Why are the Democrats Suddenly Noticing Black People?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Politicians chase votes the way a frat boy chases women.  Also like the frat boy, politicians can have selective memory when it comes to creating a respectable and reciprocal relationship.  They beg for your votes, promise you the world and then promptly disappear until it’s time for re-election.

That’s a bit of what we’re seeing right now from the Obama Administration.  The Obama camp has rarely used the words “black man” or “black woman” in public for the last year, yet they are suddenly hanging in the hood more than the barber and the local drug dealer.  They are holding forums to rally black voters for the mid-term elections and telling black folks to vote as if Obama were on the ballot.

Click to read.

How Did Allen Iverson End Up Playing in Turkey?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I never thought I’d see the day that Allen Iverson, one of the most talented players in the history of the NBA, would be pushed out of the league like a loaf of moldy bread. "The Answer" left us all full of questions, as most of us really wondered what in the heck happened to his stellar career. This week, Iverson signed a deal to play for a Turkish team called Besiktas (I haven’t heard of them either). The 35-year old veteran is likely going to be the star of the team and was given a two-year deal worth $4 million.
"There are a lot of things that I’m not proud of," Iverson said. "I came into this league 21 years old, never having nothing in my whole life and then given everything in the world. I met a lot of people that were bad people that I had around me. I met a lot of people that were good people. I had to at a young age distinguish who were good and who were bad. And I made a lot of mistakes along the way thinking I knew things that I didn’t know. A lot of times I was a fish out of water, I thought I was in the biggest ocean in the world. I made mistakes, so me not being on an NBA roster, and me being bad-mouthed throughout the league, a lot of things I have to own up to. A lot of those things were true. I made a lot of mistakes. And obviously it cost me."

 

Click to read.

Dorian Chandler: Award-Winning Filmmaker Makes Movie About the N-word

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I had a chance to chat the other day with award-winning filmmaker Dorian Chandler. Chandler is the author of the film "Nigger Nation," which explores the use of the n-word, and why people might think it’s O.K. I’ve always been impressed with Chandler’s work and consider her to be the best young filmmaker in America today. Her film has won several awards, including The Emerging Filmmaker Award from the "Women Make Movies," organization and the 2005 Flicker Film Festival Jury Prize.

The n-word is an interesting and perpetually controversial topic within and outside of black America. It is also misunderstood by most of us. First of all, I’ve never thought of the n-word concept in a singular sense, as there are multiple variations of the word used in casual conversation. There is the word that ends with an "r" and the other version that ends with an "a." Yes, I do believe that the version of the word being used makes a difference. Also, there are a long list of voice inflexions that can change the definition on the spot: If I say "What’s up my n*gga!" in a high pitched, enthusiastic voice, that’s very different from me twisting my lip, cocking my head to the side and saying "What’s up n*gger" in a low, grumbling voice. In the first case I want to hug you, but in the second, you’re about to get knocked out.

 

Click to read.

Lawrence Taylor Starts His Fight Against Statutory Rape Charge

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Lawrence Taylor took his first steps into a courthouse yesterday to deal with allegations of sexual assault. Taylor is being accused of third-degree rape and soliciting a prostitute after he allegedly had sex with a girl under the age of 17. Taylor, who is now 51-years old, is accused of paying $300 to have sex with the girl, who was a 16-year old runaway.
Taylor’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, says that his client didn’t have sex with anyone and that he didn’t rape anyone. He also said that he was not likely going to take a plea on the third degree rape charge. A plea on that charge would mean a mandatory 10-year probation, which Aidala says is "ridiculous."

Click to read.

The Importance of Owning Your Own Business – Dr. Boyce Video

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

In case you didn’t know this, one of the things that most people think about every single day is how they are going to make enough money to get by. Life is tough and finding enough money to live can be even tougher. What’s worse is that the black community’s struggle to build economic institutions and obtain financial security are things that keep us from being truly liberated in a fundamentally and historically racist society. The link between civil rights and economic prosperity was the seminal reason for my book, "Black American Money."
The commitment I made to the black leadership and the audience at the "Measuring the Movement" forum this year (hosted by Al Sharpton and the National Action Network) was to promote the idea of black entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is not just a matter of having your own business. It can also be as simple as finding some extra streams of income in order to obtain critical financial security. In this economy, you have no job security if you’ve only got one job. You have to find (what I would call) "a side hustle."

 

Click to read.

Kohls Sells a “Ghetto Fab” Wig in their stores for Halloween

 

Written by Dorian Chandler

 

With Halloween approaching Kohl’s department store rolled our their latest available costumes and wigs. What the hell where they thinking when they decided to roll out this hot ghetto mess entitled “Ghetto Fab Wig.” Kohl’s claims you can “dance the night away in this disco inspired Afro style wig.

Really Kohl’s?

