers were asked to return tomorrow (Sunday). This is still an ongoing crash investigation."

Woods, 33, the greatest golfer of his generation and one of the world’s most recognizable figures, hit a fire hydrant and tree as he pulled his Cadillac Escalade out of the driveway of his house at around 2:25 a.m. EST on Friday, the FHP said. He was taken to the hospital with some injuries, and released.

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Dr. Wilmer Leon: The Power of Privilege

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III

On the evening of Tuesday, November 24 a young couple from Virginia made their way into one of the most secure events in the country, President Obama’s state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Monmohan Singh and his wife at the White House. Like the other 300 plus invited guests, Tareq and Michaele Salahi went through multiple layers of Secret Service security, took photos with Chief of Staff Rom Emanuel and mingled with Vice President Biden and other invited guests. The problem is that the Salahi’s were not invited to the dinner. Their names were not listed on the official guest list or any other list that would have allowed them entrance into the White House. They crashed the party!

All that this couple needed to gain entrance into a state dinner at the White House was a tuxedo, traditional Indian evening wear, attitude, and white skin. When they arrived at the Secret Service check point without a printed invitation and without their names on the official guest list, they were not detained or questioned. No telephone calls were made; no further inquiries were needed; just white skin, blond hair, the expectation of admittance, and a pretty smile. Had this occurred at an airport the Salahi’s would have never made it past airport security.

Click to read.

Inner City Schools Should Get Better Funding

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

The following is an excerpt from the book, "Black American Money."
I saw some random "expert" on a "60 Minutes" segment discussing the state of the education system. The man was attempting to argue that more resources won’t make a difference in the quality of our schools. He went on to argue that many of the pathetic schools in the inner city are run by blacks, implying that not only do African-Americans not care about their own youth, they are shiftless buffoons when it comes to money management. I’ve heard similar arguments from members of oppressive groups around the world, as oppressor attitudes are shockingly consistent and universal. A friend of mine from India once explained to me that additional government resources being allocated to create opportunities for "the untouchables" were a waste of time, in large part due to the fact that the people were too lazy to efficiently use these opportunities.Stereotypes against historically oppressed groups are quite common, as the world has been trained to believe that when it comes to managing money, white men are gods and black people are idiots. But when it comes to poor money management, few institutions are worse than the Pentagon which has been known to spend $500 for a toilet seat. They also fail to look to the airline and automobile industries, the ultimate welfare queens of American capitalism. These industries consistently seek government bailouts in the form of tariffs and subsidies. I won’t begin to discuss the Financial Crisis of 2008 – 2009, as we saw our entire global financial system artificially inflated and subsequently destroyed by individuals who are not black. Rather, people are usually quick to point to black administrators in inner city schools and historically black colleges and universities as the most wasteful individuals in American education and industry.

 

Click to read.

Shaq Pays for Shaniya Davis’ Funeral

O’Neal plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. A spokesperson for the team told the Fayetteville Observer Shaq paid for Sunday’s service, which was held in Fayetteville and attended by thousands.

The funeral reportedly averaged about $4,500.

The service was held at the Manna Church. At one point, more than a hundred looked through the windows of the church door because they couldn’t get in.

Bradley Lockhart, Shaniya’s father, was not scheduled to speak but got up and encouraged the community to not get angry about the situation.

Shaniya disappeared from her home on November 10, and her body was found days later in a wooded area just south of Sanford.

Related Content

STORY: Antoinette Davis moved to state prison

STORY: Thousands gather at Shaniya Davis funeral

According to court documents, 29-year-old Mario McNeill killed the 5-year-old the same day she was reported missing.

Shaniya’s mother, 25-year-old Antoinette Davis, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution.

 

Click to read.

Opinion: Barack Obama and Black Men: Has He Done His Job?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

I did a recent CNN appearance along with the actor Hill Harper and Dr. Alvin Poussaint at Harvard University. The series was a one-year anniversary segment featuring political issues within the African American community. for the entire week, the primary focus was on the impact that President Barack Obama has had onAfrican American men. Given that I’ve been a black man for quite a while now, I found this conversation topic particularly interesting, so getting to speak to Richelle Carey again wasn’t the only perk of doing the job that day.

