Thomas Weeks Speaks on Wife Juanita Bynum

Bishop Thomas Weeks, III recently did a series of interviews to discuss the situation with Juanita Bynum, his estranged wife. Weeks was indicted by a grand jury for aggravated assault, terroristic threatening and two counts of simple battery.

However, the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence (the procedure is legally known as "dead docketing"). This has led to some controversy, as some have accused Juanita Bynum of attempting to profit from the glow of publicity coming from the events that took place in her life. She labeled herself "the new face of domestic violence", and took interviews while the trial was taking place.

Bynum's husband, Thomas Weeks III, has been on a major media campaign to defuse the negative publicity surrounding the events that occured with his wife. His church has lost 1500 members during the past 4 months.

According to media sources, Weeks has claimed that his wife is behaving in the way she has because she desperately needs money for her ministry and wants her ex-husband in prison so no other man can marry him. Weeks argues that the ordeal is the result of a setup.

Weeks told Lee Bailey of EUR Web: "The truth is it wasn’t a beat down and the truth is that I am not an abuser. The truth is that I’ve been the one abused previously in my marriage and kept it silent. The fact still remains that I was the abused at any level in this relationship."

Weeks also challenged the legitimacy of the bruises obtained by his wife.

"And then 4 and a half hours later after these bruises appear she uploads them to a website," said the Bishop.

Weeks has eluded to the fact that his wife has "emotional and mental challenges" in her past in which she "goes in and out of reason and wisdom and fact and truth". He continues his media campaign, which has tarnished the image of both individuals.

Dr. Boyce Watkins on NPR - State of Black Family Finance

As a finance professor, I see regular misconceptions in media about black people, black families and black wealth. America somehow has chosen to believe that the reason for wealth disparities in America is that African-Americans have simply chosen to be lazy and engage in the practice of bad money management. They also cite the fact that black families are not married as regularly and that this is a reason for poverty in the black community.

I could not disagree more.

The reason for the wealth disparity between blacks and whites is very simple: For 400 years (a very long time), America had a clear tradition of not allowing black people to pass wealth onto their children. As a result, all the big buildings in Manhattan, all the major media companies, and all the large corporations in America are owned, run and controlled by the white community. Period. Most wealth is inherited wealth and we were not allowed to inherit.

Black people choosing not to get married is no worse nor better than the fact that many families in America choose to get divorced. Honestly, I think divorce is far more devastating to the life of a child than not getting married. If one throws in the fact that non-custodial parents are obligated to pay child support, then the income gap, in a perfect world, should disappear. One can argue that two parents are better than one, but at the same time, 3 parents would be better than 2, and 4 parents would be better than 3. You could make this argument forever, and to use the one vs. two parent disparity as the fundamental basis to explain America's commitment to racial inequality is ridiculous.

Bottom line: Love is what matters, and if you look at the lives of Al Gore's son and kids in the suburbs who engage in just as much deviant behavior as kids in "the hood", you will see that a parent's decision to get married or not can be good for the child or bad, depending on the circumstances.

In other words: I get sick of people trying to say that black families are immoral or culturally inferior. Our culture is just fine thank you. Also, racial inequality and wealth gaps are due to one thing: historical discrimination. If you want to talk about creating a fair america, then you must first correct the huge imbalance created by racist ancestry. Trying to be fair from this point on (as Ward Connerly tries to argue) is like a lifelong crook stealing billions and then promising not to steal anymore. A fix must be applied to past wrongs before you can move forward in fairness.

I did this NPR interview on the topic not too long ago. It was done with Farai Chideya, a woman I had a huge crush on during my time in graduate school. Don't tell her I said that (haha!).

The Great Debaters - the Best Film of 2007

If Denzel Washington doesn't get nominated for an Oscar after "The Great Debaters", then I will officially become a conspiracy theorist. Those who run to nominate him for awards when he plays a gangster, drug dealer or thug should run just as fast to nominate him when he plays the role of a great black visionary and activist professor. If only all professors had the same guts as Washington.

"The Great Debaters" is another installment in a long line of hit or miss inspirational films made by Harpo Productions, owned by the woman on everyone's refrigerator door. This one hits the mark and strikes it hard, explaining the roots of American racism and inequality, along with the incentives for perseverance and education.

The film features the amazing debate team at Wiley College, an Historically black college in Texas. The team goes through a series of ups and downs, facing racism, heartache and intellectual challenge in order to become one of the greatest debate teams in American history. The film culminates with the team debating Harvard University head to head and whipping them on national radio.

The film was good, damn good. It was also a reminder that Historically black colleges can and are among the very best institutions in the nation. I give it as many thumbs up as I can muster, and I would even give it a toe up if my leg could reach that high.

This film is, without question, the best film of 2007. Just call it the Lord of the Rings for Black folks.

Your Black World Man of the Year: Barack Obama

Barack Obama was the 2007 Your Black World Man of the Year. Obama, the only black presidential candidate and the strongest black presidential candidate ever, has taken the world by storm. He has gone through a year of ups and downs and forced Black America to reconsider what it means to be black in America. He is a form of black power that some consider to be powerless. At the same time, it is a type of black power greater and different from any other black power we've ever had before. He has made the nation into a wild pack of believers, and even has some of his white supporters jumping up and down with excitement.