Your wig inspiration came from disco and Afro styles but instead of calling it that you decided to call it “Ghetto Fab?” I’m confused Kohl’s. Can you clarify how this ghetto fab wig got past your production and PC lines? Does Kohl’s consider themselves experts in what’s deemed “Ghetto” Fab a.k.a Black Fab? Oddly enough the model shown wearing the “ghetto fab” wig doesn’t look ghetto or black for that matter (what constitutes “ghettoness” anyway?)

Did Kohl’s one size fits all mantra get them in over their heads?

UPDATE: Kohl’s via twitter was swift to respond to the matter and apologize to each an every person that tweeted them (see below). They did as they said and removed the offensive language and the product as a whole from their site.

 

Click to read.

The Invested Life – 10/29/10

 

Chicago:

(video) Tom Forde talks about whether a Roth IRA is right for him, and what he’s learned as he’s researched it:

http://bit.ly/aGO9uC

(text) while Matt Sapaula says that financial security is important, but insuring yourself is every bit as vital:

http://bit.ly/bhh8eC

Portland:

(video) Kathleen Lansing explains why her road to retirement is scary, but it makes the small business owner proud to hear about the value of her life’s work:

http://bit.ly/9XdF7n

(text) While Jenn Meacham looks back on the most important financial lesson she learned, at age fourteen:

http://bit.ly/cY3cUS

Los Angeles:

(video) Lisa and Brandon Schindelheim explain how switching roles taught her about finance, and him about he difficulties in being Mr. Mom:

http://bit.ly/bkM7w5

(text) While Candace says that’s it important to educate not only yourself about finances, but your kids as well:

http://bit.ly/aDm6yX

New York:

(text) Jennifer Sherwood explains why shopping in fancy stores might be a rush, but so is saving money:

http://bit.ly/cAQsyV

(text) While Dr. Boyce Watkins says that you don’t need to have big money to build a portfolio:

http://bit.ly/a4e8YR

Colorado:

(text) Michael Jake is glad to hear that his business has grown enough to start hiring, but has his concerns:

http://bit.ly/ajLbzk

Dallas:

(text) On our show, we’ve seen former NFL star Winfred Tubbs thinking about buying a house. In this new blog, he reveals that he’s had to scrap those plans and live in his condo instead until the real estate market improves:

http://bit.ly/bZNNn6

(text) While Ed Butowsky talks up the value of utility stocks:

http://bit.ly/cQiuZW

Miami:

(text) Suzan McDowell reveals her list of the 10 must-by priorities she can’t live without, and what she learned about herself while compiling it:

http://bit.ly/bWYiX7

(text) While Ben Tobias explains that if you don’t know what’s important to you, you’ll never effectively maximize your happiness:

http://bit.ly/9e6k3c

Black News – 10/29/10

Republicans Poised to Take Congress

Teen Idol Resurfaces Molestation Claims

YaYa & Serena’s Animal Instincts

Photo Credit: Getty ImagesGetty Images / FilmMagic / WireImageWireImage / FilmMagic

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  Pastors Rally Against Eddie Long: Request an HIV Test

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Police Beating Caught on Tape – Black Teen Charged

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The beating of Chris Linton was sad to watch. A 16-year old black male being handled by Boston Police until his face was bloody, Linton soon found his incident plastered all over YouTube. When I took a look at the video, it had been viewed nearly 30,000 times, reminding us of the perils of doing your dirt in a world with cell phone cameras.
The event in question took place at Roxbury Community College, where Linton was inside one of the buildings charging his cell phone. He is not a student at the university, but had stopped to get the cell charged so he could take pictures of his new daughter at the hospital.
While it is not clear why police were following him, the story is that Linton had just escaped from a local youth detention center and had been tracked to the university. That’s when the beating began.

 

Click to read.

Two Pastors Come After Eddie Long: Request HIV Test

Two pastors, Reuben Armstrong and Prophet H. Walker, have teamed up to plan a rally against Bishop Eddie Long. Both pastors are asking that Long resign from his church, and Armstrong has even gone as far as asking that Pastor Long take an HIV test.
Armstrong is a radio show host and Walker is the pastor of the True Light Pentecostal Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The two plan to rally this weekend in Atlanta. The event is set to take place on October 31 at the state capitol.

Click to read.

Chris Linton: 16-year old gets beaten by police

The police in Boston are caught beating a 16-year old on tape. ;

Black News – 10/28/10

Kendrick Meek’s battle to the finish: It’s where he’s from

 

• Carter: Obama’s re-election prospects could improve after Nov.
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• BeBe Winans to launch weekly show on Sirius XM Radio
• Wells Fargo sued by Baltimore for racist lending
• Congolese women raped on Congo-Angola border
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Nigger Nation

Nigger Nation by Dorian Chandler

Should Black People Keep Using the N-Word?