It must be made clear that the president should not be expected to save the entire world in one swoop. His job is difficult, and he can’t give everyone what they want all the time. But to the extent that President Obama has been positioned to trump pre-existing black leadership (remember that some say we now live in a post-racial America), one can argue that President Obama’s rantings in black churches come with some degree of accountability from the Oval Office. Obama has spoken at NAACP meetings, telling black men to take responsibility for our families (as if none of us do) and to engage in more personal responsibility (as if we don’t do that already). Such tough talk should be backed by meaningful policy, since structural incentives play a dominant role in the ultimate choice of the individual. For example, when companies get tax incentives to invest in new projects, they almost always do.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce talks Financial Lipo on ABC News

Dr. Boyce and Richelle Carey Discuss Heather on CNN

Dr. Wilmer Leon: Go Home Sarah Palin

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, Howard University 

With the release of her new book Going Rogue: An American Life, former Alaskan Governor and Republican party VP nominee Sarah Palin is once again being given a spotlight she does not deserve. Under normal circumstances Palin would have drifted into obscurity by now; a political has-been who never was. Instead, a sub-par politician with no substantial constituency; no command of relevant issues, and no solutions to substantive problems, is being given air and face time as though she really matters. The simple reality that few are willing to articulate is, if she were not relatively attractive, of European ancestry and a woman, Sarah Palin would be day old bread.

Former Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) did not select Palin as his running mate because she was a “rogue”, innovator, or had demonstrated intellectual heft. McCain simply pandered to the Conservative Right, tried to siphon off some of the disgruntled Senator Clinton supporters, and gave America more of the same ole’ politics. From that point until now, Sarah Palin has continually tried to reinvent herself, but continues to give Americans more of the same; “all sizzle and no steak”.

Click to read.

Dr. Wilmer Leon Gives Obama Advice on Policies

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Your Black World 

Early on the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama said, "This country is ready for a transformative politics of the sort that John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt represented." Socially, President Obama is beginning to move in such a positive transformative direction.

After 12 years of languishing in Congress, on Wednesday, October 28, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard / James Byrd Hate Crimes Bill. By signing this bill, the president expands the federal definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. It also allows federal authorities to pursue hate-crimes cases when local authorities are either unable or unwilling to do so. This law was named after Matthew Shepard, a gay man murdered in Wyoming in 1998, and James Byrd, the African-American man dragged to his death behind a pickup truck in Texas that same year.

Click to read.

Things You Don’t Know about Heather Ellis

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

 

Jury selection for Heather Ellis continues

Heather Ellis case one in a long line of Missouri’s racial injustices

This Nov. 4, 2009 file photo shows Heather Ellis, left, arm-in-arm with her mother, Hester Ellis, exiting the Stoddard County Justice Center in Bloomfield, Mo. (AP Photo/Corey Noles, Dexter Daily Statesman, File)

This week, for the first time, I had the chance to speak with Heather Ellis.

Heather was not previously allowed to speak, since her attorney told her to remain silent. I can tell you that after speaking with Heather for nearly two hours, she is a fine young woman. She is NOT the kind of person who needed to spend any time in prison, and I am glad she took the plea deal from the prosecution. Let me explain a few facts about the case that you may not know:

1) Heather is not admitting guilt: Anyone familiar with the criminal justice system in America should understand that there are times when you have to plead in order to make something go away. There was no smoking gun implicating Heather Ellis; there was only the risk that the jury (which her high powered attorney, Scott Rosenblum, considered to be the worst jury he’d seen in 26 years of practice) was going to send her to prison or jail.

Like most of us, Heather is not a person who wants to go to jail for any significant period of time. I personally worried that she would be abused if left in the presence of the very officers who’d attacked her on the night of her arrest, not to mention the criminals she would be incarcerated with. If she were my daughter, I would have told her to take the plea.

The good thing was that her fight led the entire nation to talk about issues that we would never have discussed otherwise. Anyone who doesn’t agree with her decision needs to go put their own child on trial with up to 15 possible years in prison and see how much yapping you do then.
2) There is no evidence of an assault on an officer and she was not convicted of these felonies: According to Heather (whom I believe and I’ll tell you why in a second), there was one police officer who was dead set on the idea of pursuing and harassing her. He followed her closely out of the store, referring to her as a b*tch and a ho. He then told her to "go back to the ghetto." That is when Heather turned and asked him why he was harassing her instead of chasing real criminals. That is when he said, "Because I want to harass your stupid a**." That is also the officer who, without warning, tackled Heather and dragged her to the police car.

