Dr. Boyce Watkins and Harvard Prof. Charles Ogletree Talk with Al Sharpton about President Obama’s Policies
Boyce Watkins and Charles Ogletree Appear on Al Sharpton’s Hour of Power
Rev. Jesse Jackson Issues Statement to Dr. Boyce about the Settlement in the Sean Bell Shooting
To hear what other black public figures had to say, please click here.
The family of Sean Bell has stood tall during this tragic and difficult ordeal and for that they should be commended. Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network should also be commended as well for their continuous pursuit to seek justice. I continue to pray for the families of Sean Bell, Joseph Guzmen and Trent Benefield.
The pattern of police shooting unarmed innocent black men is becoming all too common. However, it magnifies symptoms of a deeper problem of insensitivity and detachment within police departments across the country.
Today it is clearer than ever that we need vigorous action by local and state authorities and the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce civil rights laws, EEOC, contract compliance and affirmative action. I hope the President and his administration will address these issues head-on to deal with issues surrounding equal protection under the law for all Americans.
Dr. Boyce Watkins: Prominent Black Leaders Speak on the Sean Bell Settlement
From Dr. Boyce Watkins: Most of you know what I think about the Sean Bell shooting and subsequent settlement. But I reached out to a few of my friends to get their takes on the situations. You can read their comments below:
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson: I am glad that the City of New York will pay the family of Mr. Bell – and Mr. Guzman and Mr. Benefield – for the egregious injustice of Bell’s death and the shootings of Guzman and Benefield by undercover cops. The Bell murder highlights the need for the end to racial profiling of minorities and police brutality against blacks. While the condition of the settlement precludes admission of wrongdoing, we all know that vicious racist practices often have lethal consequences for minority citizens. I pray this settlement helps the families and reminds us of the need for true justice.
Rev. Al Sharpton: National Action Network and I have said from the moment we were called the day Sean Bell was killed and Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield were wounded that we would stand by the family no matter what. Nicole Paultre Bell has to labor to raise two children with no father and to provide for them and Joseph Guzman still carries bullets in his body and may never be able to work a regular job. Trent Benefield carries scars for life.
The settlement must all provide for their families but this in no way mitigates or repairs the permanent damage done to them and the pain it has caused them forever nor does it diminish the outrage in the community. We will always pursue justice for the family of Sean Bell, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield."
Dr. Julianne Malveaux: What is the price of a life? The $7 million settlement in the Sean Bell case offers relief to an aggrieved family and rights a wrong. It also raises issues about the ways that law enforcement personnel interact with the African American community. Bell was at the cusp of an exciting life, on the eve of his wedding day. He should not have died, and the life in this settlement caution for each of us to take care of all of us and to be cautious and careful about the meaning of life. Both bullets and assumptions killed Sean Bell. Neither assault is acceptable
Black Farmers Still Wait for Compensation
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Scholarship in Action
Black farmers across the United States have been the victims of systematic discrimination for several decades. This has been proven in court, and the United States Department of Agriculture has agreed to pay a $1.25 billion dollar settlement. What is saddest about the settlement, however, is that Congress has not yet approved the funds. This is another form of racism that the farmers must face, since their justice is being consistently denied by government officials who are insistent upon remaining stubborn.
The USDA came under increased scrutiny recently in the unjust firing of Shirley Sherrod. I am hopeful that the sloppy handling of the Sherrod incident is not indicative of the way the USDA does business. In fact, groups have been calling for the firing of the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. At the very least, the way Ms. Sherrod has been treated should be a lightning rod to bring the plight of black farmers to the surface of our collective conscience.
Why Would the Cavs Owner Call LeBron a Coward?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
The world stopped spinning for just a few minutes last night, as it was announced that LeBron James will now become a member of the Miami Heat. The move didn’t surprise hardly anyone, but everyone seemed to keep hope that perhaps he might choose their city. I am sure James lost sleep over this move, as the humble athlete seems like the kind of guy who remains very loyal to his friends. The problem is that some seem to mistake his kindness for weakness.
In an open letter about the signing, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert calls LeBron James’ move "a shocking act of disloyalty." He even goes further to say that LeBron’s decision to move to Miami was "the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn."
Gilbert, give me a break. Are you a businessman who understands how this all works, or are you a whining three-year old who gets angry because he doesn’t get his own way? The truth is that LeBron had to make a business decision, and you are showing your own immaturity and lack of loyalty by bashing a guy who gave you seven years of his life. He should never have been in your city in the first place, since we all knew that LeBron’s talent has always been meant for a bigger stage. In fact, LeBron gave up at least $100 million dollars in endorsement deals by staying in the city of Cleveland.