 

Dorian Chandler (pictured above with Pras from “The Fugees”)  is my favorite filmmaker.  Her film “Nigger Nation,” is an award-winning exploration of the N-word and what it means in black America.  I highly recommend taking a look at the film, which you can view by clicking here.

Why Would Juan Williams Defend Fox Against Racism?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Fox News commentator Juan Williams has been in the news quite a bit lately. It started when he was fired from NPR last week for going onto Fox and saying that Muslims on airplanes make him nervous. Apparently, in Juan’s world, every Muslim he meets might want to blow him up. I’ve always wondered how Juan would feel if a white woman said that she believes that every black man she meets (including Juan) wants to mug her. I should probably stop speculating, since Juan might actually agree with that statement.
Fox News took the interesting step of rewarding Juan for his racist rant by giving him a three-year contract reportedly worth a cool two-million dollars. Apparently, racism pays in an allegedly post-racial society. Fox proves the value of racism every day with their record ratings and massive profitability. A small fraction of that dough trickles down to Juan, one of the few black men in America willing to stand up for the network that has rejuvenated racial terrorism in our country.

 

Click to read.

Clarence Thomas’ Sexual Side Exposed by Ex-Girlfriend

Justice Clarence Thomas’s ex girlfriend comes forward after almost 20 years

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  4:30 PMOct 27

  Source: theBVX.com

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Al Reynolds: The Racist Tea Party Candidate?

Al Reynolds, Tea Party Candidate, Says Black Men Prefer Selling Drugs to Education

1:40 PMOct 27

Source: BV Black Spin

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Head of State Spoof on President Obama is Incredibly Ignorant

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

When I was asked my thoughts about a YouTube video spoof of Barack Obama rapping the song "Hard in Da Paint," by Atlanta-based rapper Waka Flocka Flame, I didn’t quite know what to say. Knowing what I know about Waka Flocka Flame, I figured that the spoof would be a reflection of the kind of ignorance that seems to breed itself in modern day hip hop. I also expected that the video might consist of insulting depictions of President Barack Obama in an environment that involved weed, liquor, half naked women and maybe a gun or two. For some reason, there are people who seem to think that this represents everything about being black in America.
After seeing the spoof, I can only say that I was right. The video throws together a bunch of twisted lyrics being recited by an Obama look-alike who keeps telling us that he’s "the head of state n*gga." The lyrics aren’t exactly creative and the video is short of inspirational to anyone. But it has gotten tens of thousands of views on YouTube, which means that somebody out there likes it.

Click to read.

DJ Henry: Slain College Student’s Family Calls for Federal Investigation

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The shooting of Pace University football player DJ Henry has been the source of tremendous controversy. Henry was shot by police ten days ago outside a local bar in Thornwood, NY. The 20-year old college student was parked in a No Stopping zone when an officer allegedly tapped on his window, telling him to move. According to police, Henry hit two police officers when moving his car, prompting officers to respond with gunfire.
At the time, police were responding to a fight that occurred outside the bar, and Henry was not involved in any illegal activity.
Henry’s parents, Angela and Danroy Henry, are asking that Attorney General Eric Holder investigate the shooting, as they do not trust that local law enforcement has been unbiased in their investigation. Someone from inside the police force leaked Henry’s blood alcohol level to the media, which was reportedly above the legal limit. This contradicts accounts by others that Henry was the designated driver for the group with whom he was traveling.

 

Click to read.

Black News Headlines – 10/26/10

• President Obama assails GOP on clouded final campaign push
• Africa’s tech explosion promises economic growth
• NYC cab drags man through streets in ‘racial profiling’ incident
• Haiti cholera outbreak ‘stabilizing’; but could affect election
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• Cracker Barrel victim Tasha Hill denounces sentencing
• Brazilian music tops Janet Jackson’s to-do list
• Giving African girls a chance to learn
• Peter Bossman becomes Eastern Europe’s first Black mayor
• California drug charges against rapper T.I. dropped
• Report: 53% of Black Milwaukee’s males unemployed
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NCAA Wants to Fine Its Players

NCAA Wants to Fine Players Who Get Extra Benefits

12:45 AMOct 26

Source: BV on Sports

The NCAA is working with various groups to find ways to keep college athletes from receiving benefits from sports agents. Most recently, there have been proposals put forth that would fine players for violating the rules. The penalties may even … Read More

Madame Noire Forum on Black Relationships

 

Click to read more about it

Yes, I’m Glad Juan Williams Got Fired From NPR

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

It wasn’t a terrorist attack, but there was an explosion. The explosion occurred in my email inbox when a slew of associates forwarded me emails about NPR firing Juan Williams for his disparaging remarks about the Islamic community. Many of my friends remembered two years ago, when Juan and Bill O’Reilly went through a lot of trouble to have me fired from Syracuse University. Their ridiculous stunt stretched over several shows, as they worked to paint me as the most racist black man in America. The attack was a personal retaliation by O’Reilly for the fact that I asked theYour Black World Coalition to boycott O’Reilly’s corporate sponsors after we grew tired of their attacks on Michelle and Barack Obama. I stand by every single word I said about both Juan Williams and Bill O’Reilly, so to put it in layman’s terms, "Ain’t a damn thing changed."

