by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Another one bites the dust. Tony Harris, arguably the most talented black correspondent with CNN, has left for Al Jazeera English. The Al Jazeera network reports on news in the Middle East and serves a large audience, mostly in that region of the world. Harris spent six years with CNN before announcing his departure.
Harris is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, with experience on HBO and Entertainment Tonight. Right before starting his first day at the new job, Harris said this:
“I’m really pleased to have joined. Having an interest in news from around the world, I was attracted by AJE’s global focus and look forward to being involved in stories from all points of the globe. It’s a very exciting time to be coming on board.”
My quick thoughts:
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Three thoughts that come to mind as I watch the video of LeBron James’ mother getting into a fight with the valet at a hotel:
1) What the hayell? – Yes, if my mama ever acts this way, she and I might have to have a nasty conversation or two. I truly feel sorry for LeBron, who has been embarrassed by his mother in the past on multiple occasions.
2) This is what happens when we drink too much in public and forget that our child is a celebrity. When you’re in the public eye, everyone is always watching. You can’t sneeze, use the bathroom, or buy groceries without people scrutinizing every little thing you do. Alcohol reduces our inhibitions and makes us unaware of our surroundings. That’s why I don’t drink.
Click to read more.
Good afternoon. It’s great to be back at GW. I want you to know that one of the reasons I kept the government open was so I could be here today with all of you. I wanted to make sure you had one more excuse to skip class. You’re welcome.
Of course, what we’ve been debating here in Washington for the last few weeks will affect your lives in ways that are potentially profound. This debate over budgets and deficits is about more than just numbers on a page, more than just cutting and spending. It’s about the kind of future we want. It’s about the kind of country we believe in. And that’s what I want to talk about today.
Read more…
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has apparently had enough. The group announced recently that it is splitting off from UNITY, an organization designed to bring together groups of minority journalists. The NABJ has cited the financial decisions of UNITY as the primary reason for the departure.
"NABJ board members concluded that as a business model, UNITY no longer is the most financially prudent for NABJ and its membership,” according to a statement released by the NABJ.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
For all of those who were once concerned about Tavis Smiley ending his much-respected State of the Black Union gathering every year, you no longer have any reason to worry: “The great” Juan Williams from Fox News is now going to take his place.
Well, Juan isn’t exactly replicating the State of the Black Union. Actually, he is going to be one of two moderators for the State of Race Symposium being sponsored by the Aspen Institute. According to Charlie Firestone, Executive Director of the Community and Society Program at the institute, the appointment of Williams to the post was nothing short of a perfect “basketball bounce pass.”
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins – Scholarship in Action
It was recently announced that Harvard University has admitted a record number of African American students this year. The UK Guardian has revealed that 11.8% of Harvard’s incoming freshmen are African American. This is quite an achievement for nearly any university, especially one that exists among the elite. Harvard’s latest president, Drew Gilpin Faust, should be congratulated on her accomplishment.
While we are tempted to jump up and down in excitement over the school’s decision to accept the fact that blacks are just as bright as whites, we might need to take a moment of pause. Even though the presence of black students is very important to a campus, the reality is that admitting students of color neither requires significant courage nor shows any real sign of meaningful progress when it comes to truly shaping the direction of a university. The holy grail of power in any academic environment is the number of tenured faculty positions, which Harvard continues to keep African Americans from obtaining.
Click to read more.
Click here to listen to this week’s conversation as Dr. Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton discuss the pressing issues taking place in the black community.
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The following is an exerpt from the book, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College."
Before I tell you all the great things about college, and all the things that are going to happen before, during and after, we should start with a very basic question: why do you want to go to college anyway? I mean, you could be doing a lot of things: playing in the NBA, bustin rhymes with your boys on stage, acting in Hollywood, or just plain old "kickin it". More realistically, you could also just jump right out and get a job after high school. There was a time when that wasn’t such a bad thing. My grandmother always tells me stories about the days when a high school diploma went a long way, when a house cost 8 cents, when dogs didn’t bite and you could leave your front door open at night. But a lot of things have definitely changed since then, and a person must adjust to the times.