Woman Eats Her Child’s Brain? Mental Health and Criminal Justice Systems Failed Her
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
This week, a woman in Texas cut off the head of her three week old baby and ate part of his brain. What’s even more shocking about this terrible story is that she won’t get any jail time for it.
Otty Sanchez, a 34-year old, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of her child, Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez. Prosecutors accepted the plea deal after learning that the woman thought that the devil made her kill her child.
The baby was found in a bedroom with three of his toes chewed off, his head severed and his brain ripped out. Police are saying that the child’s mother ate the boy’s toes and a piece of the brain before stabbing herself in the chest and throat. In the 911 call made by her sister, Sanchez can be heard in the background screaming, “I didn’t wanna do it! He told me to!"
Why Lebron James Needs to Go to Miami
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
I wanted to make a quick note on why LeBron James should and probably will end up playing for the Miami Heat. Now that his homeboys Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade have decided to play together, LeBron has a choice of either joining the club or fighting it. While Chicago, New York and New Jersey provide viable options for James, the truth is that James probably sees the kind of empire he could build in Miami with two great players who are equally committed to winning.
Chris Bosh reportedly gave up $30 million to play in Miami, which argues that he is a man of principle. Wade is also a proven winner, known for going above and beyond when necessary to find a way to win. These are the guys that LeBron would want to play with, and these are NOT the guys he’d like to play against.
My prediction? LeBron ends up in Miami and a dynasty begins.
Here are a couple of other possibilities:
Black Female Unemployment Drops Big Time
Black Women Get Good News about Unemployment Again
- Black women have some reason to celebrate amid the dismal employment numbers in our economy. In … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jul 4th 2010 9:41AM | Comments (0)
Press Rewind — Hollywood’s Racial Miscastings, 30 Ways to Sign LeBron + More
- Hollywood has a history of questionable casting choices when it comes to race. The recent … Read More
- By Journey Ade on Jul 3rd 2010 5:30PM | Comments (1)
Dave Chappelle’s Strange Behavior on an Airplane: What’s Up Dave?
- What’s the deal with Dave Chappelle? According to TMZ, Chapelle was reportedly acting strange on a … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jul 3rd 2010 4:18PM | Comments (8)
Rick Ross Responds to Lawsuit Filed by Drug Dealer Ricky Ross
- The rapper Rick Ross has finally decided to respond to the $10 million lawsuit filed by Freeway … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jul 3rd 2010 3:50PM | Comments (3)
Snapshot: Janet Jackson Shows Up & Out At 2010 Essence Music Festival
- Janet Jackson showed her ass at the Louisiana Superdome last night. Literally. The Grammy … Read More
- By Karu F. Daniels on Jul 3rd 2010 12:12PM | Comments (9)
Dave Chappelle’s Odd Behavior: How it’s Destroying His Brand
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
What’s the deal with Dave Chappelle? According to TMZ, Chapelle was reportingly acting strange on a private jet, so much so that the jet had to make an emergency landing in Pittsburgh. Their source is stating that the flight was headed from New Jersey to Ohio and that Chappelle "freaked out" refusing to put on his seatbelt.
The source also says that Chappelle repeatedly walked into the cockpit, asking the pilot how much longer the flight would be, and even grabbed the pilot’s arms. That is when it was allegedly determined that Chappelle was a safety risk, and the flight was grounded.
TMZ then claims that after landing, Chappelle checked into a hotel. However, sources at the hotel are claiming that Dave told the employees that he wanted to rent a car to go back to Ohio, but that he didn’t remember where he lived.
I’m not sure what the deal is with Dave Chappelle, one of the most talented and privileged comedians in America. He had the world at his feet, with a hit show and a $50 million contract to do what he does best. It does appear, however, that there is something inside Chappelle that simply can’t handle fame.
Dr. Boyce discusses the BET Awards
Author and Finance Professor at Syracuse University
Why there should be a black backlash against BET
10:43 AM on 06/28/2010
OPINION – Through the years, the BET Awards have become a staple of unhealthy and counter-productive broken black family fun…
Report: Tiger’s Divorce About to be Finalized – Wife is Set to get Serious Money
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
Radaronline is reporting that Tiger Woods’ divorce is about to be signed and finalized. The most shocking part of the report is that there are claims that Woods’ wife is set to get $750 million out of the settlement. There is no clear indication of who might get the kids out of the divorce or whether there is a confidentiality agreement, but the possibility that Elin Nordegren may walk away with $750 million is incredibly shocking.
"When they first started negotiating the divorce, it was very acrimonious," the source told RadarOnline.com. "Elin had a lawyer in California who was very, very aggressive."
