Your Black News: November 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Rashad Walker: 20-Month Old Baby Murdered in Car Seat

Rashad Walker (Photo Provided)

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

Rashad Walker Jr. was just 20 months old when he died. The young child was killed in the back of his mother's minivan in Syracuse, NY. when he was shot by up to 10 bullets that hit the vehicle at 4:30 pm this past Sunday. The child was asleep at the time, according to the Syracuse Post Standard.
Walker died at 6:45 pm, in the hospital and he was not the intended target. His mother was holding him when paramedics arrived on the scene.
The story of Rashad Walker is clearly one of the most tragic incidents we've read about all year. It takes us back to the police shooting of Aiyana Jones, the 7-year old in Detroit who was shot while sleeping during a police raid. This story is also personal to me because I live in Syracuse, a city that (like so many others) continues to be plagued by gun violence.

Four Loko Taken Off the Shelves: The Bad Side of Capitalism

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

After witnessing the deaths of innocent citizens all across America, the FDA took a second to realize that perhaps the energy drink craze should be regulated a bit more than it has in the past. One of the most interesting drinks on the market is Four Loko, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage that is being gulped by the gallon. The government has forced the removal of the drink from store shelves, reminding us that sometimes, the presence of Big Brother can be a good thing.

Those in the Tea Party who want to see smaller government might want to take a moment of pause to realize that government intervention can be helpful when it comes to protecting citizens in a capitalist society. Many Americans are tempted to buy into the idealistic notion that a completely free society works all the time for everyone, but it is sobering to remember just how harmful unregulated capitalism can be.

Dr. Laura’s Punishment for Racism? She Gets another Job

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is the esteemed radio host who made the wise decision to use the n-word on the air so many times that it would put a gangster rapper to shame. Sure, she had an explanation for using the word so many times, but she also had a dictionary full of words she could have used instead. As a consequence for her infamous tirade, Schlessinger is going to receive the most daunting punishment known to man: She is being sent over to Sirius/XM Satellite in order to take a new job. Yes, that really taught her a lesson.

The "venerable" Dr. Laura, the woman who has no problem insulting the black community at every possible turn, has now been given a multi-year gig on XM Satellite Radio. Terms were not disclosed, but she was able to land the gig faster than you could say, "I don't care what black people think." The treatment of Dr. Laura presents a very telling lesson for those of us who are attempting to understand the nature of white privilege. According to the rules of a post-racial society, the expression of hatred toward people of color not only goes without punishment, it is actually rewarded.

Let's be clear: If Dr. Laura were a black person spewing insults of this nature toward whites, she would find herself in the unemployment line, along with millions of other capable black people. This kind of double standard explains why black unemployment is nearly double that of white Americans, and why the National Association of Black Journalists is forced to constantly fight for the crumbs that people like Dr. Laura leave behind.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Black Entertainment News from thegrio.com – 11/29/10

Alicia Keys and friends to sign off Twitter for charity

By theGrio

9:45 AM on 11/29/2010

(AP) - Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Usher and other celebrities have joined a new campaign called Digital Life Sacrifice on behalf of Keys' charity, Keep a Child Alive...

> READ MORE
Chrisette Michele finds 'freedom' in her music

By Brett Johnson

8:23 AM on 11/29/2010

theGRIO Q&A - R&B singer Chrisette Michele is still getting used to the idea that her latest look is such a big topic of discussion...

> READ MORE
'Ugly Betty' actor says he killed 'demon' in his mom

By theGrio

2:28 PM on 11/27/2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Relatives issued a statement Friday expressing their support for Brea, whom they called "a compassionate, gentle, intelligent, spiritual and loving man" in need of help...

> READ MORE
Lil' Kim's 'Black Friday' diss aims for Nicki Minaj

By theGrio

9:14 AM on 11/27/2010

Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim's war of words has risen another notch...

> READ MORE
Dr. Laura Schlessinger shifts to satellite radio

By theGrio

6:43 PM on 11/26/2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Schlessinger had said in August she was quitting her syndicated radio program, a week after she apologized for using the n-word on the air 11 times...

> READ MORE
Slideshow: The top 10 black holiday movies

By Talia Whyte

8:08 AM on 11/26/2010

SLIDESHOW - Here are a choice few holiday films with black characters in leading roles that spread Christmas cheer...