The reason Heather’s story is credible is because this officer had been fired from another job for sexual harassment and had lied on the witness stand in the past. Her attorney’s research uncovered the officer’s dirty past, and Heather discussed this issue in more detail in our conversation.
3) This was not a jury of her peers: Heather’s father, Pastor Nathaniel Ellis, told me that he had wanted to push the trial to the very end. What changed his mind, he said, was seeing his daughter break down in tears over the idea of going to jail or prison.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: KKK Rally at Ole Miss University

By Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I was intrigued by recent reports that the Ku Klux Klan had a rally on the Ole Miss Campus recently. It might surprise you to know that I am essentially unconcerned by their presence on campus. Don’t get me wrong, Klansmen are incredibly ignorant. Also, we cannot deny their historical reign of terror over people of color in America. But I can also give you a list of reasons that we should stop paying attention to the KKK.

1) They thrive off of attention: The KKK has very little power. They don’t do very much anymore, and even in this rally, it appears that there were only a few members present. The truth is that the klan only has power because we give it attention. They are like a grease fire: The more water you put on it, the more it grows. But if you starve the fire of oxygen, it eventually dies out. The klan must be starved of attention, and then they will go away. They only remain relevant because we want them to be.

 

Click to read.

Klan Rally Held before the Ole Miss-LSU Game

• Members of the Ku Klux Klan protest on the steps of Fulton Chapel at the University of Mississippi (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Ryan Moore)

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — About a dozen hooded Ku Klux Klan members rallied briefly at the University of Mississippi before Saturday’s football game with No. 10 LSU.

The members of the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan spent about 10 minutes waving flags, displaying Nazi-style salutes and occasionally gesturing at a group of about 250 hecklers that included young children. They were protesting the school’s decision to drop a pep song that included "Dixie."

 

Click to read.

Another Hurdle Jumped for Healthcare Reform

WASHINGTON – A bruising debate on health care awaits the Senate after Thanksgiving now that the historic legislation has cleared a key hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama.

The bill would extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.

In the final minutes of a daylong session, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused Republicans of trying to stifle a historic debate the nation needed.

The Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said the vote was anything but procedural — casting it as a referendum on the bill itself, which he said would raise taxes, cut Medicare and create a “massive and unsustainable debt.”

Click to read.

Must See Video: Oprah Performing a Song at the age of 17!

Oprah Winfrey like you’ve never seen her before.

Heather Ellis Finally Speaks: Listen to her Side of the Story

Here is an interview that Heather Ellis did for AOL Black Voices – it appears that her side of the story is very different from the prosecution and she may have reason to sue the police department.

CNN Video on the Heather Ellis Plea Deal

Here is more CNN coverage, including final statements from Heather Ellis.

Jesse Jackson vs. Artur Davis

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I love speaking with Rev. Jesse Jackson.  He walks and talks like a man who has seen and heard nearly everything.  Our civil rights leaders are social hubs through which many members of our society must travel in order to reach their destinations.   You can’t call yourself a black man and not know the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Jackson took things a step further by stating recently at a Congressional Black Caucus function that,”You can’t vote against health care and call yourself a black man.”

RELATED: Jesse Jackson Says To CBC You Can’t Be Black And Be Against Health Care

This comment was aimed at Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, the only member of theCongressional Black Caucus who does not support health care reform.   What is most interesting about Jackson’s comment is that he is right, but not quite.  You can certainly argue that Davis’ lack of support for the plan implies  that his interests are not in line with the majority of African Americans in this country:  Most of them love Barack Obama and are willing to support anything that he supports.  The other sad truth is that health care reform is so complicated that most Americans don’t have a clue about what’s going on.   In that regard, we can argue that it is difficult for Davis to say that he represents the black community when he votes in a direction that is not correlated with the majority of African Americans in the state of Alabama.

Click to read.