Here are some quick thoughts about the Tiger Woods divorce:
1) Do prenuptial agreements not work anymore? Didn’t Tiger’s wife sign a prenup, and would it have been a crime for Elin to walk away with a clean $40 million for five years of "hard work?"
Rappers Sue Each Other, Rev. Al is Angry
Suge Knight, Kanye West: Lawsuit, Guns and Money
- It appears that Kanye West and the infamous Marion "Suge" Knight are getting together to work out … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 6:36PM | Comments (0)
How Love and Money Mix and How You Can Do it the Right Way
- I did the interview below on CNN Radio this week about love and money. Most of us know the feeling … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 4:45PM | Comments (1)
Black Single Mothers and Dating: What’s It Really Like?
- In this episode of ‘Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices,’ we discuss black single mothers … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 3:54PM | Comments (0)
Should Facebook Be Held Accountable for Murders by Members?
- A man was sent to prison after he did the unthinkable: He pretended to be a teenager, lured a young … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 3:42PM | Comments (1)
Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Discuss the Plight of the Black Male
- Every week, I speak with Rev. Al Sharpton on various issues that affect the African American … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 9:45AM | Comments (6)
Obama’s Fatherhood.gov Commercial: Too Feminine for Black Men?
- On Father’s Day, I wrote about the immense thrill of being a dad. This is one of the reasons I … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 9:30AM | Comments (8)
BP Chooses a Black Man to Head its Claims Process
- "BP is paying all the bills right now," Darryl Willis, the vice president of resources for BP … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 7:50AM | Comments (1)
Son of Dallas Police Chief Suspected in Killing a Cop
- Investigators are saying that the 27-year-old son of Dallas Police Chief David Brown shot and … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:38PM | Comments (2)
The Latest from Dr. Boyce on AOL – 6/21/10
Son of Dallas Police Chief Suspected in Killing a Cop
- Investigators are saying that they believe that the 27-year old son of Dallas Police Chief David … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:38PM | Comments (0)
Is Obama’s Mortgage Modification Program Failing?
- More than 1/3 of the 1.24 million borrowers who’ve enrolled in President Obama’s mortgage … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:07PM | Comments (0)
Michael Jackson’s Estate Earned $783 Million Since His Death
- Since his sudden heart attack last year, Michael Jackson has raked in big money. In the last year, … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:50PM | Comments (3)
Will Tiger Woods’ Video Game Sell Like it Did in the Past?
- Tiger Woods 2011 has gotten outstanding reviews from critics, who say that the game presents a … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:11PM | Comments (1)
Hallmark Greeting Card Gets Accused of Corporate Racism
- I’ve seen misunderstandings in my day and then I’ve seen mega-misunderstandings. The most recent … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:04PM | Comments (2)
How to Save Your Money: 5 Steps to Getting it Right
- This week, I’ve been busy shooting an MSNBC special on money management. So, because this is on my … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 11:29AM | Comments (2)
Financial Lovemaking: AOL BV Poll Results on Black Women, Dating
- Last week, I had to step back to make sure I wasn’t creating a firestorm with the article I wrote … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 10:04AM | Comments (0)
Black Businesswoman Danielle Douglas and Dr. Boyce Talk Business
- Danielle Douglas is not your typical businesswoman. She has climbed the corporate ladder, with … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 7:06AM | Comments (2)
Tiger Woods Sex Scandals Cost Him $25 Million in Endorsements
- It’s being reported that the company which represents golf superstar Tiger Woods lost $4.6 million … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 10:21PM | Comments (4)
Black Scholar: Black Athletes Exploited Physically, Intellectually by NCAA
- Professor Billy Hawkins of The University of Georgia has released a controversial new book that … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 2:33PM | Comments (17)
Dr. Boyce and Lady Drama Discuss Wendy Williams, Hip-Hop and More
- I have a great deal of respect for Lady Drama, aka Ebony Garris. Lady Drama, in case you don’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 12:10AM | Comments (2)
Foreclosure Epidemic Hits Minority Communities Hardest
- A recent study by the Center for Responsible Lending has confirmed what you probably already … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 4:04PM | Comments (20)
Black Republican: King’s Statement About Obama Favoring Blacks Was Right
- Isaiah McGee, an Iowa-based African American commentator, businessman and politician, is a … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 3:02PM | Comments (27)
The Black Church Keeps Black Women Single and Lonely?
