Dr. Boyce Watkins: NCAA President Finally Agrees that Athletes Deserve a Bit More Money

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

Every now and then, some families get to experience “that intervention moment.” This is when the uncle who’s been getting high, drunk and abusive every single day finally admits that he might have a problem. Of course he still minimizes the significance of his issues, but he has at least opened the door to getting the help that he needs.

For the American justice and economic systems, the NCAA is the addicted uncle. But rather than being hooked on drugs, the NCAA is addicted to the highs of capitalism and corporate greed. By being able to skirt the legal and moral parameters of our society, this professional sports league has been able to extract wealth from student athletes and the African American community to the tune of several billion dollars.

The NCAA’s new president, Mark Emmert, shocked the world when he admitted that it might be time for student athletes and their families to share in the massive revenue streams being generated by their kids. Emmert has admitted that he would like to “explore” the issue of modestly increasing the scholarship limits of student athletes in revenue-generating sports, primarily football and basketball. While remaining far from admitting that there should be significant changes, Emmert has confessed to the fact that the financial asymmetries might be a bit uncomfortable.

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Two-Thirds of Blacks Do Not Consider Obama to be a Civil Rights Leader

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

I gave a speech at a church in upstate New York shortly after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.  During the service, the choir director took the liberty of changing the words from the song “We shall overcome,” to “We HAVE overcome.”  I also remember hearing a woman outside the speech proudly announce that she had just bought a new picture of President Barack Obama.  The woman said she was going to put the image right next to her pictures of Martin Luther King and Jesus.  Apparently, Obama’s election was a second-coming of Juneteenth for those who seemed to feel that a black president could do no wrong.

But there is a more fundamental question in all of this:  Should President Obama’s image be placed next to those who’ve fought for Civil Rights in the  past?  In recent survey by YourBlackWorld.com, 62.9% of the 734 respondents said they do not consider President Barack Obama to be a true Civil Rights Leader.  Another 28.5% said that they do consider President Obama to be a Civil Rights leader.  The rest claim they aren’t sure.  

According to reference.com, Civil Rights are defined as “rights to personal liberty established by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. constitution and certain Congressional acts, especially as applied to an individual or a minority group.”

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What? Bill Maher Says Republicans Are Scared of Black People Not Named Cosby and Urkel

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

Comedian and TV show host Bill Maher made some interesting remarks the other day on his show about GOP fear and racial tension. During a segment in which he posted a picture of members of the New Black Panther Party, Maher noted that Republicans generally "soil their adult diapers" when confronted by people of color. He did, however, note one exception:

"Every black person scares you (GOP) unless they look like Urkel, talk like Colin Powell and wear Bill Cosby sweaters."
I wish I could say that the remark was funny, but the truth is that it's funnier in print than it was during the delivery. All the while, I have to give Maher credit for speaking the truth. When it comes to the integration of African Americans into mainstream America, there is a notion of "acceptability" that many of us, especially black males, are forced to constantly deal with.

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CNN: Wyclef Jean Shot in Haiti- or Was He?

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

Wyclef Jean is now in a hospital recovering after allegedly being shot in his hand. Jean's publicist, Cindy Tanenbaum, said that the artist was shot Saturday in Port-au-Prince, the day before the runoff vote for the Haitian presidential election. According to Tanenbaum, Jean is doing well.
Gerry Andre, Jean's spokesperson in Haiti, also said that the artist was shot in the hand when getting out of a car to speak with him.
"He heard a gunshot, then he saw his right-hand palm was bleeding," Andre told CNN.

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Tyra Banks Heads to Harvard Business School: A Lesson for Young Black Girls

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

Media superstar and modeling-model Tyra Banks recently announced that she's headed to the Harvard Business School. While it's still not clear if she's getting an official degree (I assume its a short-term executive education course; I can't imagine someone with her experience and schedule taking too much time off for school), one has to be impressed with her decision to continue educating herself. Some might think that education is simply a thing you tolerate long enough to make money to support yourself. Nothing could be further from the truth, since learning should be a lifelong process.

