by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Rashad Walker Jr. was just 20 months old when he died. The young child was killed in the back of his mother’s minivan in Syracuse, NY. when he was shot by up to 10 bullets that hit the vehicle at 4:30 pm this past Sunday. The child was asleep at the time, according to the Syracuse Post Standard.
Walker died at 6:45 pm, in the hospital and he was not the intended target. His mother was holding him when paramedics arrived on the scene.
The story of Rashad Walker is clearly one of the most tragic incidents we’ve read about all year. It takes us back to the police shooting of Aiyana Jones, the 7-year old in Detroit who was shot while sleeping during a police raid. This story is also personal to me because I live in Syracuse, a city that (like so many others) continues to be plagued by gun violence.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
After witnessing the deaths of innocent citizens all across America, the FDA took a second to realize that perhaps the energy drink craze should be regulated a bit more than it has in the past. One of the most interesting drinks on the market is Four Loko, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage that is being gulped by the gallon. The government has forced the removal of the drink from store shelves, reminding us that sometimes, the presence of Big Brother can be a good thing.
Those in the Tea Party who want to see smaller government might want to take a moment of pause to realize that government intervention can be helpful when it comes to protecting citizens in a capitalist society. Many Americans are tempted to buy into the idealistic notion that a completely free society works all the time for everyone, but it is sobering to remember just how harmful unregulated capitalism can be.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is the esteemed radio host who made the wise decision to use the n-word on the air so many times that it would put a gangster rapper to shame. Sure, she had an explanation for using the word so many times, but she also had a dictionary full of words she could have used instead. As a consequence for her infamous tirade, Schlessinger is going to receive the most daunting punishment known to man: She is being sent over to Sirius/XM Satellite in order to take a new job. Yes, that really taught her a lesson.
The "venerable" Dr. Laura, the woman who has no problem insulting the black community at every possible turn, has now been given a multi-year gig on XM Satellite Radio. Terms were not disclosed, but she was able to land the gig faster than you could say, "I don’t care what black people think." The treatment of Dr. Laura presents a very telling lesson for those of us who are attempting to understand the nature of white privilege. According to the rules of a post-racial society, the expression of hatred toward people of color not only goes without punishment, it is actually rewarded.
Let’s be clear: If Dr. Laura were a black person spewing insults of this nature toward whites, she would find herself in the unemployment line, along with millions of other capable black people. This kind of double standard explains why black unemployment is nearly double that of white Americans, and why the National Association of Black Journalists is forced to constantly fight for the crumbs that people like Dr. Laura leave behind.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
It’s not easy fighting for civil rights and running organizations that stand up for the freedoms of the oppressed. If you’re good at what you do, your enemies will try anything to take you down. On top of that, many of the people you are fighting for, via self-hatred, may be skeptical of your efforts and willing to partner with oppressive forces to undermine your work. Even worse, your constituents may not have the means to help you face the massive financial responsibility that comes with serving your community. Freedom damn sure ain’t free, and most leaders have the receipts to prove it.
I don’t get as many calls for help as Rev. Al Sharpton, but I get my fair share. The most difficult thing about receiving these requests is that you want to help everyone, but are constantly struggling to find the resources to get the job done. If you ask for help to pay the cost of the trip, people think you’re somehow trying to swindle them or earn an unnecessary profit from the work you do. The truth is that everybody’s got bills to pay and the bigger your name, the more people think you’re made of money.
Click to read.
Transcript for an interview with Dr. Boyce Watkins of Syracuse University about whether or not college athletes should be paid.
- What, in your opinion, are the benefits of paying collegiate
athletes, especially those from low-income backgrounds?
I don’t necessarily care if college athletes are paid. I just think they should have labor rights. That means that they can negotiate a fair market salary, as well as make their own endorsement deals, rather than allowing universities to make deals for them and keep all the money. The benefit is that the athletes in poverty would be able to use their prodigious human capital to make a living for their families.
- Would you be in support of paying all college athletes, or simply the
ones from the major revenue sports like basketball and football?
I believe that any athlete in any sport that generates revenue should have access to the free market. We are not a socialist country, so the idea of paying everyone the same doesn’t make much sense. So, if a tennis player is going to draw a crowd and can negotiate compensation, fundamental American labor rights say that he should be given the right to do so.
Click to read.