Click to read.

Study Says Black Single Moms Getting Hurt Most by the Recession

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

NYU’s Women of Color Policy Network recently released a report citing some disturbing trends in the economic status of single mothers of color. Basically, the report shows that women of color have a median net worth of zero. Yes, you heard that correctly, nearly zippo in the bank account, and maybe a little bit of debt.

The numbers compare with a net worth of $25,000 for single fathers of all races, and a net worth of $6,000 for white single moms. Young single moms are in the worst shape, with more than half of the moms under 40 having zero or negative net worth.

 

Click to read.

Black News Today – 10/20/10

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  CNN’s Almighty Debt: Exploring Black People Once Again

  3:09 AMOct 20

  Source: BV on Money

  I received an email from someone by the name of "Van." I think that Van works for CNN and his job is to promote their latest "Black in America" special. This special is referred to as "Almighty Debt," which digs into the financial condition of the … Read More

• 
  

  Virginia Thomas to Anita Hill: You Should Consider An Apology

  11:05 PMOct 19

  Source: BV Black Spin

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• 
  

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  7:03 PMOct 19

  Source: theBVX.com

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• 
  

  Then And Now: Former Child Star Kim Fields Stays Working … Behind The Scenes

  6:33 PMOct 19

  Source: BV Newswire

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• 
  

  Rapper T.I. Gets Cut by Axe Body Spray

  6:00 PMOct 19

  Source: BV on Money

  TMZ is reporting that the rapper T.I., who was recently sent back to prison, is going to be cut from his endorsement deal with Axe Body Spray. A representative for Axe stated that, "We will no longer feature T.I. in our promotional campaign." … Read More

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  ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ with James Earl Jones Creates Special Student Tickets

  4:04 PMOct 19

  Source: BV Newswire

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  Kanye Confesses Suicidal Thoughts

  3:45 PMOct 19

  Source: BV Black Spin

  LOS ANGELES — Kanye West told an audience at a screening of his film, "Runaway," that he thought about killing himself, but now feels a responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to pop culture and art. Describing himself as a pop icon and … Read More

• 
  

  Queen Latifah’s ‘Single Ladies’ TV Series Gets Picked Up By VH1

  3:33 PMOct 19

  Source: BV Newswire

  All the single ladies can rejoice. Queen Latifah is bringing a new series about relationships called ‘Single Ladies’ to VH1. The new hour-long comedic drama follows three best friends with three different relationship philosophies l

T.I. Deal Axed by Axe Body Spray

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

TMZ is reporting that the rapper T.I., who was recently sent back to prison, is going to be cut from his endorsement deal with Axe Body Spray. A representative for Axe stated that, "We will no longer feature T.I. in our promotional campaign."
It’s no surprise that T.I. lost his deal with Axe. He is probably in the midst of having several film and recording projects derailed, and won’t be a usable commodity for quite some time. While it might seem that a man of such tremendous talent would be able to easily recapture his spot at the top of the world, we can’t make that assumption so quickly.
As I mentioned in the article about Kanye West yesterday, corporations are not into risk-taking. By proving himself to be an unreliable celebrity spokesperson, T.I. is going to be considered toxic on Madison Avenue. Millions of dollars are on the line when corporations sign celebrity brands, and managing those brands requires careful and responsible behavior at all times.

Click to read.

Magic Johnson and His Incredibly Journey

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Magic Johnson has officially put an end to an important era of professional sports. Johnson, a long-time staple in the stands at Los Angeles Lakers games, is no longer an owner of the team. TMZ is reporting that while riding his private jet, Johnson signed a deal to sell his five-percent stake in the team for a cool $35 million.
The Lakers are the most valuable team in the NBA with a 2010 market value of $607 million. Johnson is also a valuable commodity himself, with a net worth estimated at half a billion dollars. This is the latest move in a series of impressive business decisions made by the NBA Hall of Famer.
I still remember that day 18 years ago when Magic Johnson announced on national television that he was HIV positive. I was standing in my dorm room with my two roommates and my girlfriend, who was in tears. She didn’t know a lot about sports, but she certainly knew about Magic Johnson. It was a sad day for all of us, since we were counting the days until Magic would move on to the afterlife.

 

Click to read.

YBW Protest Worked: Deputies Forced to Resign for Abusing Power

 

 

From Dr. Boyce:  I am hopeful that this is evidence that our protests last week at the county jail was successful:

 

 

Two Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies have been suspended or forced to resign in recent weeks following unrelated investigations into misconduct allegations.