"I started last summer and I didn't really talk about it. It was very incognito, my name and everything, but I decided to talk about it [now]. I think it's a positive thing, especially for girls to see that you can still continue to educate yourself and you can still be fabulous and fierce and celebrate your femininity," Tyra said to MTV News.

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Black Women and Relationships: An In-Studio Conversation

The video below presents an in-studio conversation about black women and relationships.  Enjoy!

 

To have Dr. Boyce Watkins commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

Dr. Boyce: Inmate Asked to Pay for His Incarceration with $75/Month Jailhouse Wages

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

Kensley Hawkins was sent to prison in 1980 for the murder of one man and the attempted murder of two police officers in Chicago. He had an 8-year old daughter and was going to be in prison for a very long time.
During his time in prison, Kensley earned $75-per-month building furniture in Joliet, Illinois. Somehow, he was able to save $11,000 during his stay in the penitentiary, a small tribute to his daughter, who is now nearly 40-years old. But the state of Illinois is not satisfied, and has asked that Kensley be required to pay for the costs of his incarceration.

The state is arguing that Mr. Hawkins owes them $455,203.14 for the cost of keeping him in prison. The case has now reached the Illinois Supreme Court.

"The reason you want Mr. Hawkins to keep his money is because he's gonna get out of prison some day, and when he gets out of prison, we want him to have saved his money so that he can take care of himself you don't want the public to have to pay for him," Hawkins' attorney, Ben Weinberg, told Fox Chicago.

 

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Ten Things that Every Black Dad Must Do for His Kids

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

1) Tell your kids you love them every single day

Love not only makes the world go round, but every person needs to feel loved in order to have the balance necessary to be truly successful. If you love your kids, don’t just show it with your actions, say it with words. It will keep them from seeking love in all the wrong places.

2) Set an example for other fathers

The black male gets a bad rap for allegedly being an irresponsible father. We know that this stereotype is a misguided reflection of America’s historical hatred of the black male, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t encourage each other to do a better job. Demand that other brothers in your circle stand up as good fathers to their children, in spite of their circumstances. It can be tough to be a good parent with sky high unemployment and incarceration rates, but that doesn’t give you an excuse not to try. Those of us who ignore our children should be shamed into realizing how harmful such irresponsibility is to our community.

3) Always find a way to show respect to their mother

Even if you can’t stand the woman you had a child with, you should always give her as much respect as you possibly can. Kids don’t enjoy watching their parents fight, no matter whose fault it is. Also, in spite of your differences, you must always find a way to show appreciation toward the woman who gave life to your offspring.

4) Prepare them for the bullsh*t

We know that being black isn’t easy. You have to be twice as good to get half as much and life sometimes kicks you in the butt when you don’t deserve it. Prepare your kids for life as an African American, letting them know that they are going to have to be tough, smart and courageous to succeed in a world where the odds can be stacked against them. We all know that life isn’t fair, and it’s important to make sure your kids are prepared for the coming disparities.

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Dr. Boyce Watkins on the Death of Nate Dogg and the Evolution of Gangster Rap

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

This morning I woke up to find out that Nathaniel D. Hale, better known as Nate Dogg, died last night (March 15).  The cause of death has not been announced.  But its easy to connect Nate Dogg’s death to the health problems that came from the massive strokes he suffered in 2007 and 2008. 

Nobody sang hooks like Nate Dogg.  Most of us can go back to Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” album in the early 1990s as well as “Regulate” by Warren G to see where this brilliant artist set the game on fire.  I loved Nate Dogg, and I am going to miss him.  Nobody could run the chorus the way he could, for he had a voice that hip-hop will remember for the next 50 years.

On another note, I wonder how Nate Dogg’s early death was related to some of the self-destructive habits

 

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Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: A Couple Makes Both Money and Love

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One reason that we do the spotlights here on AOL Black Voices is to profile businesses, organizations and individuals who are doing outstanding (but perhaps unsung) work within the African American community. While most media enjoys highlighting the dysfunction of the black community, we believe that there is plenty to celebrate. What I love about Ayize and Aiyana Ma'at is that they've found a way to use their love to create the financial fuel that helps to sustain their family. As certified relationship counselors, they also work together to help other couples find the love they've been seeking as well. It is because of their empowered commitment to strengthening the black family in America that Ayize and Aiyana Ma'at are today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