From the time she was seven years old Hydeia Broadbent has been at the forefront of spreading awareness about the impact of HIV & AIDS. In 1996, her infamous statement at the Republican Convention– "I am the future and I have AIDS" — catapulted her and the reality of the disease to national acclaim. Infected from birth by her crack-addicted mother, Broadbent, who was adopted by foster parents Patricia and Loren Broadbent, a biracial couple, Broadbent remembers when doctors didn’t believe she would live past the age of 10.
Now 27 years old and living with AIDS, Broadbent shares with Blackvoices.com the truth about the disease and why the Black community should be more outraged at its growing status in the U.S. and across the globe.
Click to read.
Two-year-old Masia Wright died after ingesting a lethal amount of the drug methadone from his sippy cup. Investigators in Jacksonville, Florida say that the toddler managed to get his hands on a sippy cup with methadone inside after his dad’s girlfriend, Dana Anderson, left it on top of her four-foot-tall dresser.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
When a very important member of my management team told me that she was going to take time off to have a child, my brain stopped in its tracks. I wondered how we were going to remain fully productive, how long she would be gone, and how I should respond to such a sensitive situation. I then realized that, like so many American business owners, I was thinking like a man. Once I came to my senses, I let go of my personal concerns and focused solely on supporting her in this important step. I then realized that this interaction happens in workplaces across America, and the results are not always so amicable.
The United States is among the worst of industrialized nations when it comes to comes to making allowances for the professional challenges that women face relative to men. A woman who stops working in order to have children and/or raise a family may find that when she returns to the workforce, her opportunity set has diminished significantly. This doesn’t even consider typical gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and other daunting barriers to advancement.
You may already know that according to the US Department of Labor, women now outnumber men in the workplace (64.2 million to 63.4 million). This takes us a long way from the days when women weren’t allowed to vote, or female attorneys couldn’t be more than legal secretaries. Given that we have grown so much as a society, our nation has to step into the 21st century when it comes to equalizing the employment landscape.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
A study commissioned by the Medical Research Foundation, a group funded by the South African government, has wielded some disturbing findings about violence against women. According to the study, more than 1-in-3 men of Johannesburg have committed rape at some point in their lives. Roughly seven percent of the men sampled admitted to participating in a gang rape.
The study also found that over 51 percent of the 511 women surveyed had been victims of violence from men. Also, 78 percent of men admitted to committing a violent act against a woman. One fourth of the women in the survey said that they’d been raped, but only about four percent of these rapes are reported to police.
These findings are similar to a 2008 study that found that 28 percent of the men in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces had committed rape against a woman or girl. Also, one-third of the men said they did not feel guilty for what they’d done. Two-thirds of the men claimed to have committed rape out of a sense of entitlement, and others raped out of boredom or a desire to punish women who’d rejected them.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
It’s hard to imagine the deep national security implications of being the man who elbowed President Barack Obama in the face on the basketball court. But that’s what Ray Decerega will be talking about for the rest of his life. Decerega is the Director of Programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and also the man who issued a public statement after it was determined that he was the one who busted the president’s mouth wide open.
"I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport. I enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back out on the court again soon," Decerega said.
The men had gathered to play five games of five-on-five when the incident took place. The games reportedly included Obama’s nephew Avery Robinson, his assistant Reggie Love and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Obama’s Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had this to say:
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
"Ugly Betty" actor Michael Brea did an interesting interview with the New York Daily News this week, after being sent to jail for allegedly murdering his mother with a samarai sword. The actor argues that he was "doing the work of God" when he continuously chopped at his mother’s body. He also says that he believes there was a demon inside her.
"I was slashing my mom and I heard the police knocking on the door yelling, ‘Michael, open up, Michael, open up,’ but I knew they wouldn’t open the door and stop me because the spirits were protecting me … I just kept cutting her. No one could stop me. I was doing the work of God," he said.
Click to read.
As the great David Halberstam often observed, the racial politics of professional basketball have always been rather delicate. The sport, after all, sells the talents, style and power of mostly young black men to a largely white audience — and these uncomfortable racial dynamics have a tendency to bubble to the surface in strange ways. This summer, after LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami in a showy power grab, the move unleashed a tsunami of bile. According LeBron, the backlash was at least in part caused by the “race factor,” and it spawned a heated debate about the role of racism in the NBA. For people looking for some perspective on the issue, ”The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History,” from the people behind the FreeDarko basketball blog, is a great place to start. The book is a collectivist account of the NBA’s racial, labor and cultural reverberations — with occasional jaunts into graphic novel format. “TUGTPBH” co-author Bethlehem Shoals is a primary contributor to FreeDarko, a site with a reputation for thought-provoking takes on the basketball world. Salon spoke to Shoals over the phone, about the LeBron controversy and the changing nature of race in the NBA.