The Latest Black News from AOL – 11/20/09

It Ain’t Easy Being Green…During the Holidays

• Now that the holidays are coming up, I always get asked the question, so what do you eat? It’s … Read More
• Posted by Nwenna Kai in Blackvoices Main | Comments (1)

Diabetic Holiday Cooking With the Diabetic Diva

• In 2007, I was diagnosed with acute type 1 diabetes. I was approximately 200 pounds, and had … Read More
• Posted by Elizabeth Mwanga in Blackvoices Main | Comments (0)

The Single-Parent Holiday Guide

• Whether you are just separated or have divorced for seven years, the holiday season presents some … Read More
• Posted by Angela Bronner Helm in Blackvoices Main | Comments (0)

Black Friday Doorbuster Deals

• Black Friday Doorbuster Deals are designed to get people into stores early in the morning on that … Read More
• Posted by Alexis Stodghill in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Idris Elba Added to Another Comic Book Film – ‘Thor’

• Already set to play a character in Dark Castle’s DC Comics adaptation ‘The Losers,’ British actor … Read More
• Posted by Wilson Morales in BV on Movies | Comments (0)

White Women Wear Weaves Too! (And Other Revelations)

• If you have questions about weaves, wigs, sew ins, clip ins, extensions and/or lacefronts — I sure … Read More
• Posted by Patrice Grell Yursik in BV Hair Talk | Comments (3)

Health Care Bill Update, Congressional Black Caucus & Oprah: Business News

• Black Caucus Stalls Finance Overhaul In one of the clearest examples of how the weak economy is … Read More
• Posted by Alexis Stodghill in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Dr. Boyce: Yes, Heather Took the Plea, but I’ve Still Got Questions

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Black Planet 

I have been actively involved in the fight for Heather Ellis, the 24-year old school teacher now facing up to 15-years in prison for cutting line at a local Wal-Mart.  Although Heather has now reached a plea deal with prosecutors over her arrested, there are still questions that need to be answered.  No, she was not charged with cutting in line, but it was the cashier’s reaction to the alleged line cut which led to the relevant sequence of events.  Had the cashier been more professional and not refused to serve Heather, none of this would have happened (You hear that Walmart? Perhaps that’s why your attorneys are telling you to remain silent).

I have five simple questions about the trial of Heather Ellis:

1) If “no one was seriously injured,” why was she facing up to 15-years in prison?

In the opening statements of the trial, the prosecutor in the case, Morley Swingle (the dandy fellow with the Confederate flag on the cover of his book) stated that “There was no serious injury, but it did hurt,” when referring to the alleged assaults committed by Ms. Ellis.  If no one was seriously injured, does that constitute a Class-C felony?  This statement was quite telling when it comes to understanding the style of justice being administered in the Southeast Missouri area (which is why we are sending our reports to the Justice Department after the trial is over).  Given that Ellis appears to have been the only person to go to the hospital after she allegedly beat down all of these great big men, it would seem to me that perhaps she might be the one who is able to file an assault charge against the officers.  Additionally, the defense attorney on the case, Scott Rosenblum, presented evidence in court of there being blood in Heather Ellis’ jacket pocket from the night of the incident.  This would be consistent with her claim to the doctor the next day that she was assaulted by the police.

Click to read.

Heather’s Attorney is Ripping Witnesses Apart

It appears that Heather’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, actually knows what he’s doing – the trial is getting interesting.

Heather Ellis Walmart Video Released on CNN

Does anyone see a smoking gun in this video?

Black News: Detroit Man Shoots His own Son in the Head!

Jamar Pinkney, Sr. of Detroit is accused of shooting his 15-year-old son

in the head execution style. The shooting occurred after his son, Jamar Jr., confessed that he’d done something inappropriate to his 3-year-old sister. Jamar Sr. came home, stripped his son naked, took him outside the house and shot him in the head.

Lazette Cherry, Jamar Jr.’s mother, said she wanted to get help for her son when he confessed to what he’d done with his sister. She claims, however, that there was no rape. She says that her son admitted that he knew that lying down on top of the little girl was wrong.

"He got on his knees and begged, ‘No, Daddy! No!’ and he pulled the trigger," she said. "There wasn’t nothing that my son wouldn’t do for his father. He loved his father so much."

Click to read more.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper Blog Weighs in on the Heather Ellis Case

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Heather Ellis is facing 15-years in prison for allegedly cutting line at a Wal-Mart store in Missouri.

Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World  
Special to AC360°

Heather Ellis is in trouble. The 24-year old preacher’s daughter has spent most of her life doing the right things: Going to college, getting ready for medical school and staying out of trouble. What Heather didn’t realize is that even when you do the right things, your margin of error as a person of color in America is virtually non-existent.