Anthony Gorgoni, a deputy for 18 years, was suspended without pay three weeks ago for violating the sheriff’s use-of-force policy, Sheriff Kevin Walsh said. The allegations involve an inmate at the Justice Center jail, Walsh said.

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Alexander Nicholson, a deputy for eight years, resigned Friday when he was confronted with allegations stemming from an investigation by the sheriff’s abused-persons unit, Walsh said. That investigation is continuing, he said.

“I can only say we received the allegations, we brought him in, we confronted him with the allegations and he chose to resign,” Walsh said.

He said he could not be more specific about the allegations because the investigation is open. If they’re substantiated, they would be criminal, he said.

 

Click to read

Should Black People Support the Democrats Like They Did In 2008?

 

Click to listen to Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Watkins discuss whether or not African Americans should go out and support the Democrats in the mid-term elections.  You can listen by clicking here.

Dr, Boyce Watkins Discusses African Americans Voting in November 2010 Elections with Rev. Al Sharpton

Dr, Boyce Watkins Discusses African Americans Voting in November 2010 Elections with Rev. Al Sharpton

Ralph Jones, Jr: 16-Year Old Chooses HBCU Over Harvard

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

When I heard about 16-year old Ralph Jones Jr. choosing Florida A&M University over Harvard, I didn’t even flinch. In fact, the words "woopty damn doo" came to mind. Those words were not chosen because I didn’t appreciate the enormity of Jones’ achievements, but rather, it was because most of us already know that many HBCUs are better than schools like Harvard and Yale. They are certainly better for African American students in almost every context.
The imaginary mystique of schools like Harvard and Yale effectively exists because these schools got a huge head start on HBCUs as it relates to access to resources and the establishment of legacy. In fact, many of these institutions were founded at a time when it was illegal for slaves to learn how to read. So today, Ivy League universities have endowments in the billions, while many HBCUs can barely pay the light bill.

 

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Kanye West Album Cover Shocks the World, Gets Banned from Walmart?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Like many other people across America, I found myself googling like crazy to see a picture of the new album cover issued by the great Kanye West. Well, I use the word "great" to describe West for a few reasons. First, he’s made it clear that he sees himself as the greatest artist of all time. Secondly, many of his fans think he’s the greatest. Third, he’s certainly had the kind of impact on music and culture that only a great artist can produce. Therefore, he certainly fulfills the definition of greatness, at least in my mind. But that doesn’t mean I like him.
Great artists are rarely well-behaved, and Kanye is certainly no exception. His music changes at the drop of a hat, with Kanye taking creative risks that sometimes cause many of his fans jump ship. He’s also said some of the most random things in live venues, including his challenge to Taylor Swift during the MTV Music Video Awards. We also can’t forget when West disappeared from NBC for years after telling George W. Bush (and the rest of the country) that Bush doesn’t care about black people. I applauded when Kanye went after Bush, I shook my head in shame when he attacked Taylor Swift. So, like the rest of you, my perception of Kanye is certainly mixed, which is probably the way he wants it.

 

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Popular Facebook Apps Found to Be Selling Private User Information

If you use Facebook but don’t want your personal information leaked all over the Web, you had better make sure you don’t use any of Facebook’s most popular apps. According to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, "tens of millions" of apps on Facebook transmit varying amounts of identifying information to their own personal ad servers, even in cases when users’ profiles were set to completely private.

On the most benign level, many Facebook apps gather a user’s Facebook ID if that user installs the app on his or her profile. The ID itself doesn’t necessarily give anyone access to a user’s protected profile, though if the person in question has a public profile, then all of that information could be (and undoubtedly is being) scraped.

For other apps, however, the data collection apparently doesn’t stop at a user’s ID. The WSJ claims that all of the 10 most popular apps collect some form of user data, and three of them—yes, Farmville included—also transmit personal information about a user’s friends to outside servers. One company, RapLeaf Inc., was found to be linking Facebook ID information with its own database of users that it cross-checks from other parts of the Internet. The company collects this information through several of its apps, including those made by LOLapps and the Family Tree application, then sells the information to at least 12 other ad firms.

 

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Tyra Banks Sued by Mother of a Teen Sex Addict

Tyra Banks SUED Over Teen Sex Addicts Show

9:57 AMOct 18

Source: BV Black Spin

Supermodel-turned-talk-show-maven Tyra Banks is probably not feeling very chatty these days, especially since she is being sued for $3 million by an irate Mother, who says Banks featured her child on a TV segment about teen sex addicts without her … Read More

Dr. Boyce Watkins Ralies Against Injustices in Syracuse, NY Justice System

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Others Raliy Against Injustices in Syracuse, NY Justice System

Meet Dr. Boyce Watkins

Q: What do you stand for?