His wife Michelle stands by his side, both during public appearances and on the covers of magazines. As Black America's first family, the Obamas seem new to the dirt of American politics. Some consider the perceived purity to be refreshing, some consider it a hindrance. It is yet to be seen if Obama can get things done like his competitor, who is a veteran of Washington politics and has alot of friends who owe her favors. At the same time, Obama's detachment from Washington allowed him to have the courage to vote against the war that no one wanted, which Hillary Clington did not have.

Top 5 Black News Stories of the Year

#1: Saving the world in Jena

The story in Jena, Louisiana was phenomenal for a number of reasons, one of which having a lot to do with the Internet. For the first time, the digital age reinvented Martin Luther King’s legacy, as one eblast after another led to hundreds of thousands of people coming together in a small town barely big enough to hold a large high school.

Jena, Louisiana reluctantly became the center of attention, as the eyes of the world were focused on its broken justice system. The good ol boys in the DA’s office were forced to answer to millions of angry, yet peaceful African-Americans who politely asked how a sneaker can be considered a deadly weapon.

Had this been 1997 instead of 2007, the story would never have hit the mainstream media. White folks, as we know, have the national media outlets on lock. Even the black faces that make regular appearances in these outlets have little power to persuade them that the incarceration of 6 black youths was hardly worth more than a commercial spot. But it was the Internet that saved the day. Those annoying email forwarded that always get deleted suddenly sent you something that seemed worth forwarding.

These kids were saved by our inboxes, and the media eventually got the point.

#2: Nappy Headed Hoes Unite

After playing their butts off and using their heads to get there, the Rutgers’ Womens’ basketball team suddenly found their heads to be the center of attention for reasons that they did not expect. Rather than referring to their heads as the source of brilliance, talent and motivation, their heads were only called nappy, and these esteemed, educated women were reduced to hoes. Nappy Headed Hoes to be exact.

Imus soon found out just how many African-Americans have connections to his cherished corporate sponsors and board members of CBS, the company that pays for him to attack black women. He was soon removed from the air, thus putting all questionable talk show hosts on notice: Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to assault black women on the airwaves.

This led to broader questions, like: Why are there no black women hosts on any of the major media outlets? ESPN took some notes, adding a soul train roster of black faces to their daily shows, although most of them serve as side kicks to a Caucasian. The other networks didn’t care and ABC took it a step further by signing Don Imus shortly after he was removed from air.



#3: Dog fighting: the most serious crime in America

When the feds searched Michael Vick’s house, no one paid much attention. When he was charged with dog fighting, even fewer people noticed. But when they saw the seriousness of the charges, the whole world stopped, watched and judged. Michael Vick, the man with everything, was suddenly reduced to a common criminalized black man.

Killing dogs was his crime, and he was indistinguishable from OJ Simpson for the amount of hate and scorn he received from White America. If someone had murdered Vick in his sleep, millions would have cheered.

The story captivated America for several months, with one debate after another over whether or not his crimes fit the punishment he was receiving. His team sliced him like an infected limb, the NFL told him to get lost, Nike took millions out of his hands within hours. It was over for this young man and his troubles are just beginning.

Seeing Vick go from videogame cover man to a common mug shot struck fear into athletes everywhere and is an image they will never forget.


#4: The Big Black Os come together to take Over the White House.

Obama entered the presidential race and seemed to have the ability to fight the good fight. But winning was clearly out of the question, as he had the audacity to face a woman whose face may likely end up on Mt. Rushmore. Having Obama come along and pretend that he can become the REAL first black president scared the crap out of the establishment, made people cheer and set the world on fire. And this was even BEFORE Oprah tried to help him.

With Oprah stepping in and bringing her army of loyal white women with her, she has joined Obama as a miracle maker. Matching Hillary Clinton dollar for dollar, barb for barb, and vote for vote has led to a war within the Democratic Party unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The benevolent white folks who’ve always had the black vote in their pockets are finding themselves resentful that a black man is attempting to take those votes.

How this election turns out is anyone’s guess. But with each surprise, each new celeb and each new victory, Obama is making the entire world into believers.


#5: The Superbowl becomes a black party

The Superbowl didn’t get good until black men were allowed to play. It became REALLY good when they were allowed to coach. Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith became the only two black coaches to both coach teams in the Superbowl. This was a major landmark for the NFL and also for the rest of America.

With all the contributions of black players, it’s amazing that these individuals are typically overlooked in exchange for the Tom Bradys of the world. They are not considered for the Heisman unless they are truly exceptional, serving as the supporting props for white male glory.
But the presence of Dungy and Smith on the sideline made us all proud, and served as hope that one day, America can truly create a fair playing field on the actual playing field.

Judge Issues Warrant for R. Kelly's Arrest

R. Kelly's bail may be revoked after not showing up for a court appearance and having a bench warrant issued for his arrest.

The singer narrowly avoided being arrested when he arrived in court on December 20. The original court date he missed, on the 19th, has led the judge to consider revoking his bail.

Judge Vincent Gaughan told Kelly that he was "very dissappointed". R. Kelly has been allowed to tour the US and the judge has warned him that he should not take these rights for granted.