When I wrote my book, “What if George Bush were a Black Man?” the key point was that America’s justice system has a difficult time understanding that punishments must match the magnitude of the crime that has allegedly been committed. The actions that a “frat boy” can get away with 20 times during college can send an African American to prison for the next 20-years. America is a country that has, without question, consistently over-charged, over-searched, over-incarcerated and over-sentenced African Americans for the past 400 years of its existence.

Given its ugly past, the criminal justice system has very little credibility, and even police reports are subject to being questioned – especially in a town like Kennett, MO. My father’s a cop, so I know how all this works. Even when black men were lynched 100 years ago, there were always “witnesses” and police reports to say that he was a bad person. Fortunately, lynching does not occur anymore (although a black boy – Walter Currie Jr. – was burned alive by his white classmate in the same area as Heather), but the noose has been replaced with the long prison sentence as the most typical and most devastating form of punishment. As a result, black men and women are filling up America’s penitentiaries at an alarming rate, and it is destroying the core of the black family.

Click to read.

Didn’t See the Rally? This Might Not be the last one

Heather Ellis’ case makes the top story on the Memphis news – the country awaits the verdict of her trial.

More Video Footage from Our Rally in Kennett

Watch video of our rally that was held for Heather in Kennett, MO.

Heather Ellis Case on ABC News

The prospect of spending 15 years in jail was probably the last thing on a Missouri woman’s mind nearly three years ago when she switched checkout lines at a Walmart store.

Heather Ellis, inset, could face up to 15 years in prison after allegedly assaulting police officers who asked her to leave a Walmart store in Missouri when she cut a line to be with her cousin.

(Courtesy Your Black World/Getty Images)

But jail’s a possibility for Heather Ellis, 24, who goes on trial today for charges stemming from a dispute at the Kennett, Mo., Walmart.

Ellis faces charges of disturbing the peace, trespassing, resisting arrest and assaulting police officers after she became"belligerent" when she was asked to leavethe store Jan. 6, 2007, authorities say.

The schoolteacher could face 15 years in prison, if convicted.

But Ellis, who is black, has said that the charges are racially motivated, and that she has been unfairly targeted, which authorities deny.

Click to read.

Shaniya Davis Case: Man Arrested for Kidnapping

Clarence Coe, 30, was arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping, after a witness claims to have seen him taking 5-year-old Shaniya Davisout of a Fayetteville, NC trailer park. He claims he is not guilty of the charges against him.

Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson, Theresa Chance, told the Sun Herald this was “not a random occurrence.”

Coe has a criminal record, including a conviction in April for misdemeanor breaking and entering. In addition, he has prior convictions for assault on a female, larceny, robbery, felony breaking and entering, and several other charges dating back to 2001, according to the Herald.

Click to read.

Dr. Elaina George Says that Obama’s Health Care Plan is Going to Hurt

By

Dr. Elaina George, MD

The health care reform bill (HR 3962) that just passed the House of Representatives is bad on so many levels it is difficult explain. As it stands, it will destroy both the doctor patient relationship and change the practice of medicine as we know it.

We have one of the finest health care systems in the world. It has been built on a foundation of choice. Doctors were free to choose the care that they deemed necessary to treat their patients, and patients were free to seek the medical care of their choice. Initially, the foundation was shaken by the rise of the managed care system with capitation. However, over the past 10 years, capitated plans which limit access to specialists have given way to the rise in power of insurance companies. They have used their anti-trust exemption to craft a system that has used monopoly to increase profits on the backs of both doctors and patients.

Click to read.

Listen to Dr. Boyce, Roland Martin and Tom Joyner Discuss Heather Ellis

Given that Tom Joyner’s Show is sponsored by Walmart, this leads to a relatively awkward conversation!

Black News: Memphis Benefit Planned for Heather Ellis

Black News: Black Kids Told to Pick Cotton in front of their White Classmates

A history lesson that asked black elementary students to act like slaves has sparked protests from parents and teachers at a North Carolina school Wednesday.

During a field trip to Latta Plantation, three students from Rea View Elementary in Waxhaw were chosen by tour guide Ian Campbell to wear bags and mimic picking cotton while their white classmates looked on, WSOC-TV, Charlotte, reported Friday.