> READ MORE

Rev. Al Sharpton’ s Finances in Question by New York Daily News

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

It's not easy fighting for civil rights and running organizations that stand up for the freedoms of the oppressed. If you're good at what you do, your enemies will try anything to take you down. On top of that, many of the people you are fighting for, via self-hatred, may be skeptical of your efforts and willing to partner with oppressive forces to undermine your work. Even worse, your constituents may not have the means to help you face the massive financial responsibility that comes with serving your community. Freedom damn sure ain't free, and most leaders have the receipts to prove it.
I don't get as many calls for help as Rev. Al Sharpton, but I get my fair share. The most difficult thing about receiving these requests is that you want to help everyone, but are constantly struggling to find the resources to get the job done. If you ask for help to pay the cost of the trip, people think you're somehow trying to swindle them or earn an unnecessary profit from the work you do. The truth is that everybody's got bills to pay and the bigger your name, the more people think you're made of money.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Toddler Dies from Drinking Methadone in Sippy Cup

Toddler Dies After Drinking Methadone from Sippy Cup

Two-year-old Masia Wright died after ingesting a lethal amount of the drug methadone from his sippy cup. Investigators in Jacksonville, Florida say that the toddler managed to get his hands on a sippy cup with methadone inside after his dad's girlfriend, Dana Anderson, left it on top of her four-foot-tall dresser.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Study: 1/3 of South African Men Admit to Committing Rape

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

A study commissioned by the Medical Research Foundation, a group funded by the South African government, has wielded some disturbing findings about violence against women. According to the study, more than 1-in-3 men of Johannesburg have committed rape at some point in their lives. Roughly seven percent of the men sampled admitted to participating in a gang rape.
The study also found that over 51 percent of the 511 women surveyed had been victims of violence from men. Also, 78 percent of men admitted to committing a violent act against a woman. One fourth of the women in the survey said that they'd been raped, but only about four percent of these rapes are reported to police.
These findings are similar to a 2008 study that found that 28 percent of the men in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces had committed rape against a woman or girl. Also, one-third of the men said they did not feel guilty for what they'd done. Two-thirds of the men claimed to have committed rape out of a sense of entitlement, and others raped out of boredom or a desire to punish women who'd rejected them.

Michael Brea: Ugly Betty Actor Says He Killed Demons Inside His Mother with a Sword

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

"Ugly Betty" actor Michael Brea did an interesting interview with the New York Daily News this week, after being sent to jail for allegedly murdering his mother with a samarai sword. The actor argues that he was "doing the work of God" when he continuously chopped at his mother's body. He also says that he believes there was a demon inside her.

"I was slashing my mom and I heard the police knocking on the door yelling, 'Michael, open up, Michael, open up,' but I knew they wouldn't open the door and stop me because the spirits were protecting me ... I just kept cutting her. No one could stop me. I was doing the work of God," he said.

How Race and Basketball Interact

As the great David Halberstam often observed, the racial politics of professional basketball have always been rather delicate. The sport, after all, sells the talents, style and power of mostly young black men to a largely white audience — and these uncomfortable racial dynamics have a tendency to bubble to the surface in strange ways. This summer, after LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami in a showy power grab, the move unleashed a tsunami of bile. According LeBron, the backlash was at least in part caused by the “race factor,” and it spawned a heated debate about the role of racism in the NBA. For people looking for some perspective on the issue, ”The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History,” from the people behind the FreeDarko basketball blog, is a great place to start. The book is a collectivist account of the NBA’s racial, labor and cultural reverberations — with occasional jaunts into graphic novel format. “TUGTPBH” co-author Bethlehem Shoals is a primary contributor to FreeDarko, a site with a reputation for thought-provoking takes on the basketball world. Salon spoke to Shoals over the phone, about the LeBron controversy and the changing nature of race in the NBA.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Black and Latino Students Still Locked Out of Elite Universities

A new report shows that blacks and Latinos might be gaining more access to higher education, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gaining access to all tiers of the system. The study, led by Michael Bastedo, a professor at the University of Michigan, says that even though college-going rates for blacks and Latinos are on the rise, they’ve been accompanied by a parallel increase in admissions standards which have locked them out of the top colleges, and only further entrenched stratification in the higher education world. What people already know is that a college education from a community college is not the same as one from an Ivy League university, let alone one that students get from a private college or a state school. And even though community colleges remain an important entry point for many into higher education, people who start at community colleges end up leaving before obtaining a diploma, and the most selective universities offer long-term benefits—access to networks and opportunities—that go far beyond the classroom.