“I’m telling you these are extraordinary matters to have this break given to yourself, and then nobody shows up except your attorneys”, he said.

The date for the trial is scheduled to be set soon. Kelly is faced with child pornography charges,after he allegedly taped himself having sex with a girl who was believed to be underaged.

For some reason, it has taken nearly 6 years for the case to come to trial. Leaders around the country are outraged.

BET Execs to Blame for BET Uncut - Syreeta McNeal, CPA JD

Written by Syreeta McNeal, CPA JD

Catherine Pulsifer states that we should “fix the problem, not the blame.” As I viewed “Hip-Hop vs. America ” on Black Entertainment Television (BET) for the fifth time (no pun intended), I was excited to see people discussing and sharing their views without violence on important social issues. But, I realized one thing as I watched the show and contemplated why I incurred thousands of dollars in debt for a doctorate of law: why were no legal analysts participating on the round table? Not that I have a bias, but some of the issues that were discussed especially regarding BET Uncut were legal in nature and many of the participants did not have the expertise to adequately address the issue and formulate solutions that had previously been in practice since the 1980’s.

Many women advocates on the panel were taking the opportunity to express their resentment to Nelly for creating the “Tip Drill” video. As an African-American woman, I was offended by the notion that a black woman would allow a black man to swipe a credit card through her backside. I did not view this as “having fun” as Nelly mentioned on the panel because this display continues to make black women look like property to be sold on slavery blocks for sex. However, instead of just criticizing Nelly which has been done extensively, let’s take a look at why BET executives should not have run BET Uncut from October 6, 2001 until July 8, 2006, on its regular cable programming.

Background on Government Restriction on Cable Programming

Federal, state and local government have the right to regulate television programming that impacts the health, safety and welfare of its residents. With the advent of cable television in the 1980’s, government agencies wrestled with how to protect the health, safety and welfare of children while not infringing on the constitutional rights of adults to view pornography. One of the solutions implemented is to have adults pay an “extra fee” to watch shows displaying adult pornography on restricted channels. HBO’s Real Sex, Showtime’s The “L” Word, and the Playboy channel are examples of this programming restriction. Restricted access allows the cable industry to minimize youth purchasing and watching the adult programming. This form of restricted programming is effective because it acts as a proper balancing test of competing interests designed to ensure that constitutional rights for adults (e.g. adult pornography) are not infringed while simultaneously protecting health, safety and welfare of children.

Dilemma of BET Uncut Airing from October 6, 2001 until July 8, 2006

On “Hip-Hop vs. America” specials, many of the rappers stated that it is the responsibility of parents to protect what children should watch on television. To some extent that is true. However, as have been shown during the 1980’s debate regarding cable access to adult form of entertainment, leaving this battle for parents to fend does not ultimately minimize the potential negative impact to children. That is one of the reasons why you have the federal, state and local governments’ goal in regulating cable programming is to ensure that this balance is achieved. Now, I am wondering why BET executives (including legal counsel) did not show BET Uncut on subscription programming where adults could pay an extra fee to watch as they had done for shows like BET Jazz or BET Movies?

Cable television has evolved from being an exclusive programming purchased by wealthy consumers. As indicated by the change of Monday Night Football broadcasting from ABC to ESPN, more U.S. consumer households access regular cable programming. As a result, regular cable programming has become the new vehicle for the federal, state and local governments to regulate to ensure that programming does not negatively impact children.

BET Uncut is a racy form of adult pornography that features music videos. BET Uncut resembles programming like HBO’s Real Sex and the Playboy Channel. Like HBO’s Real Sex and the Playboy Channel, BET Uncut should have been aired on subscription programming. So it is puzzling to me that BET offered airing BET Uncut in the late hours of the evening on its regular cable programming. This was not a viable alternative especially since other programming like HBO’s Real Sex and Playboy channel had more restricted access. So, what BET executives should have done on October 6, 2001 was air BET Uncut on a subscription service as they had done for BET Jazz and BET Movies. This would allow adults like Nelly, 50 Cent, Ludacris and David Banner to get their “freak on” legally and simultaneously help parents, who have children who act like “Curious George”, minimize the risk of youth accidentally viewing adult programming. Much of the negative criticism from the black community to Nelly’s “Tip Drill” and other hip-hop artists’ videos would have been minimal because the impact to the black youth would have been lessened.

In business, we usually state that we do not want to “reinvent the wheel” because it breeds inefficiency and has people focusing on unproductive things. It seems like BET executives failed to execute this business motto. BET executives had historical precedent to show them how to properly balance the competing interests. I guess the need for press and ratings, whether it is morally, socially and legally questionable, allowed BET Uncut to stay on regular cable programming from October 6, 2001 until July 8, 2006. It seems like BET executives proved that smut sells and keeping BET Uncut on the air for that long, as well commercials for “Girls Gone Wild,” is the way to ensure that the balancing test designed to protect adults’ constitutional rights and the health, safety and welfare of children just laid to the wayside. U.S. Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee stated it best at the recent Jena 6 hearings, “shame on you.” BET executives (including legal counsel) could have avoided the backlash regarding BET Uncut by restricting the programming. People want to attack Nelly, Ludacris, 50 Cent, David Banner, and other rappers. They do deserve their portion of the blame. However, the real culprits in the BET Uncut duration are the BET executives (including legal counsel). BET executives are in charge of ensuring that there is a proper balance in protecting the welfare of programming suitable for children while allowing adults to get restricted access to adult entertainment. BET’s legal counsel is responsible for presenting an analysis of the 1980’s debate and solution crafted in regards to programming termed as adult pornography. Also, BET’s legal counsel should use the art of persuasion to reiterate that BET, like other cable programming, are bound by precedent and required to follow the solution crafted unless they can prove the solution they offer is the better alternative. The fact that BET Uncut suffered a significant backlash from the black community and BET ended its programming after almost a five year reign is proof that airing BET uncut on regular programming was not a better alternative. Also, with restricted access generated for BET Jazz and BET Movies, the financial burden of including BET Uncut under restricted programming appeared minimal. So, BET Uncut proved to do more harm than good and this could have been avoided if BET executives would have restricted its access.