Many of the teachers and parents from the elementary school said they plan on writing the leaders of the plantation regarding the racially insensitive history lesson.

 

Click to read.

Black News: Special Prosecutor Assigned to the Heather Ellis Case

The Dunklin County prosecuting attorney has stepped aside in a criminal case with racial overtones, and Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle has been appointed as special prosecutor.

Swingle has been asked to prosecute Kennett resident Heather Ellis. In an incident at the Kennett Walmart in 2007, Ellis was arrested and charged with two counts of felony assault on a law enforcement officer, a count of misdemeanor peace disturbance and a count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

A scuffle broke out in a checkout line at the store after she was accused of cutting in line.

Ellis’ attorney filed a motion Nov. 2 requesting Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff to recuse himself from the case.

Sokoloff was accused by Ellis’ lawyers of "making extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused."

On Thursday, Judge Joe Satterfield denied the request, saying there was no legal basis for it.

According to the defense motion, Sokoloff replied to a story about the case written by Michael I. Niman of Progressive Populist, a twice-monthly publication.

Click to read.

News: Prosecutor Removes Himself from the Heather Ellis Case

Heather Ellis is shown alongside her mother, Hester Ellis, outside the Justice Center at Bloomfield last month following her pre-trial hearing in a case that has gained national attention. At right is Ellis’ attorney, Timothy Hunsaker from the St. Louis firm of Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers and Glass. Also pictured (at left) is an unidentified member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
(Staff photo by Noreen Hyslop)

A motion filed in a Dunklin County courtroom brings a new twist to the case against Heather Ellis, a case that has garnered national media attention.

Ellis, an African-American woman from Kennett, is charged in connection with an incident at the Kennett Walmart in 2007 during which she was arrested and charged with two counts of the Class C felony assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of the Class B misdemeanor peace disturbance and one count of the Class A misdemeanor resisting arrest. Ellis was charged as a result of a scuffle that broke out in a checkout line at the store, following Ellis being accused by associates employed by Walmart of cutting in line.

The motion in question, filed by Ellis’ attorney on November 2, involves Ellis’ legal representation requesting Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff to recuse himself from the case.

Click to read.

Did the Black Pastors of New York Sell Out their Congregations?

A few weeks ago, the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, the influential pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, came to a difficult decision, one he had wrestled with all summer.

Daniel Barry for The New York Times

"What could I say to a man who was mayor, and was supportive of a lot of programs that are importan to me?" said Rev. Calvin O. Buts III, the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Manhattan.

He would not endorse William C. Thompson Jr., the city comptroller and a longtime friend and ally, for mayor, as he had promised Mr. Thompson last spring. Instead, he would endorse Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Mr. Thompson was furious at the betrayal. But what he did not know was that Mr. Bloomberg gave a $1 million donation to the church’s development corporation — roughly 10 percent of its annual budget — with the implicit promise of more to come.

“What could I say to a man who was mayor, and was supportive of a lot of programs that are important to me?” Mr. Butts said in an interview before he endorsed Mr. Bloomberg.

In his quest for a third term, Mr. Bloomberg has deprived Mr. Thompson of what many once regarded as his political birthright: the blessings of the city’s most powerful black ministers, who together preach to tens of thousands of congregants each week. And to win them over, he has deployed an unusual combination of city money, private philanthropy, political appointments and personal attention, creating a web of ties to black clergy members that is virtually unheard of for a white elected official in New York City.

Click to read.

Where are all the Female MCs? Here’s one you can’t miss

Check out Shanelle Walker, the pride of the Windy City

Sirius/XM Satellite Host Dr. Wilmer Leon Talks about Heather’s Case

Listen as Dr. Wilmer Leon speaks with Elliot Millner and Pastor Nathaniel Ellis about Heather’s trial.

Dr. Elaina George: What do we Make of the Health Care bill?

This show is an interview between Dr. Elaina George and Dr Emelita Breyer.  Dr. Breyer is from the Breyer Foundation, an independent organization dedicated to finding solutions to health care reform that does not add to the deficit, or raise money on the backs of the people through taxation.

She has a thorough understanding of the sanctity of the doctor patient relationship. And has real solutions that will protect the things that make the US healthcare system the best in the world.

Click here to listen!