Visit Your Black World for more black news!

Black News from Your Black World – 11/25/10

Visit YourBlackWorld.com for the latest in black news!

Dr. Julianne Malveaux’s New Book on Surviving and Thriving

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is second-to-none. One of the most respected and prolific scholars in the history of black America, she is truly an intellectual soldier. With a PhD in Economics from MIT, Dr. Malveaux has produced scholarly work that serves as nothing less than a guide book for overcoming the prodigious number of problems being faced by black America today. She is also a champion for women's rights and issues that uniquely impact African American women.
AOL Black Voices had the chance to catch up with Dr. Malveaux to discuss the release of her new book, "Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History," and she had this to say:

1) What is your name and what do you do?
I am Dr. Julianne Malveaux, an economist, author and President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.
2) What motivated you to write your book, and what can people learn from it?
When people think of the economy, they rarely think of African American people as important contributors, as thivers instead of simply survivors. There is such inspiration in our economic history and I was passionate about lifting it up.

President Obama Has Granted Zero Pardons Since His Election

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

This week, the president made me laugh. That was saying a lot at the time, given that I was exhausted from traveling across the country for Thanksgiving. The source of my entertainment was the president's annual turkey pardon, in which he pardoned four turkeys, thus saving them from the fate that typically befalls turkeys at this time of the year. Being endangered and running from extinction, I figured that this is one thing that turkeys and black men have in common.

One of the things that got my attention was a very telling statistic about our president. After being in office for 22 months, the president has not granted or denied a single pardon. The only other president in recent history to have granted such a small number of pardons this deep into his presidency was Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

How to Set Goals and Achieve Them

boycewatkins Post

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

I felt that today would be a good day to talk about living life to the fullest. I'm no expert on this, but I've learned a few things over the years that I can share with you. One thing I can say for sure is that most of us are not reaching our potential, as we find that the words "woulda coulda shoulda" dominate our daily dialog.

Well, life is too short to be mediocre, so it's time for you to start being your best. Here are a few tips on how to reach your goals. The list is simple and to the point, and I suggest you read it every day of your life:

1) Always have a goal: Life is no fun if you aren't striving for something. A man or woman without any goals in life is effectively just waiting to die. Rather than making your life about simple survival, you may want to find a way to give it some purpose. Keep the list of goals with you at all the times, so you can always remember what you're meant to do.

Michael L. Brea: Ugly Betty Star Allegedly Murders Mother With a Sword

Ugly Betty's Michael L. Brea Allegedly Murdered Mom with Sword

'Ugly Betty' and 'Step Up 3D' actor Michael L. Brea allegedly butchered his mother to death with a Samurai sword as he chased her around his Brooklyn, New York apartment while reciting biblical passages in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Reportedly, neighbors called NYPD when they heard bloodcurdling screams coming from Brea's apartment. "I hear the brother chasing her [his mother] through the house and he's just saying a bunch of [Bible] passages like, 'Repent, Repent, Repent,'" neighbor Gregory Clare told local WPIX, a local television news outlet. "I heard him chasing her through the house and I hear a loud scream and so I have my father call the cops, call 911."

When police arrived at murder scene, they found Yannick, the small-time actor's 55-year-old World Trade Center survivor mother, in a blood-splattered bathroom, decapitated and in a kneeling position, her body had been mutilated by multiple stabbings. Investigators describe the residence as pure bloody gore.

Brea was found sitting on a bed with the three-foot ceremonial sword he had removed only one day before without permission from a Masonic lodge after a meeting. The 31-year-old low level mason was still spouting gibberish and talking about repentance when police tasered, then removed him from the apartment on a stretcher. Brea, who is a twin, Haitian-American and who also starred in a campaign for the energy drink Full Throttle was taken to nearby Kings County Hospital for psychiatric observation.

Click to read more on AOL Black Voices

Congressional Black Caucus Gains Power After Mid-term Defeats

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

While the mid-term elections were a blood bath for the Democrats, one group that came out surprisingly unscathed was the Congressional Black Caucus. Members of the CBC and the Hispanic Caucus will hold roughly one-third of all Democratic seats in Congress (61 out of 190), increasing their power within government. They also plan to use this influence to focus on job creation.
The Democrats who took the greatest drubbing during mid-terms tended to be the centrists of the party. The Black and Hispanic caucuses, however, only lost four out of 60 bids for re-election. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, a member of the Hispanic caucus is now the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, and Maxine Waters will be the second leading Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. Their increases in power came largely because of the defeats of other Democrats.

