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Detroit’s NAACP Honors Kid Rock and His Confederate Flag
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World – Scholarship in Action
The NAACP of Detroit has committed what appears to be an incredibly sad act by giving it’s Great Expectations Award to Kid Rock during it’s annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner. It’s ironic that the NAACP is giving an award to someone who regularly uses the Confederate flag during his concerts. The civil rights supporter in me doesn’t understand the NAACP’s actions, but the Finance Professor in me understands their actions perfectly.
Here are some questions for the NAACP as they honor one of their greatest heroes, Kid Rock:
1) If Kid Rock were not a donor to your organization, would you have given him this award? Probably not.
NAACP Honors a Man Who Loves the Confederate Flag?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
In one of the most interesting "What the hayell" moments in recent memory, the NAACP Detroit branch has announced that they plan to give singer Kid Rock an award at their annual Great Expectations Dinner, which typically draws 10,000 participants. The dinner is going to be held on May 1, and if recent protests are an indicator, there won’t be 10,000 people in the audience ready to celebrate.
The reason that people are up in arms is because Kid Rock has often used the Confederate Flag as part of his routine on stage. The singer has argued that the flag stands as a symbol of southern rock and roll, but many protesters don’t quite see it that way. But in contrast to the flood of criticism the organization is receiving over the decision, the chapter leadership is going to move forward.
Governor of Maine Tells NAACP to “Kiss His Butt”
from AOL Black Voices
Gov. Paul LePage of Maine is no stranger to controversy. The latest finds him sparring with the NAACP over him rejecting numerous invitations from the organization and telling them to kiss him where the sun don’t shine.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage has constantly ruffled the feathers of the NAACP as he has declined invites from the organization. The most recent that has drawn the ire of the organization is his denial to attend the ceremonies honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He shunned both an invite to an NAACP dinner in Portlandon Sunday and a breakfast in Orono on Monday due to "personal committments."
As the NAACP and others see it, this is an ongoing pattern with the Republican governor spurning events that are African-American related. But LePage wants to hear no parts of that ongoing dialog and responded to the allegations when speaking with WCSH6.
Should the NAACP Have Taken Money from Wells Fargo? Dr. Boyce and Ben Jealous Give their Points of View
theGRIO SPEAKS
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Author and Finance Professor at Syracuse University
Why the NAACP should get off the Wells Fargo bandwagon
7:01 PM on 04/30/2010
OPINION – Imagine my shock when I learned the company accused of squashing the financial security of millions, is now a sponsor of the NAACP’s annual convention …
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NAACP President & CEO
NAACP: Why we partnered with Wells Fargo
6:25 PM on 04/30/2010
OPINION – We understand, Mr. Boyce. We know you’re an ally and a friend of the NAACP and our cause of justice. We know some people just don’t believe anyone will hold their supporters accountable, even though we have done so for a century…
Your Black News Headlines: 12/16/2008
Subprime Lending Robbed Blacks of Billions
Doug E. Fresh Reportedly $3.5 Million In Debt
NAACP: High School Star Did Not Commit Suicide
Taraji P. Henson Rumored For Oscar Nomination Buzz
Your Black News: Jasmine Watson Fights IHSAA For Right To Play
An area high school student will be in a court of law next week to fight for her right to get back on the basketball court.
Jasmine Watson is one of the top basketball players in Michiana but right now she’s not playing anywhere, because of a high school transfer controversy. [...]
The IHSAA ruled it was done for primarily athletic reasons; a violation of state rules.
But Jasmine, her family, and their supporters, say there’s more to it than that. [...]
“A mother should have the right to make a decision on how to feed her family when faced with (tough) economic conditions,” said Gladys Muhammad with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation. [...]
“The mom was unemployed. She lost her home to foreclosure, her husband was not there, and so she had to move to South Bend where she does have family she does have the best resources,” said Trina Robinson, President of the South Bend NAACP [...]
Your Black News: Teacher Under Fire For Slavery Reenactment Excercise
HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. (AP) ― A white teacher attempted to enliven a seventh grade discussion of slavery by binding the hands and feet of two black girls, prompting a complaint from one girl’s mother and the local chapter of the NAACP.
After the mother complained to the school, the superintendent said he was having “conversations with our staff on how to deliver effective lessons.”