Media Coverage on the Heather Ellis Trial Continues

CNN is going to interview Dr. Boyce Watkins on Friday, and Fox 5 has jumped on the case.

NY 1′s Dominic Carter’s Wife Calls 911

She is now saying that she made it all up when she called to report her husband beating her – does she sound convincing?

News: Buses Being Organized Nation-wide for the Heather Ellis Rally in Kennett

The rally is on!  Visit www.TheHeatherEllisCase.com for more information.   Dr. Boyce Watkins and The Your Black World Coalition are organizing the rally, along with the NAACP, SCLC and ACLU.  Come down to Kennett Missouri with us on March 16!

Living a Healthy Lifestyle

by Dr. Deborah Stroman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

Got Sugar in the Blood? Change Your Lifestyle Today!

Do you remember your elders speaking about “sugar in the blood”? Do you have a friend or family member who suffers from diabetes? The importance of understanding high blood sugar is critical to the management of our often fast-paced, unhealthy, and stressful lives. A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit the “Bodies – The Exhibition” and experienced the most engaging presentation on the anatomy and pathology of the human body. Cadavers, adult and fetus, were on display to showcase the miracle of the body and the importance of good health and exercise. This poignant visit, which highlighted all of our major bodily systems, provides the inspiration to urgently share information regarding sugar – the crack cocaine of the Black of the community!

Click to read.

Christopher Metzler Spars with Bill O’Reilly

Dr. Christopher Metzler at Georgetown University spars with Bill O’Reilly over President Obama’s position on race relations.

Michael Baisden Steps Up to Help Heather Ellis Case

by Dr. Boyce Watkins , AOL Black Voices 

Just when you thought black celebrities didn’t care anymore, the "Bad Boy of Radio,"Michael Baisden announced today that he is going to give $5,000 to the legal defense fund of the family of Heather Ellis, a 24-year old black female college student who faces 15-years in prison after cutting in line at a Walmart.

Click to read.

The Latest from AOL Black Voices – 11/2/09

Oprah Winfrey’s Push for the ‘Preciouses of the World’

• PUSH novel As powerful and influential as Oprah Winfrey is, it’s takes a deep subject matter to get … Read More
• Posted by Wilson Morales in BV on Movies | Comments (1)

Who Owns the Black Haircare Industry? Not Black People

• I was intrigued by a recent call for a boycott of non-black beauty supply stores by Professor Devin … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Economic Recovery Definition: Is the Economy Really Getting Better?

• What is the definition of an economic recovery? This is the hot finance topic of the week. As the … Read More
• Posted by Alexis Stodghill in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Atlanta Poised to Elect Its First White Mayor in 36 years: Polls

• You’d expect Atlanta’s leading mayoral candidate, Mary Norwood, to employ Barack Obama’s campaign … Read More
• Posted by Carmen Dixon in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: What Where Nick & Mariah, Rihanna, Selita Ebanks & More Wear?

• You bought the wig, searched the accessories and even sprung for the expensive make up you knew … Read More
• Posted by Zandile Blay in BV on Style | Comments (0)

White Woman Terrorizes Black Deputy Over Traffic Citation

• Julie Hubbard, 44, was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy in DeLand, Fla., after making an illegal … Read More
• Posted by Ruth Manuel-Logan in Blackvoices Autos | Comments (3)

Rev. Al Sharpton’s Ex-Wife and Daughter Arrested Over Traffic Stop Dispute

• Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton’s ex-wife, Kathy Jordan, and daughter, Dominique (pictured … Read More
• Posted by Ruth Manuel-Logan in Blackvoices Autos | Comments (0)

50 Cent ‘Baby By Me’ Video Premieres, Album Date Pushed Up

• Get Rich or Die Tryin Despite his forthcoming album, ‘Before I Self Destruct,’ leaking nearly a … Read More
• Posted by Brennan Williams in BV Newswire | Comments (0)

Anderson Cooper 360 Discusses the Heather Ellis Case

Heather Ellis’ case was debated on Anderson Cooper 360

Do Black Women Have any Say in the haircare industry?

Black women spend billions on hair but don’t own the companies that make it.

Are Women Left out of the Golf Outings that Drive the Old boy’s Club?