 

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Your Black News – 3/15/11

• 

  7 Types of Women Men Should Avoid

  6:00 AMMar 15

  Source: BV on Love

  Whether a man's looking for Ms. Right or just Ms. Right Now, chances are he's going to run into a few Ms. Wrongs along the way. Problem is, a lot of men overlook the obvious red flags in a woman's personality because they're blinded by T&A or the ...Read More

• 

  Happy B-Day Will.I.Am.: We Celebrate His Quirky Fashion Sense

  6:00 AMMar 15

  Source: BV on Style

  Will.i.am is a musical powerhouse. Besides being the driving force behind the Black Eyed Peas, he plays several instruments - guitar and keyboard among them - and has also produced hits for the likes of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Usher and ... Read More

• 

  Hair Transformation: Fantasia Barrino

  6:00 AMMar 15

  Source: BV Hair Talk

  'American Idol' champion Fantasia Barrino has had arguably one of the most successful careers on the show. However, her hairstyles, much like her life, have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years. Here's a trip down memory lane to see ... Read More

• 

  Celebs Reach Out To President Obama on Gay Marriage

  12:40 AMMar 15

  Source: BV Black Spin

  A group of high profile Americans has come together to urge President Barack Obama to support gay marriage. The group includes Martin Sheen, R&B singer Mya, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, and a host of other celebrities, athletes and the like. The ... Read More

• 

  WNBA Guard Says Japan Crisis is God's Will

  11:07 PMMar 14

  Source: BV on Sports

  There hasn't been a day since the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in Japan that I haven't grimaced at reading what's going on there and hoped for a sliver of good news. Any good news. Anything besides reading that hundreds, maybe thousands, of ... Read More

• 

  Michael Ealy Joins Kate Beckinsale In New 'Underworld' Film

  11:05 PMMar 14

  Source: BV on Movies

  Michael Ealy has been cast as the male lead alongside Kate Beckinsale in 'Underworld 4: New Dawn,' the fourth film of the franchise for Screen Gems and Lakeshore that will be shown in 3D. After being held in a coma-like state for fifteen years, ... Read More

• 

  Congressman John Conyers Criticizes Obama, Wants Him To Be 'Better President'

  8:45 PMMar 14

  Source: BV Black Spin

  Veteran Democratic Congressman John Conyers voiced some disappointment in President Barack Obama - and said he wants to help the leader of his party to do better. In a speech at the National Press Club on Monday, Conyers criticized Obama on a number ... Read More

• 

  20 Questions With Singer/Songwriter Marsha Ambrosius

  5:55 PMMar 14

  Source: BV Newswire

  It's been quite a journey to the Billboard charts for former Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius. She's gone from having Michael Jackson cover her 'Butterflies' song and guesting on tracks for The Game, Fabulous and Jamie Foxx, to name a few, to parting ... Read More

Dr. Boyce: Dwayne Wade’s Custody Battle Breaks Black Father Stereotypes

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

This week, a judge in Chicago gave NBA star Dwayne Wade sole custody of his two sons. The decision was made after a prolonged legal battle between Wade and his ex-wife, Siohvaughn. The boys are currently 8 and 3 years old. Wade has argued that his ex-wife has become violent toward him and falsely accused him of abusing his sons. A court-appointed representative for the boys made the recommendation that Wade be given full custody and that his ex-wife receive a mental evaluation.

I happened to be in Chicago when I heard about Wade's custody decision (which took place in a Chicago courtroom). What's even more ironic is that I heard about the decision shortly after having an opportunity to watch an episode of the television show, "Basketball Wives." During the show, I thought about the "interesting" custody battle between another baller, Dwight Howard and his ex-girlfriend Royce Reed, who is a member of the show's cast.

Click to read.

Meet Antoine Mcnutt: YBW Spotlight

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

There are few jobs more important than mentoring and guiding young black boys. Over the last 30 years, we've witnessed an amazing slide in the outcomes of young men, as many of them have fallen victim to guns, drugs, mass incarceration, unemployment and a failed educational system. No matter who is responsible for the creation of this mess, it is going to take courage and commitment to cleaning it up. Men like Antoine McNutt have made it his career and life's mission to helping young males between the critical ages of 16 and 21, teaching them the value of being educated, remaining focused and making good decisions. It is due to his diligence in saving our endangered sons and brothers that Antoine McNutt is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

What is your name, and what do you do?