Black News – 11/24/10

Monday, November 22, 2010

Dr. Boyce, Al Sharpton Discuss Charlie Rangel, Feminism and More

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss Black Women and Feminism

Dr. Boyce Watkins Discusses the Bush Tax Cuts on CNBC

Dr. Boyce Watkins Discusses the Bush Tax Cuts on CNBC

Dr. Boyce Video: Terrie Williams, Depression and the Black Community

Dr. Boyce: It’s Time to Confront Deadbeat Parents….All of Us

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

My entire life, I've seen the costs and consequences of parents who don't want to pay to take care of their own kids. My father abandoned me when I was child, and to my knowledge, paid zero or close to no child support. Over the years, I had two relationships with women who had children with men who'd had forgotten that their kids existed. That led to me paying child support for my own child, in addition to the children of other people who were ignoring their responsibility. In fact, to this day, most of my "adopted children" need money from me every other week to pay for things that their parents should be paying for. I admit that sometimes, it's draining.
I'm not the only one who goes through the challenge of paying for deadbeat parents. All across America, quite a few people have either been abandoned by deadbeat parents, paid the price for deadbeat parents or become a deadbeat parent themselves (you know who you are). It occurs in every community, so we cannot pretend that black people are the only ones who do this. But for some reason, there is a code of silence when this kind of behavior occurs in the ~~black community~~, especially when the father is the perpetrator of this heinous crime. I say it's time for this to stop.

Schomburg Center Director Khalil Muhammad Draws Controversy

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

Khalil Gibran Muhammad appears to be a great choice to head the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. A 38-year old assistant professor of African American History at Indiana University, Dr. Muhammad has already achieved a great deal in the world of black scholarship. His book, "The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America," has done quite well, and he is respected by quite a few black scholars across the nation.
Muhammad also has pedigree: He is the great grandson of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, legendary leader of the Nation of Islam. Therefore, his scholarly work with a predominantly white institution (Indiana University, which is no stranger to racial problems, I went to graduate school there) is supplemented by his connection and deep commitment to issues that affect real people in his community.

Cedric Miller: Facebook-banning Pastor Had a 3-Way with Male Assistant

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University - Scholarship in Action

Apparently, the words "thou shall not use Facebook" don't quite trump the words "thou shall not have a three-way sexual relationship with your wife and a male assistant." The Rev. Cedric Miller became a national name last week after demanding that his entire New Jersey congregation delete their Facebook pages. The move was thought to be an incredibly bold statement about the impact that Facebook has on relationships, where old boyfriends/girlfriends never quite go away.
To the surprise of many, it turns out that Rev. Miller may have his own reasons for wanting Facebook out of his life. There are reports that the pastor had a three-way sexual relationship with his wife and a male assistant at the church. Rev. Miller, who heads the Living Word Christian Fellowship Church in Neptune Township, New Jersey, confirmed the information, which had been printed in a local newspaper.
The 48-year old pastor also demanded that all 50 of his married church officials delete their Facebook pages or quit their leadership posts. He told married members of his church to share their login information with their spouses. He said that he plans to leave Facebook this week himself.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Black News from News one – 11/21/10

By Associated Press

Nation

New Documents In Waters Case, Ethics Hearing Off

By Associated Press

Washington Watch

VP Joe Biden On Afghanistan Pullout: 2014 Is The “Drop Dead Date”

By NewsOne Staff

Washington Watch

White House Report: Stimulus Law Boosted Economy, Jobs

By Associated Press

Entertainment

Wesley Snipes To Begin Three-Year Jail Sentence

Sports

Brandon Roy, Injury After Injury: How It Has Affected His Career

By NewsOne Staff

Nation

Kansas Town Denies Racist Hiring Policy Allegations

By NewsOne Staff

World

South Africa Could Slash AIDS Infections, Says Report

By Associated Press

Nation

Botched Operation Leaves Mom With No Legs

By NewsOne Staff

Washington Watch

Obama Rejects Notion Of Two “Mediocre” Terms

By NewsOne Staff

Washington Watch

James Carville: “Not Sorry” For Comments About President Obama

By Roland S. Martin

NewsOne Original

“Work It Out!” First Lady Races Kids At Harlem School

By Claudio E. Cabrera

Nation

Unemployment Extension Fails, Benefits To Stop After Thanksgiving

By Associated Press

Nation

New Orleans Police Laughed After Burning Black Man’s Body

By Associated Press

Friday, November 19, 2010

Jack Johnson, DC County Exec and Wife Arrested for Corruption: What Can We Learn from This?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

