by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World – Scholarship in Action
According to CNN, the Standard & Poor’s rating agency has told the Obama Administration that it plans to downgrade the U.S government’s AAA credit rating. The ruling has not been announced to the public and it is reportedly being challenged by the White House. The move would be unprecedented, for the United States has long been considered one of the most credit-worthy financial entities in the world.
Continue reading →
By JasmineHughes
Dorothy E. Brunson, who became the first African-American woman in the nation to own a TV and radio station when she bought WEBB-AM in Baltimore and later WGTW-TV Channel 48 in Philadelphia in 1986, died Sunday of complications from ovarian cancer at Mercy Medical Center.
The Northwest Baltimore resident was 72.
Continue reading →
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World – Scholarship in Action
Pat Buchanan, one of the most divisive political constructs of this century, made an interesting comment about President Barack Obama. In a recent interview with Rev. Al Sharpton, Buchanan referred to President Obama as Sharpton’s “boy.”
The remark led to Sharpton responding with the kind of ferocity that the situation demanded, telling Buchanan that he needs to respect Barack Obama as his president and everyone’s president. Buchanan initially refused to issue an apology, but eventually took the time to “clarify his remarks.”
Read more…
By JasmineHughes
“I can’t cry anymore,” said 16-year-old Devin Brown, brother of 13-year-old Darius Brown who was shot while playing basketball in a park earlier this week.
Darius was shot in the neck at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday on the 4200 block of South State Street while playing basketball at Metcalfe Park in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Police said he was the unintended target of gunfire that erupted from a passing car.
Continue reading ’13-Year Old Boy Shot and Killed Playing the Sport that He Loved’
By JasmineHughes
In light of the economic downturn, female college students are taking matters into their own hands. Now instead of working in McDonald’s, or shops for $8.00 an hour, many are finding it quicker and easier to seek older men and provide sex in exchange for tuition money.
READ MORE AT BLACKWOMENTODAY
Michael Jackson, Newest “Fame” Comics Superhero
Bluewater Productions, a company that specializes in biographical comic books, recently revealed their newest productions, which feature the late Michael Jackson, as well as the Black-Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Taylor Lautner, and Justin Bieber’s current girlfriend, 19-year old Selena Gomez. In five new comic books in their popular “Fame” series, the celebrities will be immortalized as super heroes. Jackson, who died in June of 2009, would have turned 53 years old on August 29.
CLICK TO READ
By JasmineHughes
Legal trouble continues for Former NBA player Darius Miles. The 29-year-old was arrested at Lambert St. Louis International Airport for trying to bring a loaded gun onto a flight. Transportation Security Administration workers discovered the gun in X-ray screening Wednesday afternoon.
CLICK TO READ
Last month, rapper, Nicki Minaj was involved in a violent incident at a hotel in Dallas. It is alleged that Minaj’s managed and boyfriend, Safaree Samuels, hit her in the face with a suitcase. The hotel manager then called police because the couple refused to leave their hotel.
Read more…
Your Black World reports.
The recent debt ceiling debate brought the nation the closest its ever been to defaulting on the country’s debt. Also, Americans have shown that they would rather see their lawmakers focus on creating jobs than on cutting costs, at least according to a new New York T’imes/CBS News Poll.
The poll found that a shocking 82 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job. This is the highest disapproval rating in the history of the poll, which started in 1977. Four out of five Americans said that the debt ceiling debate was more about gaining a political advantage than about doing what’s best for the country. Nearly 75 percent of respondents claim that the debate did harm to the image of the United States around the world.
Read more…
Your Black World Reports
A reported 29,000 children under the age of 5 have died in the recent famine in Somalia, according to estimates by the U.S. government. The drought is the worst in Somalia in the last 60 years, and the United Nations estimates that there are over 640,000 small children who are acutely malnourished. They also predict that the number of dead children will continue to grow.
CLICK TO READ
Your Black World reports
The rapper Lil Wayne has been sued for $15 million by a company that claims that he stole the song “Bedrock.” The suit, which was filed in New York, was brought forth by Done Deal Enterprises. The company says that Dwayne Carter (aka Lil Wayne) committed copyright infringement after they created the song back in 2009. The song also features Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lloyd. It reached number 2 on the Bill Board charts back in 2010.
Read more
by Renee Greene, Your Black World
“The Help” opens in theaters August 10.
In the midst of new millennium accusations of racism in Hollywood, and with the “underhiring” of blacks in the movie world for major A-list roles, it appears that black actresses can still find roles forged out of perpetually stereotypical characters. The Help, a best-selling novel-gone-silver-screen, is centered on the lives of Aibileen and Minny, two black maids living in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. The maids are portrayed by African American actresses Viola Davis andOctavia Spencer.