- In my book "Financial Lovemaking 101," one of the topics of discussion is the economic benefit of … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 11:24AM | Comments (140)
Parliament-Funkadelic Guitarist Garry Shider Dies
- Garry Shider, the musical director for Parliament-Funkadelic, was known for having the funkiest … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 10:27AM | Comments (10)
Dr. Boyce Watkins: What Black Fathers Must Do Right Now
by Dr. Boyce Watkins – The Institute for Black Public Policy
Father’s Day usually occurs on my birthday, which is both exciting and a little bit sad. With each birthday, I feel like I’m on a slow ship to an unforeseen destination, with each birthday reminding me that I’ve passed another landmark. I keep wondering why birthdays show up around the same time every year, and I’m still hopeful that the trend will discontinue at some point. Wait, let me rephrase that…..if my birthdays stop coming then I’ll be, well….. you know.
At any rate, when my birthday hits, doubled-up with Father’s Day, I am led to evaluate my life and myself. I evaluate my life to see if I am the same man this year that I was last year; the truth is that I should have grown in some meaningful way or achieved something positive. I also evaluate myself as a father to see if I am getting at least a little bit better at making myself the kind of man that my kids need me to be.
The NCAA is In Need of Serious Reform
Dr. Boyce Watkins – The Institute of Black Public Policy
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.
Dr. Boyce Watkins, Scholarship in Action – 6/15/10
Brought to you by The Great Black Black Speakers Bureau, the #1 Black Speakers Bureau in the world. To join the Your Black World coalition, please visit YourBlackWorld.com.
Hey peeps,
Rev. Al Sharpton and I are going to be on MSNBC Thursday morning at 10 am – don’t forget that you can also hear us on his radio show every Monday at 1:15 pm EST (SharptonTalk.net). Also, to all the high school graduates out there, I want to encourage you to do the following: 1) Value education more than anything – it’s probably the most important thing you’ll ever have (so get as much of it as you can), 2) Pursue your goals relentless – working consistently toward something for 5 – 10 hours a day will always yield results, 3) Think like bosses, not laborers – get a great job, but eventually work to put yourself in a position to create jobs by owning your own business and financial assets, 4) Remember that life is a journey of love – money and career mean very little compared to how you treated the people you care about. Life is too short to be mediocre – always do your best.
Dr. Boyce
Dr. Boyce Video — What the Hayell? What Is Wrong With T-Pain?
- I don’t dislike T-Pain, but I can say that I dislike his music. At that the same time, I can’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 15th 2010 12:30PM | Comments (0)
Former NBA Star Antoine Walker Faces 12 Years in Prison
- A judge ruled that former NBA star Antoine Walker must stand trial over unpaid gambling debts. … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 11:55PM | Comments (3)
Dr. Boyce Video: Images of the Black Woman in Media and Business
- Today I had the opportunity to speak with four interesting and empowered black women: Michaela … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 6:46PM | Comments (3)
Black Male Sets Trends in Finance: Houston Has More than Rappers
- This week, we’ve heard plenty about Slim Thug, a rapper out of Houston who is making noise with his … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 4:16PM | Comments (2)
Why the Hip-Hop Industry Doesn’t Support Female Artists
- I met spoken-word hip-hop artist Shanelle Walker when I went to give a speech at Kentucky State … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 2:19PM | Comments (5)
Financial Lovemaking: Diddy’s Son Gets $360K Car — Too Much?
- Some of us turned our heads to the side when it was reported that the rapper and businessman Diddy … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 10:34AM | Comments (3)
South African Horns Criticized During World Cup
What do the Vuvuzelas sound like – are they really that bad?
Posted by Staffat 9:32 PM0 comments
Anita Baker Accused of Butchering the National Anthem
What do you think? ;
Posted by Staffat 9:23 PM0 comments
Rapper Vigalantee Raps about Black Women
Check out the new joint by Vigalantee, celebrating the black woman.
Posted by Staffat 9:15 PM0 comments
Did This Officer Just Punch this Black Woman in the Face? Was this Police Brutality or Resisting Arrest?
Slim Thug Attempts to Defend His Comments about Black Women
- Many of you may already know about the "interesting" comments made by the rapper Slim Thug, and … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 13th 2010 12:13PM | Comments (10)
NFL Player Reggie Wayne Sues Mistress for Charging Up Credit Card
- NFL star Reggie Wayne is finding out the hard way that giving your credit card number out to anyone … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 13th 2010 10:01AM | Comments (12)
Dr. Boyce: How the Lakers-Celtics Rivalry Saved the NBA Both 30 Years Ago and Today
The NBA finals are not what you think. You see, you’re watching the finals hoping that either the Lakers or the Celtics win, and wondering whether Kobe Bryant can outscore Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the army of tall brothers that Boston is flying across the country to conquer Los Angeles. That is not, my friends, the first thing on the mind NBA Commissioner David Stern.
First of all, Stern is wondering why LeBron James isn’t here. Most of us expected, to the disdain of every other talented player in the league, that this would be the year that LeBron would take his rightful place on the Post-Jordan throne. The natural and inevitable coronation of King James was part of the NBA marketing strategy, thus allowing Stern and company to make even bigger money in the Chinese market, where the fans want to see their All Stars become champions. As we all know, it didn’t happen.