A: I stand for fairness and doing what is right.  I am not a Finance Professor who happens to be black, I am a black man who happens to be a Finance Professor.  There is a great deal of inequality in America that runs along racial lines.  This is due to the fact that our country has built a 400 year social, financial and educational infrastructure that promotes the advancement of one group over the other.  It is my job as a public scholar to challenge this imbalance and work to find solutions to these problems.  My primary tools of choice are education and economic empowerment.  I work hard to teach youth, especially African Americans, the value of being highly educated and the additional value that comes from becoming Financially independent and empowered. Those were the choices that changed my life and gave me the freedom and strength to express myself honestly, creatively and (some think) intelligently.

I also want to challenge the NCAA to rethink the way it treats college athletes.  As a Finance Professor, I am not sure how we can justify earning millions for our coaches and administrators,  while allowing the sources of labor (the athletes) and their families to live in poverty.  This is wrong and unAmerican, for capitalism should give us the rights to freely negotiate our wages.  When we engaged in our campaign on CNN, ESPN and CBS to challenge the actions of the NCAA, people thought I was trying to attack them.  The truth is that I don’t enjoy attacking anyone, I only want to fight for fairness.  One thing that my students have always said about me (whether they love me or hate me) is that I am fair.  I call it for what it is.

---

Q: Your work can be controversial, why do you do it?

A: I ask myself that question every single day!  Personally, I believe that the role of the black scholar in America is to work hard to uplift our communities.   Our intellect is needed, and in addition to engaging in scholarly research that lies in dusty academic journals, we should become active in our communities and throughout the world.  I believe strongly in the concept of Scholarship in Action.  The thing about Scholarship in Action is that it requires the combination of intellect, creativity, curiosity, commitment, passion and courage that stands at the root of all true genius.  I do not consider myself a genius, but I wake up every day thinking "I am one day closer to my last day on this earth.  How can I get the best return on my investment?"  That is what keeps me going.

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Sade Won’t Work with Rappers

Although Jay-Z may be one of the most successful rappers of all time, one project he will never accomplish, is working with singer Sade.

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Sade reveals that Jay–Z and other MCs have approached her about rapping over her beats or having her sing the hook on their records, but she has politely declined.

“I’m too scared they’ll find me out. It’s like The Wizard of Oz. They’ll find out there’s nothing there. As for collaborations, I’m collaborating with the band and do what we do. I see myself as a member of this band who does these songs that we write.”

Democrats Suddenly Start Reaching Out to Black Voters after Ignoring Them

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I was on the radio this morning with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill (Columbia University Professor and host of "Our World with Black Enterprise"), Regina Thomas (former Secretary of the Commonwealth for the State of Virginia) and Charles M. Blow from the New York Times. One of the issues that came up is the fact that the Democratic Party is spending as much as three million dollars to shore up the black vote before the mid-term elections. Apparently, they suddenly realize that black voters exist, and I wouldn’t be surprised if black voters disappear from their memories again after the elections are over. By ignoring key issues in our community and suddenly appealing to black voters when it’s time to protect their power, the Democrats are coming off as frat boys who show up to a girl’s house when it’s time to get naked.
One of the profound points being made by Dr. Hill (which I backed up immediately) was the fact that the Democrats, in their appeal to black voters, have not taken the time to establish any kind of trade-off with our community. There’s been no consistent effort to directly address massive black unemployment, excessive numbers of foreclosures, disparities in the educational system, mass incarceration or any of the other issues that matter to us. Now, for some reason, the Democrats think that African Americans will forget that they’ve been forgotten.

 

Click to read.

Don’t Let the “systems” Kill Your Black Boys

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

This week, I got together with a coalition of other concerned citizens and met at the steps of the county courthouse.  We then marched around the jail to fight for the rights of two people of color, Chuniece Patterson and Raul Pinet, both of whom recently died while in police custody.  The march and the reasons behind it led me down a path of self-discovery when it comes to understanding the impact that the criminal justice system has on our community and our children.

Click to read.

Have Race Relations Gotten Worse Under Obama?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

A recent Rasmussen Poll has revealed some interesting information about the state of black-white relations in America. According to the poll, only 36 percent of Americans think that race relations between blacks and whites are getting better. This number is down dramatically from 62 percent last year at the time of the Henry Louis Gates debacle.
The study also says that 27 percent of respondents say that race relations are getting worse, which is a 10 percent increase since July 2009. Another 33 percent of Americans think that relations are about the same.
As usual, whites and blacks don’t view race relations in the same way, with African Americans being much less optimistic than whites. A full 39 percent of whites think relations are getting better, while only 13 percent of African Americans agree with that assessment.

 

Click to read.

1 in 22 African Americans Will be Infected by HIV

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

More “good” news from the Center for Disease Control:  African Americans have a 1-in-22 chance of catching HIV in their lifetimes.  This is eight times the rate for white Americans.  Of course the numbers are no surprise, given that HIV is already spreading quite rapidly through our community.   This confirmation from the CDC is simply another depressing reminder of the risks of irresponsible sex.