Continue reading →
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Diddy has a new ladies’ fragrance out called Empress. This is his second perfume for women, and he chose none other than Ms. Kelly Rowland to be the royal figurehead. This novel perfume is the “better half” of the men’s fragrance dubbed I Am King.
Read more »
Your Black World reports.
The stock market plunged to its worst day since the 2008 financial crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved down 512 points, the ninth biggest drop in history, as investors fears that there would be a global economic downturn.
Continue reading →
Your Black World reports.
Be prepared to witness the “genius” of urban marketing. New Sagz jeans are built for those men who just don’t want to take the time to pull up their pants, but also want the mobility they would have if they actually did. The jeans come with built-in boxer shorts that clamp to the waste as tightly as a belt, but still give the world a chance to see your underwear.
Read more…
MSNBC commentator Pat Buchanan refused to apologize for calling President Obama a “boy” on national television. Speaking to Rev. Al Sharpton on the network, Buchanan referred to President Obama as “your boy” to Rev. Sharpton, sparking an on-air fight that went viral on the Internet.
Read more…
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Schoarship in Action
Respected commentator Earl Ofari Hutchinson recently made a set of accurate remarks about the challenges that President Obama faces within the African American community. He cites a recentWashington Post/ABC News poll that shows that there are as many African Americans who are dissatisfied with the president’s performance as there are who are happy with it.
CLICK TO READ
by Ayvaunn Penn, YOUR BLACK WORLD
Jennifer Williams gets water thrown in her face by her soon-to-be ex-husband, Eric Williams, in the preview for episode ten of VH1′s BASKETBALL WIVES. The two are having dinner when Eric gets mad. It is at this point that he dashes a glass of water in her face and walks away.
CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE ›
Your Black World reports
Arif Mubashir, 40, found out that his daughters were dating older boys in the neighborhood. When he heard the news from one of his sons, he brought the girls into his room and confronted them about it. While their mother and the rest of the family watched, the man shot the girls dead.
CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE ›
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
According to a new survey at Your Black World, it was found that over half (56.3%) of all African American respondents have a friend or relative who they know to have HIV. The number was higher among black women (58.7%) than black men (51.2%).
CLICK TO READ
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
There is a whole new cyber world out there that has yet to be tamed by corporations and law officials. No, this is not about who is and is not on Facebook. Nearly every business, and seemingly every person, is on Facebook. This is about what is being said on the popular social network and how that should or should not affect your job. The Huffington Post reports:
“The federal agency tasked with enforcing labor law has been fielding complaints from workers across the country who have been fired or disciplined for their work-related indiscretions on Facebook. Although the feds have taken up the cases of a number of jaded workers, others have essentially been told they have no one to blame for their workplace troubles but themselves.”
CLICK TO READ
Your Black World reports.
The city of New Orleans is moving away from the model of putting all subsidized housing into one place. The city is, instead, mixing subsidized with unsubsidized homes, opening over 900 housing units already. Another 3,100 are under development.
CLICK TO READ
Aaron “Bubba” Smith, a former NFL superstar and actor, was found to have died in his home. Authorities are not suspecting foul play and say that he appears to have died of natural causes. ‘
Read more…
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
A high school in Minneapolis may end up having to pay up after allowing its students to openly engage in a tradition called "Wigger Day." On this "sacred" occasion, the students in the school would wear clothing and engage in behavior that "from their perspective, mimicked black culture." This was all according to a federal class action lawsuit filed on Friday.
The suit claims that a group of roughly 60 students voted to have "Wigger Wednesday," where students would dress up as African Americans from "the hood." The outfits included oversized sports jerseys, fitted hats and "doo" rags. Some of them even threw up gang signs to celebrate the occasion.
click to read
Your Black World reports
Former NBA superstar Shaquille O’neal is in serious trouble for allegedly trying to stalk his ex-wife Shaunie O’neal. He is also accused of getting down and dirty with his girlfriend on the side, Shawna Darling.
Read the rest of this entry »
by Renee Greene, Your Black World
Albert Haynesworth, a Washington Redskins trade, still wasn’t cutting it with his conditioning tests for the New England Patriots … until a few hours ago. Within the last few hours, according to USA Today‘s “The Huddle,” Haynesworth not only showed up at practice this past Sunday evening, but showed out.