Now, I don’t know what happened during the BET board meeting when the decision to air BET Uncut on regular cable was made. So, if BET’s legal counsel did show the legal precedent and analysis and the BET executives still decided to ignore the legal advice, shame on those other BET executives. But, if BET’s legal counsel did not present the legal precedent and analysis and just went with the flow to be what I consider solely a form over substance lawyer, then BET’s legal counsel deserves to suffer the same fate as “Brownie” because the controversy over BET Uncut could have been avoided. Now, the lingering impact of black youth thinking that it is okay to have a credit card swiped through a black woman’s backside is “having fun” is what our community has to seriously counter.

But, what is amazing is that the airing of BET Uncut occurred while the Bush Administration and “Do Nothing” Republican controlled U.S. Congress maintained regulation over cable programming. There Federal Communication Commission (FCC) was outraged after Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl XXXVIII’s halftime show. Where was the outrage from the FCC on the potential damage that BET Uncut did from October 6, 2001 to July 8, 2006 to the youth? Hmmmmm (tribute to Arsenio Hall), makes you think this form of degradation is not a coincidence from 2001 to 2006. Maybe, Kanye West’s statement after the Katrina disaster is right after all. “Bush doesn’t care about black people” because if he did the Bush Administration, through the FCC, would not display such an inconsistent treatment in regulating offensive programming. However, BET executives, you are still not off the hook. Shame on you for not following social and legal precedent as it comes to adult programming in your airing of BET Uncut!


This essay was submitted by Syreet McNeal, CPA JD

St. Clair Bourne - Black Film maker, Dies at 64

Sent Over by Curtis Stephen

Hello Everyone:



The news of a sudden death always strikes like a thunderbolt. Such was the case when many of us learned of the sad passing of the dynamic documentary filmmaker St. Clair Bourne over the weekend. His work was nothing short of stellar -- each time out the gate. He was the director of landmark PBS documentaries that probed the life and times of everyone from Paul Robeson to historian John Henrik Clarke. And then there was his fascinating profile of Gordon Parks on HBO just a few years ago.



His work blended the uncompromising stance of Oscar Micheaux and Malcolm X (with the firm belief that people of color should play a vital role in documenting their history) along with Edward R. Murrow (with his equally firm belief in the vast potential of television to serve as a medium that can -- and should -- enlighten and inform). I was fortunate to have met him in late 2005 at an event in which he spoke. He passionately addressed the challenge of fundraising for those filmmakers who sought to tell stories of history. And described the changes in the industry that made it possible (citing the federal cutbacks on public funding of the arts in the '80s that led to more restrictive grants). But for him, the fight in that arena was one worthy of waging and he inspired those filmmakers to go against the tide (as he himself once did in the '70s -- and each time since, for that matter) to make their films.



I was struck by the length of time he remained to talk to the aspiring and diverse group of filmmakers in the reception afterward. In fact, I left him there well after his speech and it appeared that he was in no rush to leave :) He loved his work and was passionate about many subjects. We celebrated the return of the late Henry Hampton's Eyes On The Prize series -- that definitive award-winning documentary on the Civil Rights Movement -- on PBS stations nationwide last year after a long absence. In the last years of his life, he was deeply consumed by his work on scores of documentary projects, including one on the history of the Black Panthers. Hopefully there's enough material on the cutting room floor (he certainly produced a great deal of it already) for it to eventually see the light of day. When I wrote my own retrospective on the Black Panthers for The Crisis last year, we bounced notes back-and-forth (and it was clear to me that what he planned to bring would have been nothing short of career defining -- this one was so important to him).



This past summer, Bourne was in Africa on a project. But upon his return, he shook off any trace of jet lag to proudly attend a Black Male in America townhall meeting / ceremony in Brooklyn this past summer organized by the activist and author Kevin Powell and his team (full disclosure -- I was part of that team). The ceremony honored a dynamic group -- among them: Ted Shaw, head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; veteran journalist Herb Boyd; activist Jitu Weusi, and legendary radio host Bob Law. At a packed Hanson Place United Methodist Church, Bourne beamed alongside his friend and fellow honoree -- film director and producer Warrington Hudlin. Bourne's ready smile was one that revealed the essence of the man, but also his sense of humor. When he saw my automatic camera then, there was that smile again! "Betcha haven't seen that in a while," I remarked. "Got that right!" he returned with a booming laugh.