Click to read.
HOUSTON (AP) – Twin Houston men were charged Tuesday with the murder of their 89-year-old mother after police say the pair allowed her to die on the floor in their foyer after she fell, then lived for three months with her decomposing, bug-infested corpse.
Edwin Larry Berndt and his brother, Edward Christian Berndt, both 48, were arrested Monday when police went to check on Sybil Berndt, prompted by a neighbor who called to say the elderly woman had not been seen since January.
Edwin Berndt answered the officer’s knocks and initially said "everyone was fine and there was no need for the police at their home," according to court documents. The officer insisted she had to see Berndt’s mother and he let her into the house.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
President Obama’s Web Portal for African Americans: Questions I’d Like to Have Answered
President Barack Obama just opened a new web portal for African Americans. The page drops to significant fanfare, with some feeling less than perfectly optimistic about the White House’s most recent gesture. The most interesting comment came from someone named Slim Jackson, who tweeted: "Can’t help you in real life, so here’s a page."
The site is likely in response to the fact that President Obama’s support among African Americans has been slipping. A recent poll at YourBlackWorld.com shows that roughly a third (34%) of black respondents are disappointed in the Obama presidency, which is likely reason for concern for the president. Black disappointment doesn’t necessarily give votes to the Republicans, but it can manifest itself in poor voter turnout. The argument that “the Republicans are worse than I am” is not likely going to be enough to get black folks out to the polls next year, so perhaps the administration would be wise to take notice.
Click to read.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The aura of Tiger Woods, which was the picture of health and the envy of millions for the better part of 15 years, died peacefully over the weekend at the home of the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club.
The cause of death was ordinary fallibility.
The aura is survived by Woods himself; his caddie, the New Zealand race-car driver Steve Williams; his agent, IMG deal-maker Mark Steinberg; and his headcover, Frank, whose career died shortly after appearing in a series of irreverent television commercials circa 2004, and who has since retired to the remainders bin at a Kohl’s in Orlando.
Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2064549,00.html#ixzz1JHUnfoty
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Over one-fourth of 326 black women to participate in a study on hair loss were found to have lost hair on the top of their scalp. Additionally, 59 percent of the study’s participants showed signs of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, otherwise known as CCCA. CCCA is a form of baldness that starts at the crown of the head and causes scarring.
For years, many people thought that alopecia was caused by hot combs. Actually, it is caused by braids, weaves and other hairstyles. According to the study, it was determined that having these hairstyles for long periods of time leads to the creation of pus-filled bumps. According to Angela Kyei, M.D., the lead researcher in the study, the bumps can “develop bacteria,” causing scarring.
Click to read.
WASHINGTON (WUSA/AP) — U.S.Capitol Police say they arrested 41 people on Constitution Avenue in front of the Hart Senate Office Building on Monday at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Those people arrested include D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C councilmembers who were protesting restrictions placed on the district as part of the federal budget deal. All of the people who were arrested are charged with Unlawful Assembly (Blocking Passage), which is a misdemeanor that can be resolved by paying a $50 fine.
They are currently being processed by U.S. Capitol Police.
Mayor Vincent Gray and others sat down and blocked the street in front of a Senate office building Monday. They chanted and shouted, "Hey, hey, no, no, those D.C. riders have got to go."
Congress oversees D.C.’s budget and laws and can pull funding for programs it doesn’t like during the budgeting process.
Click to read.
from USA Today
A Boston biblical scholar challenges widely held beliefs about the Bible and sex in her new book, arguing Scripture cannot and should not be a guidebook for sexual morality.
The Bible is a complex compendium of human experience including stories of love, prostitution, extramarital sex and more, Boston University religion professor Jennifer Wright Knust argues in "Unprotected Texts: The Bible’s Surprising Contradictions about Sex and Desire."