CLICK TO READ
Dr. Wilmer Leon and Dr. Boyce Watkins ask whether or not African Americans were harmed disproportionately by the latest debt ceiling debate.
By JasmineHughes
Deadline reports that during a panel at the Television Critics Association press tour, Arsenio Hall indicated that he would be willing to return to the small screen. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY→
By JasmineHughes
The number one killer of African-American women between the ages of 25 and 34 is AIDS, and this is a first-world country. Despite this fact, HIV is a subject many African-American physicians are nervous about bringing up with their patients.READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY →
By JasmineHughes
Dissatisfied with the debt-ceiling deal negotiated by President Obama and leaders in Congress, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are planning a procedural move that would require a majority of House Republicans to cast their votes on the measure before CBC members cast theirs. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY→
By JasmineHughes
Thanks to Marvel Comics’, a superhero of color will soon emerge. In the Ultimate Fallout Issue 4, Marvel revealed the new Spider-Man in the Ultimate universe is a half-black, half-Hispanic teen named Miles Morales. He takes over the gig held by Peter Parker, who was killed in Ultimate Spider-Man Issue 160 in June. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY →
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Scholarship in Action
It appears that disrespecting the president by referring to him as a sex organ on national television is not a seriously punishable offense. Mark Halperin, the man who referred to President Obama as a "d*ck", is now back in action on Morning Joe. So, you can trust that when you watch the show, you’re not exactly getting objective analysis….instead, your political analyst (not to mention the editor-at-large at Time Magazine), has no problem referring to the president as a d*ck on national television.
CLICK TO READ
It appears that Jaden Smith is now getting in his quality time with the ladies. The 13-year old star of “The Karate Kid” is apparently dating Madison Pettis, who just turned 13- years old. Ahhh, young love.
Robert Tooley was killed on his motorcyle in a recent accident. This led to the community coming together to show love and support for his wife and children in their time of need.
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Plaxico Burress has found a new home in the NFL after sitting out for two whole seasons. Burress has worked out a contract to play for the New York Jets. The deal entails $3.017 million in exchange for one year of tackles, sprints, and touchdowns. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal is wholly guaranteed. Yahoo Sports reports that sources “ indicate that the extra $17,000 in the total was a small vanity point, as Burress’ jersey number was (and is) No. 17.”
CLICK TO READ
By JasmineHughes
Tiger Woods hasn’t tee’d up in a professional tournament in a while. He has passed on the U.S. Open and British Open, and following his WD at The Players Championship in May, many have been anxiously wondering if he would return to the course this year. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY →
By JasmineHughes
One person was killed and three more were injured following a shooting that took place after a large fight that broke out near a Cleveland outdoor concert venue where George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic were performing. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY →
It appears that the hit song “Big Pimpin” by Jay-Z and Timbaland may not have been their song after all. A man by the name of Ahab Joseph Nafal filed a lawsuit on July 23rd in U.S. District Court in California, stating that the song was taken from his own. The song comes from another song called “Khosara Khosara,” composed by Baligh Hamdy. The duo is being sued for a cool $5 million.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
I’ve never met Lenny McAllister, a former host on WVON 1690 in Chicago. The only thing I know is that Lenny is a Republican (which I am not), and that WVON was once my favorite radio station in the entire country. The station, in my mind, has always represented the essence and history of the South Side of Chicago, a place that is near and dear to my heart.
Continue reading →
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Early Happy Birthday to President Barack Obama! On this coming Thursday, Mr. President will have lived to see a total of 50 years. Obama is grateful that the debt ceiling debate has concluded, and it makes for a wonderful birthday present. President Obama recently told NPR “What I really want right now is to, to get a debt-ceiling deal for my birthday,” and his wish came true.
Read more »
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Harry Thomas Jr., a D.C. Council member, is reportedly paying a $300,000 settlement to the city to lay to rest accusations that he used public money for youth programs to purchase luxury vehicles and fund expensive trips. The fact that Thomas opted to settle, however, does not mean that he will be exempt from potential criminal charges. In addition, he agreed not to lead any charity organizations for at least five years.
Read more…
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Some people in Miami are outraged over the treatment of black men by the Miami Police Department. According to reports, a victim by the name of Travis McNeil made for the 7th black male victim fatally shot by the Miami PD in just 8 months. The shooting of this 28-year-old was the last straw. The New York Times reports:
Read more…
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Rumors have long been flying about Queen Latifah’s sexuality. Now, people are wondering if she is allowing the role she played as a gay reporter in a recent episode of Single Ladies to voice what she has been keeping under wraps for years. Latifah’s character, Sharon Love, admits that when she was in college she slept with her best female friend.