Finally, he marveled at the arrival of Kiri Davis -- the celebrated director of "A Girl Like Me." It was the enterprise and sheer guts embodied in a teenager to tell such a powerful story about the nature of colorism in her own voice that moved him greatly. In many spaces online now, tributes to Bourne have been pouring in. As prolific a blogger in recent years as he was a filmmaker, Bourne would have appreciated that too. He was 64. What a life and what a legacy. PEACE AND BLESSINGS......Curtis



ST. CLAIR BOURNE OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.chambamedia.com/

NY TIMES OBIT: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/arts/18bourne.html

St. Clair Bourne - Black Film maker, Dies at 64

Sent Over by Curtis Stephen

Hello Everyone:



The news of a sudden death always strikes like a thunderbolt. Such was the case when many of us learned of the sad passing of the dynamic documentary filmmaker St. Clair Bourne over the weekend. His work was nothing short of stellar -- each time out the gate. He was the director of landmark PBS documentaries that probed the life and times of everyone from Paul Robeson to historian John Henrik Clarke. And then there was his fascinating profile of Gordon Parks on HBO just a few years ago.



His work blended the uncompromising stance of Oscar Micheaux and Malcolm X (with the firm belief that people of color should play a vital role in documenting their history) along with Edward R. Murrow (with his equally firm belief in the vast potential of television to serve as a medium that can -- and should -- enlighten and inform). I was fortunate to have met him in late 2005 at an event in which he spoke. He passionately addressed the challenge of fundraising for those filmmakers who sought to tell stories of history. And described the changes in the industry that made it possible (citing the federal cutbacks on public funding of the arts in the '80s that led to more restrictive grants). But for him, the fight in that arena was one worthy of waging and he inspired those filmmakers to go against the tide (as he himself once did in the '70s -- and each time since, for that matter) to make their films.



I was struck by the length of time he remained to talk to the aspiring and diverse group of filmmakers in the reception afterward. In fact, I left him there well after his speech and it appeared that he was in no rush to leave :) He loved his work and was passionate about many subjects. We celebrated the return of the late Henry Hampton's Eyes On The Prize series -- that definitive award-winning documentary on the Civil Rights Movement -- on PBS stations nationwide last year after a long absence. In the last years of his life, he was deeply consumed by his work on scores of documentary projects, including one on the history of the Black Panthers. Hopefully there's enough material on the cutting room floor (he certainly produced a great deal of it already) for it to eventually see the light of day. When I wrote my own retrospective on the Black Panthers for The Crisis last year, we bounced notes back-and-forth (and it was clear to me that what he planned to bring would have been nothing short of career defining -- this one was so important to him).



This past summer, Bourne was in Africa on a project. But upon his return, he shook off any trace of jet lag to proudly attend a Black Male in America townhall meeting / ceremony in Brooklyn this past summer organized by the activist and author Kevin Powell and his team (full disclosure -- I was part of that team). The ceremony honored a dynamic group -- among them: Ted Shaw, head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; veteran journalist Herb Boyd; activist Jitu Weusi, and legendary radio host Bob Law. At a packed Hanson Place United Methodist Church, Bourne beamed alongside his friend and fellow honoree -- film director and producer Warrington Hudlin. Bourne's ready smile was one that revealed the essence of the man, but also his sense of humor. When he saw my automatic camera then, there was that smile again! "Betcha haven't seen that in a while," I remarked. "Got that right!" he returned with a booming laugh.



Finally, he marveled at the arrival of Kiri Davis -- the celebrated director of "A Girl Like Me." It was the enterprise and sheer guts embodied in a teenager to tell such a powerful story about the nature of colorism in her own voice that moved him greatly. In many spaces online now, tributes to Bourne have been pouring in. As prolific a blogger in recent years as he was a filmmaker, Bourne would have appreciated that too. He was 64. What a life and what a legacy. PEACE AND BLESSINGS......Curtis



ST. CLAIR BOURNE OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.chambamedia.com/

NY TIMES OBIT: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/arts/18bourne.html

Kevin Blackistone of ESPN Sets the Record Straight

After seeing the letter from one of our writers at YourBlackWorld, my man Kevin Blackistone wanted to set the record straight on his perceptions of the Sean Taylor case. Kevin is a sports guru for AOL and XM Satellite. He is also a regular on the popular ESPN show "Around the Horn".

Kev and I were on CNN together a few months ago trying to figure out why the NFL still has work to do when it comes to hiring black coaches. At the same time, I would argue that it is the NCAA that refuses to let go of it's racist traditions.

Without further ado, here is the article that Kevin wrote on Sean Taylor:


Sean Taylor and Timothy Spicer lived and worked in metropolitan D.C., Taylor as star safety for Washington’s famous pro football team and Spicer as a short-order cook for a famous Washington eatery, Ben’s Chili Bowl.

Eric Rivera, Jr., 17, shown in the preliminary court hearing, was identified by the grand jury as the gunman in the murder of NFL star Sean Taylor.

Both were young; Taylor 24 and Spicer 25. Both enjoyed nice cars that young men often do; Taylor had a Yukon Denali and Spicer drove a shiny ‘94 Caprice on big silvery rims. Both young men were black.

And both are dead now, murdered.