 

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Dr. Boyce: Time to Reform the NCAA Plantation

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

I wrote about a new book regarding the NCAA’s alleged exploitation of black athletes, written by University of Georgia Professor Billy Hawkins. In his recently-released book, “The New Plantation,” Hawkins goes out of his way to help us understand that the method by which the NCAA does business is not much different from the mindset of plantation owners of the old south.

The analogies used by Professor Hawkins are thought-provoking and appear to be alarmist at first glance. After all, citizens are commonly comparing nearly every modern-day injustice to slavery in order to make a dramatic point. But in this case, the analogies are appropriate, in large part because slavery is not a dichotomy. Instead, it is actually a continuum, with complete freedom on one end and total servitude on the other. One could even argue that slaves themselves were not completely devoid of freedom, since they could have always chosen to run away, buy their freedom, maim themselves or even commit suicide as a way to escape their condition. The point of this very grim example is not to say that slavery was not entirely horrific; rather, it is to say that something does not have to be entirely horrific to be compared to slavery.

 

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If your Child Isn’t Making the Grade, Then He Should Not Be on the Field

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

Today I took my afternoon nap thinking about the days when I was captain of my high school track team in the 12th grade.  I wasn’t the star of the team and I also wasn’t an academic star (my grades were terrible).  Like many other black boys across America, I’d come to identify myself as an athletic commodity rather than an intellectual one. 

I remember that one of the fastest boys on our team was also like a lot of other black males:  He was in special education and had horrible grades.  On his report card, he’d gotten two Fs, three Ds and a C.  My coach was concerned about his grades, but not because he cared about the young man.  He was only worried about his grades because he thought that the kid might not be eligible for the big track meet we had coming up.

 

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Howard University Students Help Their Community Over Spring Break

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

Most college students are planning to waste time and money over spring break, partying hard, drinking till they vomit, and doing other things that might get them into trouble. Howard University is encouraging its students to engage in a more enlightened use of its time over spring break, by helping the students to raise money for a trip to support the people of Haiti.
WHUR, the Howard University radio station and one of the leading stations in the DC area, is helping the students raise the $150,000 that they will need in order to make the trip. The station is holding a radiothon to raise money on Sunday, March 6th from 6 am until 6 pm. In addition to going to Haiti, the students plan to go to other cities across the United States in order to provide "critical services to those in need." The students plan to travel to Haiti, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans and Atlanta, in addition to providing support in the Washington DC area.

 

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Howard University Students Raise Money to Help Out in Haiti

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Renee J. Nash

Office of Information and Public Affairs 202-806-3623

rnash@whur.com

“WHUR LENDS HELPING HANDS TO ASSIST HOWARD STUDENTS”

Radio Station Launches Fundraiser to Help University Students Perform Good Deeds

WASHINGTON (February 2, 2011) WHUR 96.3 FM - Howard University will host a 12-hour radiothon Sunday, March 6^th from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help send hundreds of Howard University students to Haiti and cities across the United States to provide critical services to those in need. The “Helping Hands” radiothon will encourage listeners to phone in, drop by the radio station or to go on-line to make a contribution so students can travel to Haiti, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, and here in the Washington area.

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Professor Rodney K. Washington Keeps Your Sons in Line

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

I recently heard Rodney K. Washington speak at the Critical Conversations Summit at Jackson State University. I was instantly impressed with Dr. Washington's keen understanding of the experience of the black male in America and his willingness to attack the issue head-on. Skills like those of Dr. Washington are critical in a nation where black males have been placed into a cage that leads them to kill one another and commit homicide to their own futures every single day. We also need more black male educators put in front of the classrooms of public schools and universities who have yet to embrace the difference between true diversity and cosmetic window-dressing. It is for his decision to dedicate his scholarship to helping his community that Dr. Rodney K. Washington is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

 

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Nigeria Has Two More Billionaires on the Forbes List

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

Two Nigerian men, Mike Adenuga and Aliko Dangote, represented their home country of Nigeria by placing themselves among the wealthiest men in the world. Both men made the Forbes billionaires list, with Adenuga ranking as number 595, while Dangote skyrocketed up to number 51. Dangote's fortune grew five fold last year, as he consolidated his holdings and went public on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. His company now has a market cap of $13 Billion, representing over one-fourth of the total market cap of the entire Nigerian stock market.