The second thought on Stern’s very sharp mind is that the finals he got this year, a renewal of the historic rivalry between the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, is just as good, or better than what he would have gotten had King James shown up to play. You see, there’s history here, and most of the relevant history isn’t about wins and losses on the court.
NJ Officer Taped Spraying Pepper Spray in Detained Black Man’s Face
- I am not quite sure what to make of the ruffled YouTube video that is now scouring the web out of … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 12th 2010 8:40PM | Comments (63)
Brian McKnight Ruled to Have Fathered 14-Yr Old: Owes $341,640: All About Black Daddies
- It appears that the singer Brian McKnight is now a not-so-proud father. Well, the child isn’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 12th 2010 12:53PM | Comments (14)
What does Barack Obama Have in Common with 50 Cent?
Check out Barack & Curtis, a new documentary by Byron Hurt
Posted by Staffat 12:38 PM0 comments
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2010
Paterson NJ Cop Videotaped While Macing a Black Man
This video is storming the web – a cop in Paterson, NJ is caught on tape macing a black man on the ground. ;
The Age of the Hoochie Mama is Over: It’s Time for Hip Hop to Grow Up
Lil Wayne disrespects women because he’s allowed to.
In 2004, the women at Spelman College told the rapper Nelly to take a hike for sliding a credit card through a woman’s backside. The women told Nelly to take his music elsewhere, and his concert was cancelled. I thought that after this incident, women across America would slide their own credit card in the other direction, away from the record stores and websites used to purchase music from artists who make it their mission in life to disrespect black women. I have to admit that I was wrong.
What has always amazed me is the fact that we have trained young people to endure and embrace consistent disrespect from rappers like Slim Thug, who recently stated that white women are a far better choice for relationships, and Lil Wayne, who has done everything in his power to show just how little regard he has for African American females. Wayne even has a song called Alphabet B*tches, which isn’t exactly like the ABCs you learned in preschool. For some reason, we all keep dancing to the beat and showing up for concerts, reminding the artist that freedom of speech is in full effect, no matter how harmful that speech may be.
This message was sent from Dr. Boyce Watkins: Your Black World to bwatkins@twcny.rr.com. It was sent from: Dr. Boyce Watkins, 23F Queens Way, Camillus, ny 13031. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.
What are the Images of Black Women in Media? Dr. Boyce Show
Dr. Boyce Watkins Show – AOL
Today I had the opportunity to speak with four interesting and empowered black women: Michaela Angela Davis(founding Editor of Vibe Magazine), Christina Mendez (well-known plus size model), Dr. Catrice Austin (owner of VIP Smiles, Celebrity dentist), and Alisha Crutchfield(celebrity stylist and Fashion Director for the Miss Universe pageant).
Why Are Women Excluded from Hip Hop?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
I met spoken-word hip hop artist Shanelle Walker when I went to give a speech atKentucky State University. Shanelle sent me a video of a rhyme she recited in honor of President Barack Obama. I was instantly floored by the performance, since I found her to be an incredibly powerful artist.
But Shanelle’s performance led me to consider broader concerns, such as why there are so few women in the hip-hop industry. I remain confused that women are not given a chance to shine in a field dominated by men. While hip-hop has historically been the channel designed to give a voice to urban America, women have been effectively left out. While I’ve certainly spoken my piece on how hip hop needs to change, here are some reasons I believe women are missing:
1) The hypermasculinity of hip-hop: By becoming so masculine and sexualized, the music doesn’t give women opportunities that don’t involve a G-string. I look forward to the day when the culture is not driven by who gets shot the most and who does the best job of proving that he’s a goon. That might actually lead to better music, since right now, many hip-hop artists come off like World Wrestling Entertainment characters. It’s O.K. for an artist to also be a human-being.
Slim Thug Attempts to Defend His Comments about Black Women
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
Many of you may already know about the "interesting" comments made by the rapperSlim Thug, and his frustration about the lack of loyalty among black women. His comments were met with resistance by myself and Dr. Marc Lamont Hill from Columbia University, who gave him the stable advice to keep his mouth shut. I say that "Slim Thugga" needs to be quiet, not because he’s wrong, but because this is a battle he can’t win and still sell records. Getting every black woman in America to hate you is simply not good for business. Even Talib Kweli, a fellow hip hop artist, had something to say about Slim Thug’s remarks.