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Visit Your Black World for more black news
"Take her anti-obesity thing that she is on. She is on this kick, right. What she is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat. And I know I’m going to be again criticized for bringing this up, but instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician’s wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions and then our country gets back on the right track." – Sarah Palin, Huffington Post
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Last week, I found myself speaking about Rep. Charlie Rangel more than ever before. In case you haven’t noticed, the future of the seasoned lawmaker has come into question in light of investigations alleging him to be involved in a slew of ethical violations. Sunday, I had a conversation with Rev. Jesse Jackson on the air regarding exactly what’s going on with Rangel and his political career. Then Monday, Rev. Al Sharpton and I talked about the broader scenario as it relates to black lawmakers. Just when I thought we were done speaking about investigations against black people in Congress, the conversation turned toward Maxine Waters and the slew of other CBC members currently being investigated.
Defending (or not defending) one black lawmaker after another led me to a moment of pause, where I asked the question that’s been asked before, but perhaps not vocally enough: Why are so many black lawmakers being targeted for investigations anyway? According to the late Ron Walters, the most respected black political scientist in the country, "it is curious … that in over 30 of the probes the new Office of Congressional Ethics was considering, the only active investigations were on black Congresspersons."
Click to read.
That’s the question being debated afterSarah Palin said in an interview withGlenn Beck Wednesday that North Koreawas a U.S. ally.
When asked by Beck how she would handle a situation like the one that was developing in North Korea, Palin responded: "This is stemming from, I think, a greater problem when we’re all sitting around asking, ‘Oh no, what are we going to do,’ and we’re not having a lot of faith that the White House is going to come out with a strong enough policy to sanction what it is that North Korea is going to do."
It is unclear whether Palin is talking about sanctions against North Korea, or U.S. sanctioning — i.e. approving or supporting — its actions.
Palin continued: "Obviously, we gotta stand with our North Korean allies," when Beck interrupted and corrected her to say "South Korea."
Click to read.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Dr. Julianne Malveaux is second-to-none. One of the most respected and prolific scholars in the history of black America, she is truly an intellectual soldier. With a PhD in Economics from MIT, Dr. Malveaux has produced scholarly work that serves as nothing less than a guide book for overcoming the prodigious number of problems being faced by black America today. She is also a champion for women’s rights and issues that uniquely impact African American women.
AOL Black Voices had the chance to catch up with Dr. Malveaux to discuss the release of her new book, "Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History," and she had this to say:
1) What is your name and what do you do?
I am Dr. Julianne Malveaux, an economist, author and President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.
2) What motivated you to write your book, and what can people learn from it?
When people think of the economy, they rarely think of African American people as important contributors, as thivers instead of simply survivors. There is such inspiration in our economic history and I was passionate about lifting it up.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
This week, the president made me laugh. That was saying a lot at the time, given that I was exhausted from traveling across the country for Thanksgiving. The source of my entertainment was the president’s annual turkey pardon, in which he pardoned four turkeys, thus saving them from the fate that typically befalls turkeys at this time of the year. Being endangered and running from extinction, I figured that this is one thing that turkeys and black men have in common.
One of the things that got my attention was a very telling statistic about our president. After being in office for 22 months, the president has not granted or denied a single pardon. The only other president in recent history to have granted such a small number of pardons this deep into his presidency was Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I felt that today would be a good day to talk about living life to the fullest. I’m no expert on this, but I’ve learned a few things over the years that I can share with you. One thing I can say for sure is that most of us are not reaching our potential, as we find that the words "woulda coulda shoulda" dominate our daily dialog.
Well, life is too short to be mediocre, so it’s time for you to start being your best. Here are a few tips on how to reach your goals. The list is simple and to the point, and I suggest you read it every day of your life:
1) Always have a goal: Life is no fun if you aren’t striving for something. A man or woman without any goals in life is effectively just waiting to die. Rather than making your life about simple survival, you may want to find a way to give it some purpose. Keep the list of goals with you at all the times, so you can always remember what you’re meant to do.
Click to read.