Click to read.
by Richard Prince, Journal-isms and Theroot.com
Despite a statement from an AOL spokesman that AOL’s $315 million purchase of Huffington Post would have "no impact at all" on AOL Black Voices and AOL Latino, two employees of Black Voices had sent farewell e-mails to colleagues the day before.
The two are Alexis Garrett Stodghill, programming manager who supervised the Money division, and Timothy Cornwall, who ran BVX.com, a portion of the site devoted to readers under 35.
"If you’re receiving this email it’s because as AOL and I part ways (!) I want to acknowledge the people who I’ve met here who have made this experience enjoyable . . ." Cornwell wrote Thursday, attachingthis YouTube video.
Click to read.
Click here to watch a video about Craig Williams’ book about John Baxter Taylor, the first African American to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Note: To help Rocky Clark and his family, please visit Rasulrockyclark.com
The story of Rasul "Rocky" Clark is a cautionary tale to all the mothers who send their sons to the football field on Saturday afternoon. Ten years ago, Clark was living the dream of many African American males: he was one of the stars of his high school football team, playing the game as running back.
Rocky’s dream came to an end with one hit too many. The player was paralyzed from the neck down, rendering him unable to move, walk, stand up, or use his arms for the rest of his life. He will never run down the field, experience sex, wash himself or even breath properly again. He has one lung, and his life expectancy dropped dramatically on the day of his horrible injury. In fact, part of the reason his family is now broke is because medical experts and insurance companies didn’t expect him to last for even a decade.
Rocky just found out that his $5 million dollar insurance policy has reached the lifetime maximum, meaning that his insurer is not going to pay anymore of his expenses.
Read more…
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
In case you don’t recall, Bethany Storro was the woman in Washington who threw acid on her own face and then claimed that a black woman did it. Storro recently pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a public official and was sentenced to one-year suspended sentence. She must also complete community service, continue her mental health treatment and repay the $4,000 in police overtime that was charged as a result of her false statement.
Most interesting was the fact that Storro apologized to African Americans everywhere for the lie that she told to the police. Arguing that she was “genuinely and desperately sorry,” Storro sought sympathy from the judge right before her sentencing. It’s hard to know if the apology from the 28-year old was legitimate, but there’s no question that she is remorseful about what happened to her.
Click to read.
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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
In the video below, Jeff Johnson, Al Sharpton and Ben Jealous discuss an issue that is very dear to me: the problem of mass incarceration in America. As part of our Never Going Back initiative (which we hope you’ll sign up for), our goal is to align 10,000 committed African Americans who are willing to do whatever it takes to make this terrible problem go away.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I just returned from the Measuring the Movement forum hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton in New York City. The forum was insightful and empowering as it pertains to getting members of African American leadership to see the value of accountability. NAACP President Ben Jealous gave time to the forum, and even President Barack Obama came through to give a speech.
In many ways, the convention was arguably the most successful gathering of its kind. I find Sharpton’s approach to action-oriented solutions to be refreshing, and as a person who sat on a panel with both Jealous and Sharpton, it’s a relief to be involved with a forum where the goal is not to simply provide the best sound bite. “Sound bite leadership” in the black community needs to die and be replaced with strong, direct action that recognizes the urgency of our deadly situation.
Click to read.
As if LeBron James won’t be facing enough pressure and scrutiny in less than two weeks when he plays in his first playoff series for the Miami Heat, possibly against the Knicks, James now has to deal with an off-court mess courtesy of his mom, Gloria.
Gloria James was arrested early Thursday morning by Miami Beach police after she reportedly assaulted a hotel valet worker. Police said that several witnesses supported the account of the valet, Sorel Rockefeller, who claimed that James assaulted him because it was taking too long to have her car delivered.
Police said that when they arrived at the Fontainebleau Hotel at 4:47 a.m., James had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and her eyes were bloodshot. She was taken to Miami Beach police headquarters and issued a Promise to Appear on charges of simple battery and disorderly conduct.