 

by Dr. Deborah Stroman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

The latest brouhaha over President Obama’s whereabouts now includes his golf endeavors. A seemingly innocent respite away from the White House arrows and darts has turned into a diatribe over women’s equality, inclusion, and diversity. And you thought golf was a boring game for old men! Ha!

The story began with a news report, which is debatable in its own right of being news, that described Pres. Obama’s recent golf outing with one of his senior leaders, Melody Barnes. Ms. Barnes, the nation’s chief domestic policy adviser to the president, was pictured sharply dressed lugging her golf bag. Golf is generally played in groups of four so the interest increased when it was determined that she was joining or barging in on the president’s regular team of men. Oh my! Katy bar the door!

People play golf for one (or a combination) of three reasons: exercise, sport competition, and business. The days of ill dressed overweight men with tires around their waists, who huff and puff on cigars as they tee off are long gone. In fact, it is now a fashion faux pas to dress less than professional (gym clothes are not welcome) and to smoke during a round. Sir Tiger changed the game in many ways and one of the most important is his devotion to fitness. His workout regiment to be the best golfer in the world motivates all ages to get in shape to improve their game. Avid golfers and wanna-bees are seeking Pilates, yoga, stretching, strength and core training customized golf programs to reduce the number of swings to get that little white ball in the hole. And now walking the golf course is more popular, so a stop at the gym or a jog around the neighborhood is no longer necessary. Exercise by strolling through a meticulously manicured lawn decorated with exotic foliage and 18 tee boxes — Yes!

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Dr. Wilmer Leon Argues that Heather Ellis Might Have Been Persecuted, not Prosecuted

Dr. Wilmer Leon, Howard University, Sirius/XM Satellite

One of the things that make America unique is its Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights. In its original form, the Constitution did not include a list of basic civil liberties or guarantees to the individual. Many prominent Americans, including Thomas Jefferson insisted that a list of fundamental protections be included to restrain the national government from tampering with the fundamental rights and civil liberties of its citizens. The intent of the framers of the Constitution was to level the playing field. They felt it necessary to restrain the very powerful government, prosecutors, and police from arbitrary and capricious action against the less powerful individual. Over time these protections have been passed down to the state level.

The case of Heather Ellis is a perfect present day example of why individual American citizens need to be protected from over zealous capricious prosecutors and police. For a young woman to be facing up to fifteen years in prison for trespassing, disturbing the peace, and two felony counts of assaulting a police officer, all for allegedly cutting a check-out line at a Wal-Mart is unconscionable.

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Obama’s Fed Chairman Makes Racially Embarrassing Remarks

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, Your Black World 

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. I feel that he is better than the previous chairman, Alan Greenspan, but the Fed Chairmanship (like the presidency) is almost never given to the right man. Just the fact that it is almost always given to a man is problematic enough, and the truth is that only white men need apply for the job.
Well, when you are limited in your option pool for the top job, bad leadership and flat out ignorance can sometimes be the result. While Fed Chairman Bernanke might know some nuts and bolts about economics, he appears to be shockingly misinformed about economic disparities between blacks and whites. His embarrassing and highly inappropriate statements at Morehouse College serve as a significant case in point.
In a recent interview at Morehouse, the Fed Chairman was asked what he felt to be the reason for the wealth gap between blacks and whites. In response, Bernanke said that the gap was due to a lack of "financial literacy" and "financial education" on the part of African Americans. That’s all he mentioned.

click to read.

Dr. Elaina George: Ingredients for H1N1: What are they?

 

by Dr. Elaina George, Your Black World Medical Correspondent

There has been a lot of confusion about what ingredients are in the H1N1 Vaccine. In order to distill the information to make it easier for you to make an informed choice, here is a brief synopsis of the information provided by the manufacturers in their package inserts.

There are 4 manufactures who have been approved to sell H1N1 vaccine in the US. They are: Novartis, CSL, Sanofi/Pasteur and MedImmune

1. Novartis makes an injectable vaccine for ages 4 and above

Ingredients: Thimerosal (Mercury) both in the single dose and the multi dose vials

Antibiotics – polymyxin and neomycin (can be neurotoxic)

Manufactured with phenol (the chemical used on skin in cosmetic face peals to remove wrinkles)

Note: They recommend that children ages 4-9 get 2 injections one month apart. This would increase the risk from a reaction to the mercury (e.g, neurological damage such as Gullain-Barre or possibly Autism)

 

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