Taylor died in the wee hours Tuesday morning in Miami from a gunshot wound he suffered early Monday from what authorities said was an intruder in Taylor's Miami-area home.

Spicer died two Saturdays ago in Washington after he was found shot multiple times as the victim of a carjacking of his Caprice.

The only reason the country learned of Taylor's death is his celebrity. Spicer's death remained local news, the 169th murder in D.C. this year, or as many as occurred here last year.

But Taylor and Spicer are as linked in tragedy as they were as young black men working in D.C. trying to make it to another day. Gun violence is the No. 1 killer of black men like Taylor and Spicer.

According to most recent disseminated data by the Center for Disease Control, Taylor and Spicer will be two of roughly 4,000 black homicide victims in the country this year killed by guns. Most, of course, won't be a pro athlete like Taylor but an everyman like Spicer.

It didn't matter if they were rich or working-class, went to college or dropped out of high school, lived in a near million dollar home with a remote control gate or in mom's apartment in a tough quarter of town. It didn’t matter if one was strapping, strong and fast as the wind and the other was more like everyone else.

It didn't matter if they were famous or known to only a few. It didn't matter if they were living their dreams or still chasing them. They didn't escape the pathology.

On the face of it, as news of Taylor being shot rolled through the 24-hour news cycle, it sounded as if Taylor shouldn't have succumbed to such a menace. His father worked in law enforcement. Taylor went to a prep high school and a private college, Miami. He was a multi-million-dollar athlete and even his dalliance with lawbreaking and gun brandishing was said to be something of his recent past. He was a father now too. He had someone to live for forever besides himself. But what do we know?

"Sometimes we assume that because one is raised a certain way one is going to come out a certain way," the recently retired NFL star receiver Keyshawn Johnson, now ESPN football analyst, told me by phone on Tuesday. "Look at Andy Reid's kids. He's coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and they're (sons) selling drugs out of the house. You can't assume that because Sean's dad was a police chief that his life…would be different. It depends on how you approach it." Johnson knows all too well. He was reared in the toughest section of South Los Angeles. He survived being shot twice. He was stuck up outside of his favorite barbershop with his kids in tow.

"You just become an easy target," Johnson said of being an athlete or any well-known person of means.
Darrent Williams was a Denver Broncos' defensive back doing a responsible thing while out last New Year’s enjoying the night. He was in a limousine. A wrong word or misunderstanding in a club turned into bullets fired into his ride. He was killed. He was Taylor's age and another statistic in the deadly demographic.

In the wake of Williams' death, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed alarm at the senseless gun death of a league player and of run-ins with the law involving guns that other players were going through. Not long after came defensive back Pacman Jones' incident at a Las Vegas club that left one man shot and paralyzed.

But this isn't, unfortunately, just a problem of professional athletics, Johnson pointed out. It is bigger than one genre of livelihood.

"You have to be very cautious…about your surroundings and about the company you do keep. You can’t worry about feeling like people are going to look at you and say, 'He's made it now so he doesn't come around.' Well, isn't that the whole point? Secure your life and secure your family and move on? The point is to be able to be successful and make it."

Taylor appeared to have reached that point. Spicer was still working at it with a budding clothing business and dreams of – what else? – producing rap music.
Now both are in the same sad statistical pool. A Miami black neighborhood was planning this week to protest three recent fatal police shootings of young black men. It may want to protest the shooting of young black men by other young black men, which is far more prevalent, when it is through.


There was a lot of outpouring of support almost immediately for Taylor. A candlelight vigil was held. A funeral that will be covered by the national media is probably being planned.

Some athletes interviewed about Taylor's demise served up the trite words we're accustomed to after such a horrific event. They said it reminded that they just played a game and that other things were much more important. It put things in perspective, the choir sang. It shouldn’t have, of course. These things in sports never should. Other things are always more important.

Sports are not a separate thread in the fabric of society. They are no more than another spec of alloy in the mirror that reflects it all.

Sean Taylor as well as Timothy Spicer were the latest victims in what is a near epidemic among young black men. If anything good can come from Taylor's demise it will be that more of us pay as much attention to, and express as much outrage and sadness for, the Spicers where we live too.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a regular panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, an XM Satellite Radio host and a frequent sports opinionist on other outlets like National Public Radio and The Politico. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he currently lives in Hyattsville, Md.

The Great Debaters Up for an Award Already

The producers behind the film "The Great Debaters" are already up for an award.

They will receive the 2008 Stanley Kramer Award at the PGA Awards on February 2. The film details the life of Professor Melvin Tolson, coach of the debate team at Wiley College, a small black college founded in 1873.

The professor took a great deal of criticism during for his teaching style and social views.

Tolson's debate team defeated some of the top universities in the world, including Oxford, USC and others. However, the team was never formally recognized as a championship debate team because in the 1930s, black teams were not considered for championship status.

The school struggled to survive during the 1980s and 1990s, coming very close to closing. However, after getting the attention of Hollywood, the school has new buildings and a new set of opportunities.

Enrollment recently doubled and Walmart has agreed to set up a scholarship fund.