On his twitter page, Slim Thug went out of his way to try to protect his image in the face of all the backlash:
Officer Taped Spraying Black Man in the Face
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
I am not quite sure what to make of the ruffled YouTube video that is now scouring the web out of Paterson, New Jersey. In the video, the woman filming, who mentions that her mother works in the sheriff’s office, is taping a New Jersey police officer holding a black man to the ground. The man clearly has his hands behind his back and appears to be restrained.
As the woman videos the incident from a distance, the officer inexplicably grabs the man, turns him around and puts pepper spray into his eyes. He appears to do it twice.
The Latest – 6/12/10
Gary Coleman’s Wife Continues to Be More and More Suspicious
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
I was saddened to see that 1980s icon Gary Coleman died just a few days ago. What’s even sadder is that…
Keep Reading »
Alvin Greene is the Political Candidate that Everyone Knows All About
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
I’ve seen the media dance around the obvious when it comes to the peculiar candidacy of Alvin Greene, the South…
Keep Reading »
Rapper Nicki Minaj Gets Sued Over Payments on a Lamborghini
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The Latest from Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL – 6/12/10
NBA Gets High Marks for Diversity in Annual Report Card
- According to Professor Richard Lapchick, author of the recent Racial and Gender Report Card for … Read More
- By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 12th 2010 11:20AM | Comments (0)
Obama’s "Angry Black Man" Criticism: Isn’t He Also Half White?
- In light of all of the interesting analysis that others have done regarding why President Barack … Read More
- By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 9th 2010 9:36PM | Comments (34)
CNN Asks Why Black Men Are Not Graduating From College
- Richelle Carey at CNN Headline News recently reached out to me to find out why black men aren’t … Read More
- By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 5th 2010 4:24PM | Comments (32)
Dwyane Wade Given Temporary Custody of His Sons
- NBA star Dwyane Wade’s divorce just got a little uglier. This week, the court gave Wade custody … Read More
- By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 4th 2010 8:51AM | Comments (33)
Could LeBron James’ Mother Rumors Push Him Out of Cleveland?
- The world seems to be buzzing incessantly about the statements made by former NBA great Calvin … Read More
- By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on May 24th 2010 10:41PM | Comments (4)
Slim Thug and his comments about black women continue to get the artist into trouble. Is he going to lose big money because of this?
NBA Gets a Good Diversity Report Card
To view the entire report card for the NBA on race and gender, Please click here
Highlights from the Report (released by the press representative for the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport):
· In the NBA, 82 percent of the players were people of color, remaining constant from last year’s totals. This ties the highest percentage of players of color since the 1994-95 season. The percentage of African-American players also remained constant from last year’s report at 77 percent. The percentage of Latinos and Asians remained constant, at three and one percent respectively. The percentage of international players stayed steady as well at 18 percent.
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THE INSTITUTE OF THE BLACK WORLD PRESENTS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE SHIRLEY CHISHOLM PRESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION
FRIDAY JUNE 18, 2010
Black America: The Economic State of Emergency
Rayburn House Office Building ROOM 2237
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Opening Ceremony
Welcome-Rick Adams* , Chair of the IBW Board of Directors and Convener for the Commission
Overview and Introduction of the Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission Members Dr. Ron Daniels*, President of IBW
Opening remarks-Dr. Elsie Scott* President Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Greetings- Hon. John Conyers*, Member of Congress
Greetings-Hon Barbara Lee*, Member of Congress
Citation in Memory of Shirley Chisholm-
1- 2:30 PM Public Panel One: The Human Face of the Economic Crisis
Moderator- Attorney Nkechi Taifa*-Senior Policy Analyst, Open Society Foundation, Washington, DC
Mr. Walter Fields* -Executive Editor, North Star News, Newark, New Jersey
Dedrick Muhammad*- Senior Organizer and Research Associate for the Program on Inequality and the Common Good, Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, DC
Ms. Faye Moore*- President, Social Services Employees Union Local 371, New York, New York
2:30- 4 PM Public Panel Two: Legislative and Policy Solutions to the Economic Crisis
Moderator- Dr. Duchess Harris*- Associate Professor, American Studies, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
Dr Ron Walters*- Pre-eminent political scientist, author, distinguished leadership scholar, College Park, MD
Dr. Julianne Malveaux*- President, Bennett College for Women, economist, author, commentator, Founder & Thought Leader of Last Word Productions, Inc, Bennett College, Greensboro, NC
Erica L. Williams*- Deputy Director for Progress 2050, Center for American Progress, Washington DC
4 PM Closing Remarks
(The people with a (*) by their name are confirmed.)