Obviously, sex is as natural as breathing, given that it’s the reason we even exist in the first place.  But the power of sex must also be respected, and some of us grow up in a culture where casual sex is considered the norm and the pursuit of good sex is worthy of being a lifelong endeavor.  While I am certainly not here to judge, perhaps we should consider a few thoughts:

Click to read.

TI Headed Back to Prison: Artist Gets 11 Months

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The rapper T.I. appeared in court today, pleading with the judge not to send him back to prison. The artist faced five to 11 months in prison for violating the terms of his probation after being caught in possession of illegal narcotics. He and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle were arrested last month, with the arrest taking over national headlines for several days.
T.I. (a.k.a. Clifford Harris Jr.) told the judge that he needs help for drug addiction instead of incarceration. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, however, is asking that the artist spend two years in prison. The media was not allowed into the courtroom during the hearing, at the request of the judge.

Click to read

New Birth, Eddie Long’s Church, Gets Sued Yet Again

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

A woman who was once employed by the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is suing, alleging that other employees retaliated against her when she complained about being sexually harassed. Tama Colson filed suit in the U.S. District Court of North Georgia, with the suit asking for unspecified damages.
Colson says that another employee showed her a picture of a penis on a cell phone. She says that when she complained about the incident, other employees retaliated against her. She is claiming that the church is responsible for the harassment she experienced, as well as the retaliation and emotional distress.
"New Birth has a strict policy against sexual harassment that requires employees to report the complaint within 48 hours of the abuse," Long and church spokesman Art Franklin told CNN.
"Tama Colson’s complaint allegedly happened in October of 2009," the statement said. "Although, Tama Colson was aware of the New Birth sexual harassment policy she did not make her complaint known to New Birth authorities until August of this year. New Birth moved swiftly to launch an investigation that is ongoing.”

 

Click to read

Poll Says that Race Relations Has Gotten Worse: Is that True?

 

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton ask whether or not President Obama should be accused of helping or hurting race relations – listen by clicking here.

Would You Vote for a Candidate Named “Rich Whitey”?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The Green Party candidate for governor of the state of Illinois is a man by the name of Rich Whitney. Unfortunately, if you take one letter out of his name, you turn him from a serious candidate into a serious joke.
That’s what happened to Whitney this week, when his name was misspelled as "Rich Whitey" on voting machines in almost two dozen wards in the city of Chicago. Even worse is the fact that the wards are in predominantly African American neighborhoods.

Click to read.

Black News from News One – 10/14/10

By Casey Gane-McCalla

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Behind The Scenes: President Obama’s MTV Youth Town Hall

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This Year’s Top 10 Black Entrepreneurs

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Agent Caught Paying College Athletes: We’re Glad He Did It

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Sports agent Josh Luchs admitted recently during an interview that he’s been paying college athletes for years.  He said that in order to get athletes to sign with him, he’d give them amounts as high as $10,000 in hopes that he might have their name on a contract for millions.

Please don’t act as if you’re surprised.  Also, don’t act as if you’re somehow offended by the reality that in an allegedly free and capitalist society that someone would (gasp) pay a few thousand bucks to land a multi-million dollar commodity.  The only thing disturbing about Luch’s revelation is that he didn’t pay the athletes even more.

I personally consider Luchs to be part hero, part villain.  He’s a hero because everyone knows that athletes and their families deserve a piece of the billions that they earn for the fat cats with the NCAA.  College athletics produces revenue on par with all of the other professional sports leagues.  For some reason, we are caught up in the antiquated notion that we are somehow preserving the innocence of revenue-generating athletes by forcing their families to remain in poverty while others get rich from their labor.

Click to read.

Black America deserves something better than the Jay-Z business Model

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Jay-Z is an amazing rapper.  Some think that he’s been in the game for a bit too long, but I don’t agree.  Personally, I think “Jigga” simply reflects the fact that hip-hop itself is aging.  Jazz was once solely the domain of rebellious teenagers, but now you’re sure to hear it playing in every old folk’s home across America.  The same is going to be true for hip-hop.

Jay-Z has said repeatedly that he will stop making music, and I’m sure that one day he will.  However, there is one area in which we need to retire Jay-Z: In his role as the pre-eminent black businessman in America.  It’s not that Jay-Z is a bad role model, it’s just that he’s been exhausted.

Don’t get me wrong, Jigga has made significant amounts of money by busting rhymes on his left and selling clothes on his right.  Good for him.  But is he really the best business role model for young black males, who are already consumed with a culture that teaches them that all they can be are rappers or athletes?  No, he is not.  Young black women also find that their leading role models in business are women like Oprah and Beyonce, both of whom keep us hyper-fixated on the entertainment industry.   It’s time to make a change.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce: Black Bloggers Invited to the White House – Why I Am Happy Not to Go

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

President Obama recently invited a slew of African American bloggers to the White House for a “black online summit” of sorts.  Many commentators from Black America Web, News One and even my very own AOL Black Voices were brought in to talk turkey with the president before the election. 