Dangote is able to make money hand-over-fist primarily because there are so few Nigerian cement suppliers to meet the country's increasing demand for construction. He is now wealthier than South African billionaires Nicky Oppenheimer from Debeers and John Rupert, both of whom are white. During my trip to Nigeria in 2009, I noticed that there was a tremendous amount of construction being done in the country, as well as a hunger to understand the principles of entrepreneurship and building a business. I expect the country to continue to grow, assuming that it can deal with itswell-documented corruption problems (for example, I was asked to give an agent money in order to get my bags through airport security).

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Black News: Massive Tsunami Hits Japan

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.

• AP

Houses swallowed by tsunami burn in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck Friday by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast.

Authorities said at least 32 people were killed. The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles from the epicenter.

 

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Watoto from the Nile: I won’t Quit – You Have GOT to see this Adorable Video

 

 

Watch this video from Watoto from the Nile (whose video about Lil Wayne got 750,000 views) tell you why they won’t ever give up in life.  They are quite talented.

Study Finds that a Strong Racial Identity Increases Your Happiness

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

Researchers at Michigan State University have just found that those who identify with their race more strongly than others tend to be happier. The study, which is set to appear in the journal Cultural Diversity and Ethic Minority Psychology, is the first empirical study to document such a relationship.

"This is the first empirical study we know of that shows a relationship between racial identity and happiness," said Stevie C.Y. Yap, who is the lead researcher on the project.
While there have been studies linking racial identity to higher self-esteem, none have actually connected it to happiness. The study surveyed black adults in the state of Michigan. They found that the more the subject identified with being black, or the more important their blackness was to them, the happier they were with life in general.

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Tea Partying Congresswoman Says Obama Runs a “Gangster Government”

 

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

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) is standing by her reference to the Obama Administration as a "gangster government." Bachmann, who is the founder of the Tea Party Caucus, said "I don't take back my statement on gangster government. I think that there have been actions that have been taken by this government that I think are corrupt."
Bachmann's "gangster" assertion relates to $105 billion that was included in the health care law provided for its implementation. She said that the White House should apologize for providing the funding, and accuses the Obama Administration of widespread corruption.

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Dr. Boyce Watkins: Education Does Not Always Lead to a Better Job

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

An economist for whom I have tremendous respect, Paul Krugman, recently wrote a New York Times article which put the debate over education into context. I found the article interesting as I prepare to speak at the National Black Law Students Association Convention with my colleague, Charles Ogletree at Harvard University.
I've been thinking a great deal about how to help our community understand the meaning and value of a good education (here are some of my thoughts on the matter if you're interested). I've preached relentlessly that being well-educated is incredibly important for all of us, and that we should be willing to fight to the end to make sure our kids get what they need from our woefully inadequate school systems. At the same time, my recent appearance at the Black Achievers Banquet in Louisville, Ky led me to conclude that further discussion is necessary. I saw quite a few young people doing amazing things, but it's my hope to help us all understand that an education is not simply a path to getting a job with some corporation that will have you doing meaningless work for your entire life. Sure, that can be part of the plan, but it can't be the entire plan altogether.

 

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Does Rahm Emanuel Have White Privilege that President Obama Can’t Get?

 

A reader on the Black Agenda Report said this about Rahm Emanuel as Mayor of Chicago, comparing him to President Barack Obama.  What do you think?

While I cannot predict exactly what Rahm will do in while he holds office, I can predict what he will NOT do. He will NOT appear in front of a Black audience and brag about how much he upset some members of the Jewish community by paying too much attention to "Black" interests. He will NOT repeat over and over and over again that he is not the "Jewish" or "White" mayor of Chicago. He will NOT make a grand show of avoiding being seen around or with Jewish people or with other White people.