Rick Adams, Chair Institute of the Black World (IBW)
Convener, Chisholm Presidential Commission Contact: 412-580-8084
Dr. Ron Daniels, Founder, Institute of the Black World (IBW)
President of IBW., Contact 718-533-1624
Teenage Boy Beaten by Police in Indianapolis
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News: Oscar Grant Trial Has No African American Jurors
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
On New Year’s day of 2009, Oscar Grant was shot in Oakland, California. The shooter was a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officer by the name of Johannes Mehserle. Grant was 22-years old at the time of his death, and the shooting was captured by cell phone cameras and disseminated throughout the Internet. Adding insult to injury, the Grant family just found that there will be no African American jurors in the trial of grant’s shooter.
Jack Bryson, whose sons were with Grant the night he was killed, was angry about the jury selection.
"This is like a slap in the face," Bryson told The Associated Press. "This case came all the way to Los Angeles after the judge in Alameda County said they couldn’t get a fair and impartial jury there.
"This is the best you can do, and you did this in two days. We could’ve stayed back in Oakland for this."
UNC Scholar Outraged Over Exclusion of Black Professors
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Dr. M. Cookie Newsom
is the Director for Diversity Education and Assessment at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a trouble maker and an angry black woman, which is likely going to cause her serious problems with her colleagues (we talked yesterday about how being angry can get a black person into serious trouble). Dr. Newsom, however, has good reason to be angry. In a recent interview with Diverse issues in Higher Education, Dr. Newsom stated in plain language that most major universities are not serious about diversifying their faculty and that this hurts all students, especially students of color.
"The dismal truth is academe doesn’t really want a racially-diverse faculty," Newsom said during a faculty diversity presentation at the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) annual national conference in Washington, D.C. "It’s totally a myth."
Dr. Newson based her conclusions on statistics and data she collected which shows that most major universities are good at documenting plans to increase faculty diversity, but most of it’s nothing but lip service.
Dr. Boyce Watkins: Talib Kweli Weighs in on Slim Thug’s Remarks about Black Women
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
A note to Slim Thug: You probably just need to be quiet for a while. It’s not to say thatyour comments about black women were outside your rights to freedom of speech, but if you keep dissing the audience most likely to go out and buy your records, you are probably going to end up in the same poorhouse as MC Hammer. Don’t get me wrong, black men love your music (at least I do), but the bottom line is that brothers don’t buy albums, books, or anything else put up for sale. But when black women turn on you, it’s a wrap son. Settle down and go back to the studio; it’s good for your financial health.
I wrote yesterday about the comments made by Slim Thug regarding how he perceives white women to be a better dating choice than black women, as well asColumbia Professor Marc Lamont Hill’sresponse to Slim Thug’s words. It seems that the debate has taken a life of it’s own, now that rapper Talib Kweli has joined the conversation. In a recent essay he wrote for Vibe Magazine, Talib Kweli was ever the diplomatic artist, as he showed respect for Slim Thug, but also expressed his own concerns for his colleague’s remarks about black women:
To read more about the debate regarding Slim Thug’s comments about black women, click here.
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Is Barack Obama at Risk of Being Labeled an "Angry Black Man?"
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Black Professor Responds to Rapper’s Critique of Black Women
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
When I recently read the open letter to the rapper Slim Thug(pictured above), written by Columbia Professor Marc Lamont Hill (pictured below), I was concerned. I love "Slim Thugger" and his musical brilliance, but putting him in an intellectual toe-to-toe with one of the most brilliant young scholars in America is like puttingLennox Lewis in a boxing match with Beyonce. Marc is my boy, and incredibly sharp, and I would encourage him to pick on someone his own intellectual size. Simultaneously, I encourage Slim Thug to quietly walk away and shut up. He needs to stay in the booth and use his intellect for something other than ridiculous social commentary.
But Slim Thug asked for his public butt whooping, after engaging in one of the most feeble and misguided critiques of the African-American woman that I’ve heard in quite a while. Even for a rapper, he sounded as if he needed to be educated on what black women are all about. Here are Slim’s words, "straight out of the negro’s mouth":
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No More Arizona News for a While, Please
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Forgive me for saying this, but part me of is getting sick of hearing about Arizona. Most states only get a few days in the news cycle, but since the politicians in Arizona were crazy enough to pass a law to stifle illegal immigration in their state, our news has been seemingly flooded with one story after another about Arizona: A politician in Arizona has links to the KKK, Arizona changes its textbooks to downplay people of color, brown faces are lightened up on a mural in Arizona. It never seems to stop.
OK, I think I get the point: Arizona is a state with racist policies, at least more racist than most. Can we try to move onto something else now?
This isn’t to say that there is not a level of seriousness to the illegal immigration situation in Arizona. We’ve figured that out. The federal government has long refused to properly enforce immigration laws, and the residents of Arizona came up with their own response, one that threatens to undermine the civil rights of every black and brown person in the state. Got it.