Click to read.
by Jemele Hill, ESPN.com
The problems in college athletics have been much in the news recently — from pay-for-play to unethical conduct by coaches and administrators — and it’s become clear that only a drastic measure can address the hypocrisy, the rampant rule violations and the widespread deceit permeating our so-called amateur collegiate sports.
A revolution is needed at the college level. But the only way we’ll see one is if college athletes do something so radical that it not only makes the powers-that-be take notice but jeopardizes their bottom line.
It’s an action that would require commitment, planning, patience and sacrifice.
It would come with great risk. It would make college athletes vulnerable to ridicule and criticism, and it might even have a bearing on their professional aspirations.
But it’s time. College athletes need to organize and stage a massive boycott, because unless their voice is heard this inequitable system will never change.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I admit feeling a bit of glee upon hearing that Fox News is going to part ways with Glenn Beck. After watching his ratings decline, the network decided that it’s best that Beck take his chalk board elsewhere and find something new to do with his time. The departure is likely good for America, for Beck became one of the most divisive figures in the country.
What can’t be overlooked in Beck’s break from Fox is the fact that the decision was likely a financial one. Fox was losing millions when advertisers decided to boycott Beck’s show, largely because they didn’t want their products to be affiliated with a man with such extremist viewpoints. According to ColorofChange.org, Beck has lost 300 advertisers, largely because of comments he has made about President Obama having a hatred of white people. Remarks like this one, along with other conspiracy theories Beck threw at the nation every afternoon, likely led to his demise.
Click to read.
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK ANNUAL GALA
Sheraton New York Hotel
New York, New York
6:01 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good to be in New York City. Let me begin by acknowledging some very, very special guests. Dr. Richardson, thank you. Charlie Rangel, for your outstanding work on behalf of your constituents. Mayor David Dinkins. (Applause.) Governor David Paterson is here. (Applause.) State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. DiNapoli, excuse me. This is another one that’s hard to pronounce: Stevie Wonder. (Laughter.) Martin Luther King III. (Applause.) All the Keepers of the Dream honorees with us tonight, and the National Action Network.
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Media Release from the NAACP
Conservative voices Keene and Norquist join NAACP President & CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, Former Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Lotus founder Mitchell Kapor, largest prison guard unions, others in bipartisan call to reduce incarceration
Multi-city billboard campaign will kick off regional efforts to reform criminal justice policy and influence state budgets
April 7th National Press Club; 1:30 p.m.
(Washington, DC) – David Keene, former Chairman of the American Conservative Union, and Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform and a board member at the National Rifle Association, will join a group of bipartisan leaders April 7th to speak about the NAACP’s upcoming report, “Misplaced Priorities: Under Educate, Over Incarcerate”. The report examines escalating levels of prison spending and its impact on state budgets and our nation’s children. It uncovers a disturbing connection between high incarceration rates and poorly performing schools.
Read more…
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – The Huffington Post
Today I mentioned to a friend that I was looking forward to analyzing the report on the State of Black America issued by the Urban League every year. The person responded to my comment with an interesting question. He said, "Do these gatherings actually lead to action or is it a matter of people just getting together to produce cute little sound bites?"
I thought about the person’s question and wanted to give an answer that made sense. But when my mind referenced prior gatherings similar to the State of Black America, I realized that there are times when black leadership seems to be re-living scenes from the movie Ground Hog Day. In the film, Bill Murray’s character keeps living the same day over and over again, making no progress in his life. Like Bill Murray’s character, Black America remains a bit stagnant, primarily because of our stubborn insistence upon using the same methods to solve the same problems, only to get the same old results.
Click to read.
I remain deeply concerned by the security situation in Cote d’Ivoire. I strongly support the role that United Nations peacekeepers are playing as they enforce their mandate to protect civilians, and I welcome the efforts of French forces who are supporting that mission. Tragically, the violence that we are seeing could have been averted had Laurent Gbagbo respected the results of last year’s presidential election. To end this violence and prevent more bloodshed, former President Gbagbo must stand down immediately, and direct those who are fighting on his behalf to lay down their arms. Every day that the fighting persists will bring more suffering, and further delay the future of peace and prosperity that the people of Cote D’Ivoire deserve.