‘Ugly Betty’ and ‘Step Up 3D’ actor Michael L. Brea allegedly butchered his mother to death with a Samurai sword as he chased her around his Brooklyn, New York apartment while reciting biblical passages in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
Reportedly, neighbors called NYPD when they heard bloodcurdling screams coming from Brea’s apartment. "I hear the brother chasing her [his mother] through the house and he’s just saying a bunch of [Bible] passages like, ‘Repent, Repent, Repent,’" neighbor Gregory Clare told local WPIX, a local television news outlet. "I heard him chasing her through the house and I hear a loud scream and so I have my father call the cops, call 911."
When police arrived at murder scene, they found Yannick, the small-time actor’s 55-year-old World Trade Center survivor mother, in a blood-splattered bathroom, decapitated and in a kneeling position, her body had been mutilated by multiple stabbings. Investigators describe the residence as pure bloody gore.
Brea was found sitting on a bed with the three-foot ceremonial sword he had removed only one day before without permission from a Masonic lodge after a meeting. The 31-year-old low level mason was still spouting gibberish and talking about repentance when police tasered, then removed him from the apartment on a stretcher. Brea, who is a twin, Haitian-American and who also starred in a campaign for the energy drink Full Throttle was taken to nearby Kings County Hospital for psychiatric observation.
Click to read more on AOL Black Voices
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
While the mid-term elections were a blood bath for the Democrats, one group that came out surprisingly unscathed was the Congressional Black Caucus. Members of the CBC and the Hispanic Caucus will hold roughly one-third of all Democratic seats in Congress (61 out of 190), increasing their power within government. They also plan to use this influence to focus on job creation.
The Democrats who took the greatest drubbing during mid-terms tended to be the centrists of the party. The Black and Hispanic caucuses, however, only lost four out of 60 bids for re-election. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, a member of the Hispanic caucus is now the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, and Maxine Waters will be the second leading Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. Their increases in power came largely because of the defeats of other Democrats.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
My entire life, I’ve seen the costs and consequences of parents who don’t want to pay to take care of their own kids. My father abandoned me when I was child, and to my knowledge, paid zero or close to no child support. Over the years, I had two relationships with women who had children with men who’d had forgotten that their kids existed. That led to me paying child support for my own child, in addition to the children of other people who were ignoring their responsibility. In fact, to this day, most of my "adopted children" need money from me every other week to pay for things that their parents should be paying for. I admit that sometimes, it’s draining.
I’m not the only one who goes through the challenge of paying for deadbeat parents. All across America, quite a few people have either been abandoned by deadbeat parents, paid the price for deadbeat parents or become a deadbeat parent themselves (you know who you are). It occurs in every community, so we cannot pretend that black people are the only ones who do this. But for some reason, there is a code of silence when this kind of behavior occurs in the black community, especially when the father is the perpetrator of this heinous crime. I say it’s time for this to stop.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Khalil Gibran Muhammad appears to be a great choice to head the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. A 38-year old assistant professor of African American History at Indiana University, Dr. Muhammad has already achieved a great deal in the world of black scholarship. His book, "The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America," has done quite well, and he is respected by quite a few black scholars across the nation.
Muhammad also has pedigree: He is the great grandson of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, legendary leader of the Nation of Islam. Therefore, his scholarly work with a predominantly white institution (Indiana University, which is no stranger to racial problems, I went to graduate school there) is supplemented by his connection and deep commitment to issues that affect real people in his community.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Apparently, the words "thou shall not use Facebook" don’t quite trump the words "thou shall not have a three-way sexual relationship with your wife and a male assistant." The Rev. Cedric Miller became a national name last week after demanding that his entire New Jersey congregation delete their Facebook pages. The move was thought to be an incredibly bold statement about the impact that Facebook has on relationships, where old boyfriends/girlfriends never quite go away.
To the surprise of many, it turns out that Rev. Miller may have his own reasons for wanting Facebook out of his life. There are reports that the pastor had a three-way sexual relationship with his wife and a male assistant at the church. Rev. Miller, who heads the Living Word Christian Fellowship Church in Neptune Township, New Jersey, confirmed the information, which had been printed in a local newspaper.
The 48-year old pastor also demanded that all 50 of his married church officials delete their Facebook pages or quit their leadership posts. He told married members of his church to share their login information with their spouses. He said that he plans to leave Facebook this week himself.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Haterology 101: What You should Know about Haters
For the big dreamers out there, I thought I would create a how-to guide on understanding the haters in your life. We all have haters, no matter what we do. I’ve had a few haters in academia who are upset that my work gets more attention than theirs, or even some friends who liked me better when I didn’t have very much self-esteem. As your success grows, jealous people don’t die, they multiply and the hustler’s dream can become the hater’s nightmare. So, here are a few things I’ve figured out about haters, and hopefully they can be helpful to you:
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University –Scholarship in Action
Political analyst James Carville, known for being a man who doesn’t hold back on his words, made a comment about President Barack Obama that was heard around the world (well, at least they heard it on CNN). At a breakfast event recently, Carville said, "If Hillary (Clinton) gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama, he’d have two."