Did This Man Kill Kanye's Mom? - By Andrea Johnson

He’s been called the killer of Dr. Donda West, mother of Kanye West, who died after undergoing surgery at his private practice in California. The California Board of Medicine wants to revoke his license to practice as a result of DUI’s. He walked off on America’s favorite nighttime host.

He’s been labeled a quack, a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, and a negligent uncertified surgeon.l However, Dr. Jan Adams is also a graduate of Harvard College and the Ohio School of Medicine. He is an author, lecturer, television personality, and has developed a line of skin care products for women of color. In his general surgery residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, he served as chief surgical resident from 1989-1990. From 1991 to 1992, he also served as chief resident in plastic surgery during his plastic and reconstructive surgery training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

But Dr. Adams is probably most well-known for hosting Discovery Health Channel’s, “Plastic Surgery: Before and After.” He has also appeared on Oprah, and as an expert on some major news shows. Although degrees and awards are impressive, his legal resume is peppered with malpractice suits, client complaints, and threats of a revoked license. His most recent press time has been spent defending himself against accusations of causing the death of Kanye West’s mother.

In the spotlight of tragedy, flaws in Dr. Adams’s background have been exposed. Is he truly a poor surgeon or simply the scapegoat for the unfortunate death of a celebrity?

How many people die from plastic surgery?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports that death from cosmetic plastic surgeries remains rare, occurring in one of 57,000 cases. About 2 million such surgeries were done in the United States in 2005. Still, there are a large number of uncertified plastic surgeons in private practices that are not required to submit their numbers to ASPS. Experts believe that number is much higher.

What about Dr. Adams’ malpractice issues?
Dr. Adams legal record in recent years doesn’t speak well of his capabilities. In a lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court on October 31, 2007, Rhonda McClain claims Dr. Adams and Euclid Outpatient Surgery Center were responsible for "mental, physical and nervous pain and suffering." McClain’s surgery was completed on March 10, 2007. She told TMZ that she was left with one implant and nearly bled to death.
In another lawsuit against Dr. Adams, McClain claimed to have been "negligently and carelessly examined, diagnosed, cared for, treated and performed surgery upon plaintiff, failing to follow the standard care …" The patient Terri Cage alleges she was "rendered sick, sore, lame and disabled" from her surgeries.

Bonita Hovey, another patient receiving a tummy tuck, filed a suit claiming Dr. Adams and other doctors "negligently failed to possess and exercise, in both diagnosis and treatment, that reasonable degree of knowledge and skill that is ordinarily possessed and exercised by other physicians and surgeons …” As a result of poor postoperative care she contracted an infection that led to two more surgeries to remove sutures and revise her scar.
In yet another malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Jan Adams, Jana Beighle claims no one mentioned the malpractice claims against the doctor. She felt deceived by Dr. Adams and Euclid Outpatient Surgery Center. After her surgery in August 2005, she suffered from fluid collection and had to have her implants removed.
Even experts make mistakes. How often does this happen?

Dr. Adams isn’t alone in his malpractice problems. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the 75 largest counties in the United States, almost 50 percent of all medical malpractice trials are against surgeons. Furthermore, in approximately 26 percent of those cases, the settlement was given to the plaintiff. A new study has shown that most settlement cases are tied directly to merit and the quality of care, which seems to be an obvious answer, but hasn’t always been the case. Some lawyers have claimed settlements in malpractice suits are a ‘lottery”, where fault and the settlement are not related. The stronger a case is in the lack of care the patient has received, the more likely that a settlement is offered.

Dr. DiSaia, a board certified surgeon in California diagnoses the problem rather concisely, “Here is a very simple malpractice synopsis: “Medical malpractice is not bad outcome or complication but is inadequate training (didn't know how to do it) inadequate informed consent (didn't tell you the risks) error in technique (did it wrong), error in care (didn't diligently follow test results, treat problems, etc). These things are hard to prove.” Both parties should have one main thing priority : the patient’s overall health . The patient’s best interests equal that of the surgeon’s, because if something goes wrong, then he or she is often to blame. That means keeping the patient informed or even saying no large amounts of money. The patient has to honestly digest the risks and decide what they are willing to do.


So who do we blame?

Adams told People Magazine that the 11 malpractice suits uncovered by TMZ don't represent his deficiencies as a surgeon, but instead, "represent a bad decision in terms of choice of patient."

While some critics interpret this remark as a lack of responsibility or remorse, other experts agree with this viewpoint. Dr. DiSaia fromLocation: San Clemente, California, is a board certified plastic surgeon in San Clemente, Ca. His blogs are designed to help readers learn from the outcomes of other cosmetic surgery patients. DiSaia believes, “One of the most difficult things for people to understand in health care seems to be the fact that bad outcomes and malpractice suits do not always constitute poor or negligent care. Often the choice to operate upon an inappropriate patient is the surgeon's biggest mistake. Some people are in poor health, smoke and/or take poor care of themselves or simply have unrealistic expectations. These are often "no win propositions" for the surgeon.”
On his website, OCBody.com, Dr. DiSaia expounded on his view, stating “If you have a bad outcome or a wound healing problem, this is not necessarily malpractice. People don't understand that when things go wrong, it is not always because something was done incorrectly.”