The people of Cote D’Ivoire have suffered too much throughout this period of unrest. The United States joins with the international community in our deep concern about reports of massacres in the western region of the country, and the dangers faced by innocent civilians – particularly the most vulnerable. All parties must show restraint and respect the rights of the Ivorian people, and I welcome President Ouattara’s pledge to ensure accountability for those who have carried out attacks against civilians. Meanwhile, the United States will continue to support a future in which Laurent Gbagbo stands down, and President Outarra and the government of Cote D’Ivoire can move beyond this current crisis and serve all of the Ivorian people.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Scholarship in Action
A recent study by Nielson says that African Americans watch 40 percent more television than the national average. Black people spend an average of 7 hours, 12 minutes each day in front of the TV, while the national average is 5 hours, 11 minutes. Asians watch the least television, averaging 3 hours, 14 minutes per day.
I am on my way to a meeting, so I’ll give very quick thoughts on this study:
1) It’s probably no coincidence that Asians also have the highest test scores in school, while we have the lowest. Perhaps we can learn something from our friends across the sea.
2) While we might criticize the “Tiger Mom,” (Amy Chua) for pushing her kids toward excellence, I am willing to bet that the Tiger Mom’s kids weren’t spending all their time planted in front of a TV or video game. While I don’t agree with all of her tactics, I do advocate for having a loving influence on your child’s daily activities. It’s not natural to sit around watching BET for 12 hours a day, so don’t let your child do it.
Click to read.
Hey peeps,
During my trip to NYC, I’ll be co-hosting "Make it Plain with Mark Thompson" on Sirius 146/XM 137 – I wanted to give a shout-out to my respected friend Mark Thompson, the host of the show. Below is a schedule of the NAN convention events – I am on a media panel Friday and the Measuring the Movement panel on Saturday, which I think is on MSNBC again:
http://nationalactionnetwork.net/images/pdf/nnaanschedule.pdf
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
A friend once told me about a teenage girl she met at the doctor’s office. The girl talked about the fact that she thought she was pregnant and was looking forward to having her baby. After the girl left the office, the nurse told my friend in confidence that she felt sorry for the teenager who’d come in right before.
Apparently, the young girl wasn’t pregnant at all, but just wanted to be. In fact, she wanted a baby so bad that her body had taken on many of the characteristics of a pregnant woman: Her menstruations had stopped, her stomach started to protrude, she got morning sickness, and she even started to lactate. Because her desire to have a child was so deeply ingrained her psyche, her body convinced itself that she was indeed going to be someone’s mother.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
The death of the great Manning Marable at Columbia University was hard for me. At the young age of 60, Professor Marable took his rightful place with the legends of the black history, ending an amazing life and remarkable career. Professor Marable passed as one of the great black scholars of our time, and had the vision to expand the walls of his classroom to include millions of black and brown people across the world.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
In a recent poll on YourBlackWorld.com, 60% of the African American respondents claimed that they are against gay marriage. The results from the poll are intriguing in light of the African American affiliation with the Democratic Party, which tends to support gay rights.
My personal interpretation of the results is that the poll numbers show that the black community is actually far more conservative than most people think. Results like these are in line with the strong affiliation that most African Americans have with the black church, which tends to lean against things like gay marriage. I would expect to see similar results on issues such as abortion.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Former NBA player and Fab Five member Jalen Rose was suspended indefinitely by ESPN after reports surfaced that Rose had been arrested for drunk driving. According to ESPN, Rose was being sent to the bench for not reporting the incident to the network. Rose allegedly failed a blood-alcohol test after his truck crashed in Bloomfield, Michigan on March 11. The incident didn’t get to ESPN until a Detroit station contacted the network to get more details for their own story.