Of course Carville was asked if he would apologize for his remarks, which he may or may not have expected to end up on national news. Instead, he refused, saying that his comment was a joke and that there was no need for further analysis. He didn’t seem willing to elaborate on what he meant when disrespecting the president’s manhood, but his decision not to back off sends a signal that he’s not always happy with the president’s policies.
Carville, an Obama supporter (well sort of), is a highly progressive and well-respected political consultant. He has helped to anchor the success of campaigns in all areas of politics, going back to the 1986 gubernatorial win of Roberty Casey. He achieved national prominence after helping Bill Clinton become President of the United States in 1992.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
A new study by The College Sport Research Institute at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has revealed disturbing information about the academic hurdles of college basketball players. According to the study, the graduation rates for NCAA Division I men’s basketball players is 20 percentage points less than the average for full-time male students.
The study goes on to show that the gap grows even further in top-ranking conferences. The authors present evidence that there is a 30.8 percent graduation gap when leading conferences are considered separately.
Women are better off than men in the study. Female basketball players find that their graduation rates are still worse than their peers, but the gap is not as great as it is for the men. For women, there is a 6.2 percent differential overall and a 14.6 percentage point differential in top conferences.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I was saddened to hear about the recent arrest of Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson and his wife Leslie. Both Jack and his wife are well-respected in the DC area. Both have served their communities for decades, and both of them represent the essence of Prince George’s County, the most affluent county in the United States with an African-American majority population.
Johnson was once an important ethical and legal protector of the county, serving as its lead Prosecutor. His wife has served the community for over 30 years in numerous capacities. He was also the first African American to become County Executive in the DC area. So, why are Johnson and his wife facing up to 20 years in prison for evidence tampering and destruction of evidence, among other charges? In fact, the story is quite bizarre, with reports of the FBI allegedly recording Johnson telling his wife to put nearly $80,000 in her underwear.
Click to read.
Necole Bitchie is a much loved urban media maven who came onto the blogging scene in 2007, and has remained a major player in the field ever since. Her eponymous blog,NecoleBitchie.com is one of the most popular Web destinations for discussing celebrity dish, offering a fresh voice and unique perspective on African American stars. How did Necole Bitchie make such a profound impact in such a short time in a crowded field? She shares the amazing business insights — and a few celebrity finance secrets — that have contributed to her stellar success. Here’s what Necole told BV on Money:
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Necole Bitchie and I am the voice behind the celebrity entertainment blogsite NecoleBitchie.com.
What are some of the misperceptions people have about celebrities and their money?
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
President Barack Obama gained some bragging rights this week. The emergence of General Motors by way of a$20.1 billion dollar initial public offering (IPO) was a shot heard around the world. The IPO is the largest in American history, and largely unexpected by most of the financial community.
Just a year ago, General Motors found itself suffocating under the stigma of receiving a government bailout, and the Obama administration was heavily criticized for providing $36 billion in taxpayer funds to keep the company afloat. The argument by Obama was that allowing GM to fail would cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of American jobs, something that the president wasn’t willing to tolerate. In an uncomfortable spurt of patriotism, the president’s camp took the bold step of bailing out the company that many thought should be allowed to fail.
President Obama certainly has both the right and need to brag about the rise of GM. In the same way Republicans were quick to blame him for allegedly worsening the economic downturn, they must also allow him to soak up the credit when good things happen. Whether we are faced with good or bad economic times, the president is usually given more responsibility than he deserves. Such is the nature of politics.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
This week, Tiger Woods wrote an essay for Newsweek apologizing for his behavior over the past year. Well, it’s not as if Tiger only misbehaved in the last 12 months, but that was when his interesting lifestyle was revealed to the American public. In addition to his essay for Newsweek, Woods also did a well-staged interview with the show "Mike & Mike" on ESPN radio. During the interview, it was agreed that Tiger would not be asked about his divorce from Elin Nordegren or the car accident last year that left everyone suspicious.