He adds, “Sometimes people kinda "ask for problems." An example is the case in which a very small woman asks for really large breast implants. We all know that going beyond a certain volume for a given patient increases the possibility of a poor outcome. I turn these patients away. Other surgeons operate on them figuring that it is their problem. These rules are not carved in stone. They are all relative. So when the woman has problems later on down the line and complains about her surgeon, malpractice will probably not be found. I have had patients like this that I have turned away return after their surgery with Dr "X" blaming him for their ugly breasts. I had warned them of the problems of the really large implants …and refused to do the surgery. These women chose the doctor that would do as they asked and got that which I had predicted. Is that the other surgeon's fault?”

It could be that Jan Adams has poor judgment, trouble saying no, or even too much confidence in his ability to overcome risks. It could also be that his patients are ill-informed, unwilling to hear advice, or wanting the quickest fix so badly, they forget (refuse to acknowledge) that minor surgery still presents risks---especially if you are not currently in good health. Whatever the case, Dr. Adams has cost himself over $500,000 in settlement money and a solid reputation.


Sources: TMZ.com, OCBody.com

Other Stories on Kanye West and Donda West:
What Killed Kanye West's Mother? - Andrea Hodges
Donda West was My Mother Too - Dr. Boyce Watkins

Oprah and Denzel Talk up their New Movie

Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington provided an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer. In the interview, they discussed their new film, "The Great Debaters" and also talk about the upcoming election. Winfrey's support for Senator Barack Obama has raised eyebrows, as this is a test of her ability to change the outcome of a presidential election. Winfrey, however, has claimed that her support for Obama doesn't imply that she is against any other candidate.

"I've always said this, that my being in support of Barack Obama is not my being against Hillary Clinton or anybody else," Winfrey told ABC News. "It's just that for this moment in time, this is what I know I am supposed to be doing. I feel compelled to do this. So my vote for is not a vote against anybody. It's just a vote for."

"Well obviously, Obama's great because I'm believing that the person that I'm speaking up for is gonna take it all the way," Winfrey said. "And then if that doesn't happen, I might readjust my thinking."

Terrell Owens Has Harsh Words for Keyshawn Johnson

It appears that Keyshawn Johnson has joined the "Hater Club" according to Terrell Owens. Johnson, an ESPN analyst and former wide receiver under Bill Parcells, claimed that if the Cowboys win the SuperBowl, it will be due to the team that Parcells built. Here is what Owens had to say in response to Johnson:

"I'm probably the reason he's in the booth now. He's going to be a hater and throw me under the bus because he has to defend Bill. He won a Super Bowl and all, but you'd have to check the roster to know he was even on the team.

We came out in the same year. He was a first-rounder and I was a third. Go compare our stats. He couldn't come down here now and be a third or fourth receiver on this team. Just compare our stats."

Johnson felt that Owens disrespected Parcells, while Owens seemed to feel that Parcells did not give him enough throws and did not make very good personnel decisions.

Beyonce's Sister Set to Release a New Album

Solange Knowles, sister of Beyonce Knowles, has signed a deal with Geffen Records to release an album of her own. Geffen Records is the home of other great artists, such as Mary J. Blige, Fergie and Nelly Furtado.

Solange has spent the last few years writing and appearing on the albums of others. According to Billboard Magazine, she has been working in a studio in L.A.

Geffen Records Exec Ron Fair described the album this way: "It's not what people would expect from her. The music is more eclectic and international."

Big Willie: Will Smith is stepping up for Barack Obama

Actor Will Smith has recently told the New York Post that he contacted Sen. Barack Obama about joining his campaign as a surrogate campaigner. "Yeah. I opened it up to him. I just gave him a call and asked him to tell me wherever you think you need me. I think he's what the future of America is going to be. Barack represents what I feel is the future of the optimum survival of America," Smith told the Post.

Obama's officials are remaining stone-faced, citing that they have no immediate plans to use Smith on the campaign trail. However, one can't ignore the fact that Smith's presence, when compounded with Oprah Winfrey, is sure to increase Obama's voting base.

One concern, however, is that too strong of an alignment with African-Americans may alienate some of Obama's white supporters.
"We have to ask if the world is truly ready for a black president, with black people trailing him", says Dr. Boyce Watkins. "Remember: Some still consider the White House to be a place for mostly white people. A black man can come in, but some think that he can't bring too many black people with him."

Wife of Tiger Woods Wins Lawsuit Over Fake Nude Photos

The wife of golf superstar Tiger Woods won a $183,250 judgment and apology from an Irish magazine that published an article consisting of a fake nude photo of her. The Dubliner, the name of the magazine in question, admitted that the article was fake.

It was published in September 2006 while Ireland was hosting the Ryder Cup. The normally stoic Woods was angry after seeing the article, showing his anger in a press conference.


"The false and deeply offensive article in The Dubliner magazine, with the accompanying photograph of another woman wrongly claimed to be me, caused great personal distress to me and my family," she said.

Tiger's wife, Ellen Nordegren Woods, said that she would donate the money to charity in honor of Heather Clarke, the wife of Northern Ireland golfer Darren Clarke. Heather died of cancer right before the Ryder tournament.

A condition of the settlement is that The Dubliner must publish a lengthy apology in a number of different venues, including it's next issue. The fine will be increased to $366,500 if the magazine does not comply and they will also have to pay the Woods' legal fees.