Continue reading →
JACKSON, Mich. — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick walked free from a state prison early Tuesday after serving just over a year for violating probation in a 2008 criminal case.
A relative escorted Kilpatrick from a Southern Michigan Prison facility in Jackson to a sport utility vehicle waiting outside. Kilpatrick smiled but did not address reporters as he climbed into the SUV, which headed toward the Detroit area under police escort.
In a statement issued ahead of his release, Kilpatrick thanked all those who prayed for him and said he would speak openly about his time behind bars after he has reunited with his family. He planned to rejoin his wife and three sons near Dallas, where his parole will be overseen by Texas authorities.
CLICK TO READ
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
The ball is finally rolling with the debt-deal debate. On Sunday, President Obama reached an agreement with the Democrats and Republicans of Congress. The deal entails $2.4 trillion be saved over the next ten years while also raising the debt ceiling through 2012. The deal also calls for a special congressional committee designated just for recommending long-term fiscal reforms.
Read more…
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
On Thursday of last week, Rev. Howard Creecy Jr. died of unknown causes. Creecy was a well known Atlanta minister and the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). His funeral is to be held August 6th at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta, and other details are still being finalized according to SCLC and Jackson Memorial representatives. Initially, the funeral was to be held on Friday.
Read more »
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Whether you are young or old, the findings of The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine may have you thinking twice before you eat a hot dog. The group recently showcased a new billboard on Monday close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that features a cigarette box filled with hot dogs. The pack has a skull and crossbones on it, and the billboard reads “Warning: Hot dogs can wreck your health.” The purpose of the billboard is to make the public aware of the connection between colorectal cancer and hot dogs.
CLICK TO READ
Your Black World reports.
Princeton University Professor and Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman expressed his concerns about the recent debt ceiling deal between President Obama and the Republicans. Krugman said that the president effectively caved in to threats from the Republicans, and gave them what they wanted.
CLICK TO READ
Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and Founder of the Haiti Support Project (HSP), announced today that the Haiti Support Project will lead its Fifth Annual Pilgrimage to Haiti, October 6-10, 2011, to visit the Citadel and other significant historical sites.
CLICK TO READ
The Internet’s been going crazy over an allegation that Jay-Z and Kanye West have begun fighting before their celebrated tour was set to begin. In fact, a few blogs have reported that Jay-Z actually slapped Kanye.
Jay-Z stopped to talk to Angie Martinez from Hot 97 to make it clear that he never did such a thing. Here’s what he had to say:
CLICK TO READ
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
GOP Representative Dough Lamborn from Colorado decided to stir the racial fire in the recent debate over the debt crisis. In his remarks about President Obama, Rep. Lamborn said that being associated with President Obama is “like touching a tar baby.”
CLICK TO READ
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Living life free in front of bars can sometimes lead people to forget those behind bars — especially if they are sentenced to life. On July 28th at 9 p.m. a documentary debuted on OWN striving to bring attention back to those who must live the rest of their life in prison.
Read more…
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Living life free in front of bars can sometimes lead people to forget those behind bars — especially if they are sentenced to life. On July 28th at 9 p.m. a documentary debuted on OWN striving to bring attention back to those who must live the rest of their life in prison.
Read more…
by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Tiger Woods will be back on his game this week — in the literal sense. It has been three months since he has been on the course. On July 28th, however, Woods made a public statement saying that he will be back on the green this week at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Read more…
By JasmineHughes
It is no secret that Blacks have been on the short end of fair treatment in legal sentencing for decades. Since the establishment of mandatory minimums and three-strike laws under the leadership of the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, African-Americans have essentially been thrown under the prisons. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY →
By JasmineHughes
Most people know the story of Rosa Parks, a black, middle-aged seamstress who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama back in 1955. But Long before Parks earned her title as the “mother of the civil rights movement,” she wrote a detailed account of nearly being raped by a white neighbor who employed her as a housekeeper in 1931.READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY →
It appears that Fantasia has decided to stop hiding her pregnancy from the world. In a recent concert in Jacksonville, Florida, Fantasia said this to her audience:
Read more »
The Rev. Jesse Jackson had a few things to say about the recent debt crisis. Jackson claims that President Obama should have been “tougher” with the Republicans and less willing to compromise.
“He has a propensity to be trusting, on the side of reconciliation,” Jackson said to POLITICO. “He kind of underestimates how ideological these guys are and how determined they are to destroy him.”
Read more…