I was saddened to hear about the recent arrest of Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and his wife Leslie. Both Jack and his wife are well-respected in the DC area. Both have served their communities for decades, and both of them represent the essence of Prince George's County, the most affluent county in the United States with an African-American majority population.
Johnson was once an important ethical and legal protector of the county, serving as its lead Prosecutor. His wife has served the community for over 30 years in numerous capacities. He was also the first African American to become County Executive in the DC area. So, why are Johnson and his wife facing up to 20 years in prison for evidence tampering and destruction of evidence, among other charges? In fact, the story is quite bizarre, with reports of the FBI allegedly recording Johnson telling his wife to put nearly $80,000 in her underwear.

Black Celebrity Gossip Blogger Necole Bitchie Shares Her Celeb Money Insights

Necole Bitchie is a much loved urban media maven who came onto the blogging scene in 2007, and has remained a major player in the field ever since. Her eponymous blog,NecoleBitchie.com is one of the most popular Web destinations for discussing celebrity dish, offering a fresh voice and unique perspective on African American stars. How did Necole Bitchie make such a profound impact in such a short time in a crowded field? She shares the amazing business insights -- and a few celebrity finance secrets -- that have contributed to her stellar success. Here's what Necole told BV on Money:

What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Necole Bitchie and I am the voice behind the celebrity entertainment blogsite NecoleBitchie.com.

What are some of the misperceptions people have about celebrities and their money?

Click to read.

Does Obama Have Bragging Rights with GM IPO?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

President Barack Obama gained some bragging rights this week. The emergence of General Motors by way of a$20.1 billion dollar initial public offering (IPO) was a shot heard around the world. The IPO is the largest in American history, and largely unexpected by most of the financial community.

Just a year ago, General Motors found itself suffocating under the stigma of receiving a government bailout, and the Obama administration was heavily criticized for providing $36 billion in taxpayer funds to keep the company afloat. The argument by Obama was that allowing GM to fail would cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of American jobs, something that the president wasn't willing to tolerate. In an uncomfortable spurt of patriotism, the president's camp took the bold step of bailing out the company that many thought should be allowed to fail.

President Obama certainly has both the right and need to brag about the rise of GM. In the same way Republicans were quick to blame him for allegedly worsening the economic downturn, they must also allow him to soak up the credit when good things happen. Whether we are faced with good or bad economic times, the president is usually given more responsibility than he deserves. Such is the nature of politics.

Tiger Writes Essay to Apologize: Was it Genuine?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

This week, Tiger Woods wrote an essay for Newsweek apologizing for his behavior over the past year. Well, it's not as if Tiger only misbehaved in the last 12 months, but that was when his interesting lifestyle was revealed to the American public. In addition to his essay for Newsweek, Woods also did a well-staged interview with the show "Mike & Mike" on ESPN radio. During the interview, it was agreed that Tiger would not be asked about his divorce from Elin Nordegren or the car accident last year that left everyone suspicious.
Apparently, Team Tiger is back in full effect, putting on a media blitz like no other. Call me a cynic, but I fully suspect that the team is hoping that revamping Tiger's image will compensate for the fact that he is no longer the greatest golfer in the history of the world. Well actually, he's not even the greatest golfer in the world anymore after losing his number one world ranking. When he's no longer one of the greatest athletes on the planet, the world can only think of Tiger Woods as a self-professed adulterous sex addict. That kind of image doesn't exactly sell video games at Christmas time.

Charlie Rangel Gets His Decision: More Black News

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Three Football Players Shot at Southern Miss. University

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

This weekend there was a fight in a bar in Hattiesburg, MS. Three football players from Southern Mississippi University were involved in the fight, and all three were shot. The three players are in fair condition at a local hospital.
Martez Smith, Tim Green and Deddrick Jones were shot shortly after 3 a.m. There have been no arrests and police say that the shootings may have been gang related.

Allen Murray, spokesperson for the Hattiesburg police, said that the fight started inside the club and spilled out into the street. That's where the players were shot. The incident occurred a few hours after the team defeated Central Florida.

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