Apparently, Team Tiger is back in full effect, putting on a media blitz like no other. Call me a cynic, but I fully suspect that the team is hoping that revamping Tiger’s image will compensate for the fact that he is no longer the greatest golfer in the history of the world. Well actually, he’s not even the greatest golfer in the world anymore after losing his number one world ranking. When he’s no longer one of the greatest athletes on the planet, the world can only think of Tiger Woods as a self-professed adulterous sex addict. That kind of image doesn’t exactly sell video games at Christmas time.
Click to read.
Crack Found in Preschooler’s Shoe
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Photo Credit: APMel D. Cole/VillageSlum.comFrank Micelotta, Getty Images
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Source: BV on Love
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Source: BV on Style
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Source: BV on Style
While the internet has been buzzing about Google’s Project GStyle for quite some time, no one really knew exactly what it entailed — until now. Yesterday, the behemoth known as Google launched Boutiques.com; a website that contains a collection of … Read More
10:30 AMNov 18
Source: BV Black Spin
A vote on a bill to fund the settlement of a $1.25 billion discrimination lawsuit brought by black farmers could come as early as today, said John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association. Boyd said that after numerous discussions …Read More
7:47 AMNov 18
Source: BV on Sports
San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker and actress Eva Longoria were married back in 2007 in what seemed like a love that would last forever. Well, in Hollywood, apparently these things don’t last forever. Rumors that Parker and Longoria were …Read More
Regina Hall Bringing ‘Law & Order’
Another Black Youth Dies at an Atlanta Party
Former NFL Player: Family Financial Turmoil
Photo Credit: Getty Images / NBCGetty Images
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9:43 AMNov 17
Source: BV Black Spin
A Louisville, Ky., woman accused of raping another female was arrested then arraigned in a courtroom Tuesday facing six felony charges, including rape, robbery, assault, unlawful imprisonment and terroristic threatening. … Read More
9:17 AMNov 17
Source: BV Black Spin
A panel of three judges in Nevada are considering a request from the attorneys of O.J. Simpson to reconsider their appeal after it was initially denied. Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas after a confrontation with …Read More
8:45 AMNov 17
Source: BV on Money
I wanted to speak to Faye Anderson, a citizen journalist and Stanford educated attorney, about an event being held today in Washington DC. The goal for Faye and the Black Womens Roundtable is to get together to talk about the mid-term elections and … Read More
2:20 AMNov 17
Source: BV Black Spin
While saying he talks regularly with President Obama and his administration’s officials, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday that the nation’s 44th president has overreached and lost focus in his first term — and lost votes because of … Read More
10:03 PMNov 16
Source: BV Black Spin
Johannes Mehserle is a known flight risk. After he was apprehended on a fugitive warrant in Lake Tahoe, Nevada — where he fled during the initial investigation into the murder of Oscar Grant, Judge Morris Jacobson, called Mehserle a "danger to …Read More
9:03 PMNov 16
Source: BV Black Spin
I know little about Cathleen "Cathie" Black (pictured above left) other than she used to publish New York Magazine and USA Today and that she is a very questionable choice to lead the nation’s largest school district. New York Mayor Michael R. …Read More
6:06 PMNov 16
Source: BV on Movies
BlackVoices.com and Atlantic Records teamed up with Lionsgate to give some lucky readers the opportunity to win a copy of the soundtrack to the Tyler Perry film ‘For Colored Girls,’ which hit theaters Nov. 5. The soundtrack features all-new and …Read More
3:33 PMNov 16
Source: BV Newswire
Last week, the annual ADCOLOR Award dinner recognized the achievements of diverse advertising industry leaders, and the people of color who rarely get their due. This year, Academy Award nominee and Covergirl spokesperson Queen Latifah was honored … Read More
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
A judge in Pennsylvania recently ruled that former NFL running back Tom Sullivan’s death benefits should not go to the wife he was allegedly married to after his death. Instead, the benefits should go to a woman he married years earlier, but never divorced.
Tom Sullivan’s ex-wife Barbara Sullivan has two daughters with the player from their 16-year marriage. Since Tom’s death in 2002, Barbara and their two daughters were receiving $2,700 per month under the NFL’s spousal benefit policy. Under South Carolina’s bigamy law, the benefits do not legally belong to her and were stopped immediately.