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Group Seeks to Protect the Legacy of the Jonestown Massacre Victims

Dr. Jynona Norwood is on a lifelong mission. The mission is one that is written in the blood and spirit of her own relatives, many of whom died in the infamous Jonestown Massacre 32 years ago. I'll let Dr. Norwood tell the story in her own way, but the massacre went down in history as the largest group of African Americans to die in one incident since slavery. Whites died in the massacre also, but most of those who died were black. Dr. Norwood is seeking to erect a memorial to remember the scores of children who died alongside their parents in this horrific incident, but is encountering resistance. Among the most insulting requests that have been made is that the name of Jim Jones be put right alongside the victims. Personally, I find this to be simply unacceptable. The interview with Dr. Norwood is below:

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Transcript of President Obama’s Speech at Miami Central High School

 

 

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF MIAMI CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Miami Central High School

Miami, Florida

4:00 P.M. EST

     THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Rockets!  (Applause.)  Thank you!  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Everybody, have a seat, have a seat.  Have a seat.  It is good to be here today! (Applause.)  I'm excited!  I am thrilled to be here, Rockets.  Bonswa.  It is good to see all of you.

     I want to, first of all, thank somebody who I think is going to end up being one of the best Education Secretaries that we’ve ever had, Arne Duncan, for being here.  (Applause.)  We also have -- your congresswoman, Frederica Wilson, is here.  Give her a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

 

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Dr. Boyce: 10-Year Old Black Boy Forced to be a Slave in a Simulated Slave Auction

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

A black fifth grader in Gahanna, Ohio was used as a slave in a social studies class in order to teach a lesson to the children.  Since that time, the mother of the boy, Aneka Burton, has demanded an apology, citing the psychological damage that was being done to her child.  The principal at the school, Scott Schmidt of Chapelfield Elementary, called the mother to offer his most sincere apologies for the incident, stating that no harm was intended. 

According to 10-year old Nikko Burton, the students were divided into two groups:  “Slaves” and “masters,” with the other black student in class being made into a master.  The teacher then had the audacity to do a simulated slave auction, which the boy refused to be a part of.   At that point, he was sent back to his desk.

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Black Hollywood’s Continuous Disrespect from the Oscars: Why We Need to Just Let It Go Right Now

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

I don't watch the Oscars, the Academy Awards, or whatever you like to call it. But then again, I never have. While I spent years thinking that perhaps I was the only person not sophisticated enough to appreciate what I deemed to be the most boring night of the year, I then saw data showing that viewership fell again this year, implying that perhaps I am not alone in my disdain. While there are some who watch the show religiously, the truth is that many Americans (especially black folks), would rather watch old MC Hammer videos at the dentist's office than endure the psychological tragedy of being both insulted and bored senseless, all at the same time.

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Black People Can Learn A lot from the Wisconsin Protests

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

The workers of Wisconsin have had it. They are tired of living in a country where jobs are being shipped overseas, and wages continue to decline in real dollar terms. They are not going to tolerate having their collective bargaining power undermined, and they are fed up with politicians who allow the rich to continue to get tax breaks while our state and federal governments become bogged down with debt.

They are taking a stand, sleeping inside the Capital building and practically daring the police to do something about it. They are living up to the truest essence of what America was meant to be. Whether you agree with their mission or not, you absolutely must respect their courage.

 

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ESPN Writer Howard Bryant Says Domestic Assault Arrest was Racially-Motivated

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

ESPN baseball writer Howard Bryant's arrest has now taken a very interesting turn. Buz Eisenberg, the attorney for Bryant, claims that race was a factor in his arrest.
''Mr. Bryant was the victim of excessive force,'' Eisenberg said, according to Recorder.com. ''Police responded to the scene and rather than do an investigation they made an arrest of a black man with a white wife."

Bryant, who is 42-years old, was charged with domestic assault and battery, as well as battery on a police officer. Five witnesses claim that they saw the writer choke his wife and force her into a car. He was freed on $5,000 bail on the same day.
Since the arrest, some things have changed. Bryant's wife, Veronique Bryant, is now claiming that Mr. Bryant never assaulted her. Thus far, ESPN has declined to comment.

Click to read.