“If a student was upset, then it was a bad idea,” said Superintendent Brian Monahan of the North Rockland School District in New York City’s northern suburbs.
The teacher apologized to the 13-year-old student and her mother during a meeting Thursday that also included a representative of the local NAACP. But the mother, Christine Shand of Haverstraw, said Friday she thinks the teacher should be removed from the class [...]
Your Black News: Community Fights Vote To Replace Slave-Grave With Trash Dump
The Georgia NAACP called for an investigation of the Clayton County Commission on Tuesday after the board voted for 311 historic African-American graves to be moved to another cemetery.
The Clayton County Commission voted unanimously to issue a permit to College Park recycling company Stephens MDS to relocate the graves to make room to expand a landfill. The cemetery is inaccessible and had not been visited for years before news of the possible move was announced, company officials said.
Edward DuBose, president of the Georgia NAACP, accused the five commissioners of a conflict of interest. According to DuBose, all of the commissioners have previously accepted campaign contributions from Stephens. “I’m calling for an investigation of each of the county commissioners,” DuBose told the commission. “This board sits on about $7,000 of this company’s money. We want to look to see if you were too connected to the financial contributions that were given by the company.”
From AJC
Your Black Scholar: Morning In Obamerica — How Much Will Change?
Morning in Obamerica
By: Ishmael Reed
The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
The great American satirist George Schuyler’s prescient and comic work, Black No More, is about a scientist named Dr. Crookmore who comes up with a formula that turns blacks to white (I wonder how Schuyler would treat the current profitable back- to- Africa DNA hokum). As a result of a country that is totally white, The Civil Rights organizations go out of business, and even the last hold out, the character, based upon the black nationalist Marcus Garvey, in the end, tries some of Dr. Crookmore solution. Would something like this happen were Barack Obama to become president? A country where there exists no social divisions and the issue of race has become defused.
The leader of the NAACP says that the work of the organization will continue even with an Obama victory. Why? Wouldn’t it be better that the NAACP shut its doors as cable’s leading conservative intellectual, Tucker Carlson has suggested? Auction off its assets and join the post race fever?
Full Article At Your Black Scholar
Your Black World Headlines: 10/31/2008
Your Black World Headlines: 10/29/2008
Your Black World Headlines: 09/24/2008
Your Black Life: FOX News Host Sean Hannity Abuses Guest — Has History
Strangely, FOX News’ postal boy, Sean Hannity, has a detailed history of abusing his guests — especially those who don’t see the world through the narrow keyhole with which he analyzes reality. The radio/television host, who has rarely used his bully-pulpit for the good of society, shows why a college degree goes a long way in preventing mental decrepitude. Watch as he screams-down his guest, Robert Kuttner, on the pitiful FOX “News” show, Hannity & Colmes:
Also, check out a 2007 interview with Dr. Boyce Watkins, in which the same arrogant disposition of Hannity is displayed:
Your Black Politics: FOX News Host, Sean Hannity Says “Colored People” Repeatedly
FOX News postal Boy, Sean Hannity, used the derogatory term, “Colored People” profusely — as a descriptor for Black Politicians. In an argument with National Action Network founder, Al Sharpton, Hannity is relegated to anger, and inadvertently repeats the term one can only assume he uses at will — when the camera and mic are turned off. Pls. call FOX News, or send an email, to let them know that you do not wish to be categorized as “Colored” in 2008:
Your Black Life: NAACP Report: No Diversity In Network TV
Nearly a decade after the NAACP condemned a “virtual whiteout” in broadcast TV, the civil rights group said major networks have stalled in their efforts to further ethnic diversity on-screen and off.
Television shows of the future could be even less inclusive because of a failure to cultivate young minority stars and to bring minorities into decision-making positions, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said.
The effect on the country could be profound, Jealous said.
“This is America: So goes TV, so goes reality. We don’t think it’s any accident that before we had a black president in reality, we had a black president on TV,” he said, referring to the chief executive portrayed by Dennis Haysbert on Fox’s “24.”
A “critical lack of programming by, for or about people of color” can be traced in part to the lack of minorities who have the power to approve new series or make final creative decisions, said Vicangelo Bulluck, executive director of NAACP’s Hollywood bureau [...]
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