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Diva Goes One-on-One with Quincy Jones
Lesbian Fling Causes School Firings
Jackson 5 to Launch New Fashion Line
Photo Credit: Bonnie Biess, BlackVoices.comFox NewsGetty Images
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8:21 AMNov 16
Source: BV Black Spin
Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is retiring her title as head of Liberty Central, a conservative group with Tea Party ties that she launched earlier this year amid much scrutiny. "She’ll take a back seat so that … Read More
7:47 AMNov 16
Source: BV on Sports
Last night, Michael Vick was the man. Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to record more than 300 passing yards, over 50 rushing yards, four or more passing touchdowns and two or more rushing touchdowns, all in one game. Not only did he … Read More
7:43 AMNov 16
Source: BV on Movies
Film Bridge International has released the trailer to ‘Winnie,’ starring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela.. Darrell James Roodt is directing the South African-Canadian co-production from … Read More
7:00 AMNov 16
Source: theBVX.com
It isn’t often that a promotional book tour makes for fascinating, non-book-related conversation, but Jay-Z’s stop at Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg’s ‘Juan Epstein’ podcast turned into just that. What could have been a brief hype session for Jay’s …Read More
6:00 AMNov 16
Source: theBVX.com
With his hands up forming a symbolic diamond, Jay Elctronica ushered in his next stage as a Roc Nation signee, while waving goodbye to those "unsigned hype" days. Having just joined Jay-Z’s roster, the MC ran through some songs Friday night in New … Read More
7:07 PMNov 15
Source: BV Newswire
There’s certainly been a breakout star on the new season of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ But that star isn’t one of the housewives. It’s actually Sheree Whitfield’s mainstay hairdresser, Lawrence Washington — a twentysomething flamboyant, …Read More
5:00 PMNov 15
Source: BV Black Spin
Kamesha Williams was celebrating her 16th birthday in May, when her world came crashing down around her – thanks to a gunshot from a New York police officer’s gun, according to a lawsuit filed against the city. Williams was sitting with a couple of …Read More
4:45 PMNov 15
Source: BV Black Spin
I remember going to the airport a few years ago and talking with my cab driver who moonlighted as a teacher (or was he a teacher who moonlighted as a cab driver?). He mentioned to me that in Nigeria, everybody looks at Howard University as the …Read More
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Last night, Michael Vick was the man. Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to record more than 300 passing yards, over 50 rushing yards, four or more passing touchdowns and two or more rushing touchdowns, all in one game. Not only did he give what some are arguing to be the greatest quarterback performance in the history of the NFL, he did it on Monday Night Football, one of the biggest NFL stages other than the Super Bowl. Vick led the Eagles to franchise records for total yardage (592) and points in a half (45). They were leading 28-0 at half-time, which is the most for any road team since 1950. It was amazing.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
This weekend there was a fight in a bar in Hattiesburg, MS. Three football players from Southern Mississippi University were involved in the fight, and all three were shot. The three players are in fair condition at a local hospital.
Martez Smith, Tim Green and Deddrick Jones were shot shortly after 3 a.m. There have been no arrests and police say that the shootings may have been gang related.
Allen Murray, spokesperson for the Hattiesburg police, said that the fight started inside the club and spilled out into the street. That’s where the players were shot. The incident occurred a few hours after the team defeated Central Florida.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Dr. Ron Daniels is a giant in his field. Among African American scholars, he is a leader, visionary and highly progressive voice for issues that matter to people of color. One his great loves is Haiti, the country that is left suffering and forgotten in the midst of an earthquake, disease and persistent poverty. Dr. Daniels would like to do something about these problems, and he has an avenue which allows concerned Americans like yourself to become directly involved. He is the founder of the Haiti Support Project, and the Pilgrimage of Hope Cruise to Haiti, providing an opportunity for all of us to visit the country’s most challenged areas. AOL Black Voices was able to catch up with Dr. Daniels for a conversation:
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Dr. Ron Daniels is a giant in his field. Among African American scholars, he is a leader, visionary and highly progressive voice for issues that matter to people of color. One his great loves is Haiti, the country that is left suffering and forgotten in the midst of an earthquake, disease and persistent poverty. Dr. Daniels would like to do something about these problems, and he has an avenue which allows concerned Americans like yourself to become directly involved. He is the founder of the Haiti Support Project, and the Pilgrimage of Hope Cruise to Haiti, providing an opportunity for all of us to visit the country’s most challenged areas. AOL Black Voices was able to catch up with Dr. Daniels for a conversation:
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
One of the proudest moments in my life as a political observer was when Kanye West did something that almost no other artist or entertainer would be astute or courageous enough to do. In 2005, as people were dying in the streets of New Orleans, West used the powerful platform provided to him during a Hurricane Katrina telethon to make the statement heard around the world: ”George Bush does not care about black people.”