"Jalen has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Both parties are taking this very seriously, and as a result, we’ve agreed that he will not be on our air while he addresses this situation,” ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in an e-mail to USA Today.
Click to read.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Scholarship in Action
I remember the summer of 2009 when I received the very first phone call from CNN about a black professor at Harvard University who’d been arrested on his front porch. The professor’s name was Henry Louis Gates, a prominent black scholar in the field of African American studies. Gates had been taken away in handcuffs by an officer named James Crowley, a man who apparently didn’t understand the political consequences of inconveniencing important Harvard professors.
As a black public scholar myself and son of a police officer, I felt obligated to try to understand both sides of the situation. Being close to police officers all my life, I know that officers can be incredibly abusive and disrespectful. I almost immediately saw the case of Professor Gates to be more of a civil liberties issue than one of racial profiling. One cannot presume that every arrest of a black man is the result of racism. In the case of Gates, I found it confusing that he wanted to rally the troops of racial justice, but has almost never spoken out publicly in favor of other black men who’ve been shot by police or experienced more serious incidents in the past.
Read more…
From the Amsterdam News
After more than two years in office, the first president of African descent finally made his way to the historic cultural and intellectual center of Black America, Harlem.
And for many in the Harlem community, his visit was nothing short of a big letdown.
The president made two stops: at Harlem’s new “it” spot the Red Rooster (a restaurant), and at the always tony Studio Museum of Harlem (the place that is the beneficiary of a favorite charity soirée of the up-and-coming and arrived Black professional class of New York City).
But the DNC events in Harlem saw few Black professionals or members of the Harlem establishment at last night’s events. While Harlem’s Black politicos were well represented at the Studio Museum, and the president gave shout-outs to Rangel, Dinkins, Perkins, Wright and Dickens, a casual scan of the audience showed that between 80 and 85 percent of the audience was neither African-American nor Latino, the core of the Harlem community.
“I was thinking we would see more of the community and community leaders,” said State Sen. Bill Perkins. “These seem to be the early money people, the financial supporters,” he said.
Earlier in the evening some 50 people (one observer estimated there were four of five Black guests) forked over $30,800 apiece to attend the Democratic National Committee’s fundraiser at the Red Rooster. A block away, more than 200 demonstrators braved an icy windchill factor, many of them unemployed or barely earning in a year the amount requested for one night in Obama’s Harlem venture.
Click to read more.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has stated that he has no plans to pardon Jamie and Gladys Scott. When he was asked if he planned to pardon the sisters after releasing them from prison, Barbour told the Associated Press, "Tell ‘em don’t save any space in the newspaper for that to be announced."
Jamie and Gladys Scott were recently released after being incarcerated for an armed robbery that netted just $11 back in 1994. The sisters were released on the condition that Gladys donate her kidney to Jamie, who has been diagnosed with kidney failure. Gov. Barbour likely chose to release the sisters to alleviate some of the pressure he’d received for sounding like the racially-divisive political figure that he actually is. Many of his comments about President Obama and black people in general made him sound exactly like the kind of man who’d be elected governor of a state like Mississippi.
Click to read.
from CNN.com
In an especially grisly chapter of Ivory Coast’s four-month conflict, hundreds of people have been killed in the western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said 800 people were shot to death. The United Nations puts the death toll so far at 330.
Guillaume Ngefa, the deputy human rights director at the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast, blamed 220 of the deaths on forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the man recognized by the United Nations and other global powers as the rightful president of Ivory Coast. Ngefa said pro-Gbagbo forces killed 100 people.
The massacre occurred between Monday and Wednesday as Ouattara’s Republican Forces led an offensive through the country to the commercial center of Abidjan, Ngefa said.
"We have evidence, we have pictures. This was retaliation," he said, referring to Ouattara’s forces.
Click to read.
Click to listen to Prof. Cornel West speak on his disappointment with the Obama Administration.
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