I do a lot of writing on the web, and I actually do work with several of the sites that were invited to the White House summit.  But I wasn’t asked to be part of this particular gathering.  I am not ashamed to admit that I wasn’t invited, because I never expected to be brought in anyway.  In fact, I despise the idea of spending all my time around politicians, many of whom only seem to care about their own agenda. 

Click to read.

Black News From NewsOne.com – 10/13/10

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Morehouse College President, Vibe Magazine and the “Mean Girls of Morehouse”

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Morehouse College President Robert Franklin apparently doesn’t like to see himself or his institution embarrassed. Vibe Magazine seemed determined to do just that by recently publishing an article entitled, "The Mean Girls of Morehouse," which seemed to be an interesting analysis of the gay student population at the institution.
Franklin’s letter to the public in response to the article, showed that the president found little humor in the approach used by Vibe:

"It seems clear from the headline alone that the Vibe editorial team’s intent is to sensationalize and distort reality for the purpose of driving readership. The title of the article speaks volumes about a perspective that is very narrow and one that is, in all likelihood, offensive to our students whether gay or straight."

 

Click to read.

Julianne Malveaux Discusses Her Trip to Haiti

by Dr. Julianne Malveaux 

The earthquake that killed nearly 300,000 people in Haiti transformed its capital, Port-au-Prince into a tent city layered with rubble. Ten months later, thousands still live in now-frayed tents or even on the streets. Food is still scarce in the tent camps. Thousands of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working on everything from housing construction, to economic development, to agricultural development, to education. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been pledged to Haiti, but Haiti’s leaders have not been able to access or spend the money. There will be a Presidential election in about six weeks, and one of the reasons some say the money has not been funneled through government is because of political weakness and instability.

Click to read.

The Latest on Bishop Eddie Long: Another Lawsuit Filed, For Another Reason

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

When it rains it pours. Bishop Eddie Long, the subject of a sex scandal that has riveted the nation, suddenly finds himself the target of yet another lawsuit. This one doesn’t involve sex, though. Instead, Bishop Eddie Long is being accused of defaulting on a property loan to the tune of $1.9 million. This is the fifth lawsuit filed against Bishop Eddie Long in the past month.
The other four suits filed against Long include accusations that he used his power and influence to coerce sex from young men in his care. The latest lawsuit only names Long and doesn’t name his church, New Birth Missionary Baptist.
"I am unaware of the lawsuit that you referenced and have no comment about it at this time," Bishop Eddie Long spokesman Art Franklin told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Click to read.

Wilmer Leon: How a Foreclosure Freeze Might Affect Our Economy

by Dr. Wilmer Leon

Recently some of the largest mortgage servicers such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and GMACMortgage have suspended their property foreclosure proceedings in many U.S. states amidst allegations of their failing to follow legal foreclosure procedures. These are some of the same institutions that received a massive federal bailout in the midst of the economic crisis.

America is on pace to top 1.2 million bank foreclosures by the end of this year. According to RealtyTrac "Lenders foreclosed on 95,364 U.S. properties in August, the highest monthly total in the history of the report and about 2 percent higher than the previous peak of 93,777 bank repossessions (REOs) in May 2010."

Reports indicate that due to this surge in bank foreclosures, mortgage company officials have not been properly reviewing all of the paperwork and in some instances have not been in possession of complete loan packages. One of the major causes of this problem goes back to the genesis of the economic crisis. When a mortgage is resold the seller and new buyer are required to execute a document called an "assignment". This document provides proof that the transaction actually took place. As these "toxic loans" were being sliced, diced, and resold as valuable parts of other financial instruments, paperwork got lost or was never processed. Now that these toxic loans are in default the mortgage servicers are trying to resell the properties without the "assignment". In real estate that’s a huge problem.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins Discusses Hot Topics with Rev. Al Sharpton

Dr. Boyce Watkins Discusses Weekly Hot Topics with Rev. Al Sharpton

The Latest from AOL Black Voices – 10/12/10

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Dr. Boyce Gives More Coaching on MSN’s “The Invested Life”

 

A new episode of our MSNBC special is out.  You can watch it by clicking here.

Protestors Fight AGainst Saggin

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Ken and Gwen Rasheed of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, apparently find saggy pants to be a serious problem in their personal lives. The two are working diligently to fight for an ordinance banning teens from "saggin" and have a zero tolerance policy for this style of dress. In fact, this past Saturday, the couple had a rally against saggy pants.
"I was working in the recreation department in one of the recreation centers and about 95 percent of the kids that came in there had their pants saggy," said Ken toldFox 8 News in Winston-Salem. "To me, the sagging and showing your underwear is not showing any pride in who you are."

Click to read.