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
A new report released by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at The University of Central Florida presents a mixed bag of evidence when it comes to the progress of people of color within college football. The report found that 15 college football head coaches of FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) schools are African American (out of 120), but that there is still a great deal of room for improvement in other important positions within athletic departments. To date, 100 percent of conference commissioners, 93 percent of college presidents and 88 percent of athletic directors are white. Also, quite a few universities that earn millions from black athletes are reluctant to hire or tenure African American professors, especially in business and the sciences.
From 1979 – 2002, a total of 19 full-time head coaches were hired in college football. But in the last two years, 10 have been hired. This shows that there are some campuses making some effort to hire more black coaches. The numbers represent progress in the NCAA, a league that is less interested in hiring African Americans than it is in exploiting them. As it stands, most of the thousands of black athletes in college football are never going be head coaches. Also, the vast majority of those athletes will never reach the NFL. Therefore, the greatest crime of collegiate athletics is that most of these universities are not educating the players properly.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I watched previews of the recent interview that Oprah Winfrey did with Joe and Katherine Jackson, parents of the late Michael Jackson. In the interview, Oprah asked the Jacksons a probing question that sits on the minds of millions of people: Did you beat your children? Mr. Jackson had to answer the question truthfully, since everyone knows that he did engage in the act of physically disciplining his kids. Before his confession, Joe did a little Bill Clinton-like wordplay with Oprah over exactly what she meant by the word "beat." I understood what Joe was talking about, since there is a big difference between "beating" your kids and "whoopin" them.
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Georgia Teen Stomped to Death at Party
R. Kelly To Release ‘Love Letter’
Why is the Black Man Always a Suspect?
Photo Credit: Evan Agostini, Getty ImagesCorbis
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3:00 PMNov 10
Source: theBVX.com
There’s one thing that Kanye West and George W. Bush hate above anything else — to be called racist. And because (apparently) they both share the same sentiments about racism, the two have made amends. … Read More
2:57 PMNov 10
Source: BV on Sports
It was roughly one year ago today that Tiger Woods’ life changed for the worse. On November 25, 2009, the National Enquirer set to run a story about Tiger having an affair with a woman. That night, he ends up in the hospital after his wife uses a …Read More
2:54 PMNov 10
Source: BV Black Spin
The worst fears of health specialists in Haiti are being realized as the cholera outbreak that started in the countryside is creeping toward the huge, overcrowded refugee camps that ring Port-au-Prince. The camps that drew the impoverished survivors … Read More
2:53 PMNov 10
Source: BV on Money
Few would argue that we’re a nation in dire need of greater fiscal education. If there’s anything American’s good at, it’s debt. We’re not taught how to practically manage money in school, and most of us tend to simply repeat the same bad money … Read More
2:42 PMNov 10
Source: BV Black Spin
It’s hard to believe that an international incident was caused by a handshake. But when First Lady Michelle Obama reached out and shook hands with Tifatul Sembiring, Indonesia’s information minister, the pair created the hand clasp heard round the … Read More
2:40 PMNov 10
Source: theBVX.com
The mother of all potentially offensive Twitter trending topics is number one for the time being. We’re talking about "#thingsblackgirlsdo" a subject that’s unleashed wanton ignorance in the black Twitter-verse and inspired countless other users to …Read More
2:08 PMNov 10
Source: BV on Movies
For a lot of folks, Donald Faison is best remembered for his role in the romantic comedy ‘Clueless,’ where he starred opposite Stacey Dash, or his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the comedy-drama ‘Scrubs,’ which finally ended its run after nine … Read More
2:04 PMNov 10
Source: BV Black Spin
It’s been long understood that black boys are not doing well in the school system. A recent article by the New York Times shows that the situation is worse than previously thought. According to a study by the Council of the Great City Schools, black … Read More
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
What does it take for a woman to be healthy? This issue consistently presses upon my mind as I think about my own daughters and how to teach them what they need to know about the world. While I am critical of films like ‘For Colored Girls,’ which seems to root every black female problem into the hands of black men, I am also sympathetic to the struggles experienced by black women like my mother, grandmother, sister and others.
Related: +Dr. Boyce Video:
Why is the Black Man Always a Suspect? +Dr. Boyce Video:
Black Men Need to Mentor One Another +Dr. Boyce Video:
Terrie Williams, Depression and the Black Community +Dr. Boyce Video —
What Makes a Celeb Trashy vs. Trendy? +Dr. Boyce Video –
The Importance of Owning Your Own Business
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