To some extent, the national attack on the state of Arizona smells a bit like political narcissism. The collective outrage that some have expressed over the civil liberties issues in the Arizona immigration law has been hardly present during other more serious racial atrocities that have occurred over the past 20 years.
The sense of urgency that President Obama had about the passage of the state’s new immigration law has never been matched when confronting the fact that the United States incarcerates over five times more black men than South Africa did during the height of apartheid. Attorney General Eric Holder’s investigation into the legality of Arizona’s political decisions was never preceded by a similar investigation into the civil rights abuses of unequal funding for inner city public schools. It seems that when civil liberties of a broad Latino base were attacked, the whole country went up in arms. But when black folks have been getting abused, our needs have been put at the bottom of the to-do list.
Group of African American Scholars Go Hard Against Henry Louis Gates
Statement by the Committee to Advance the Movement for Reparations
We, the undersigned, take strong exception to the Op-Ed, “Ending the Slavery Blame-Game,” published in the New York Times, April 23, 2010 by Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. There are gross errors, inaccuracies and misrepresentations in Gates’ presentation of the transatlantic European enslavement system. Moreover, we are duly concerned about his political motivations and find offensive his use of the term “blame game.” It trivializes one of the most heinous crimes against humanity—the European enslavement of African people. Gates contradicts his stated purpose of “ending” what he refers to as a “blame-game,” by erroneously making African rulers and elites equally responsible with European and American enslavers. He shifts the “blame” in a clear attempt to undermine the demand for reparations.
The African Holocaust or Maafa, as it is referred to by many, is a crime against humanity and is recognized as such by the United Nations, scholars, and historians who have documented the primary and overwhelming culpability of European nations for enslavement in Europe, in the Americas and elsewhere. In spite of this overwhelming documentation, Gates inexplicably shifts the burden of culpability to Africans who were and are its victims. The abundance of scholarly work also affirms that Europeans initiated the process, established the global infrastructure for enslavement, and imposed, financed and defended it, and were the primary beneficiaries of it in various ways through human trafficking itself, banking, insurance, manufacturing, farming, shipping and allied enterprises.
Black News: Killer of Three Black College Students Gets 30-years to Life
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, The Institute for Black Public Policy
Nearly three years ago, two black college students and a friend were murdered in a schoolyard in Newark, NJ. Monday, a jury returned guilty verdicts for three of the murders and one attempted murder after deliberating for less than a day.
Rodolfo Godinez, a 26-year old gang member and native of Nicaragua, was convicted of all charges against him, including multiple counts of robbery, weapons possession and conspiracy. He can get up to 30 years to life for each murder count, and the sentences can be given out consecutively.
"This man will never see the light of day," said Robert D. Laurino, the acting Essex County prosecutor.
Sentencing for Godinez is set for July 8. His lawyer, Roy Greenman, said,"Obviously, there will be an appeal on a number of grounds," but he declined to state the grounds on which he’d be filing.
The prosecution did not assert that Godinez was the one who hacked at the victims with a machete or shot each of them execution-style, in the back of the head. He was argued, however, to be the one who summoned the other gang members to the schoolyard on the night when the murders took place. The murders were particularly chilling because all four of the victims were "good kids" with no criminal history and educational plans for the future.
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Dr. Julianne Malveaux Speaks on Financial Regulatory Reform
Financial Reform-The Devil’s In The Details
By Julianne Malveaux
Late last week, the United States Senate passed a financial reform bill by a vote of 59-39. Two Democrats crossed party lines, as did four Republicans to come up with the result. Now, the House, which has already passed financial reform legislation, and the Senate, will have to reconcile their versions of the bill. Now is the time for consumer advocates and others to counter the aggressive lobbying that will be done by banks and the auto industry to minimize the effects of legislation. This may also be an opportunity for the Congressional Black Caucus to raise its voice on the side of the many consumers who have been damaged by this financial crisis. While legislation is not meant to look backwards, but instead forward to prevent future crises, the CBC are among those who advocate for the least and the left out. Their perspective on financial regulation is badly needed.
The House would create a consumer protection agency that is freestanding; the Senate would house the agency inside the Federal Reserve Bank. In some ways having the Fed run consumer protection is like having the fox patrol the chicken coop. Isn’t this the same Fed that was part and parcel of the 2008 financial meltdown, the same Fed (then led by Alan Greenspan) that turned a blind eye to predatory and sub-prime lending and the market distortions that emerged from the packaging of substandard loan paper? The Federal Reserve theoretically already deals with regulation around credit cards and mortgages and to date they’ve not done a good job. What will change when they now have a consumer protection agency? Hearings, anyone?
The Latest from Dr. Boyce, AOL and MSNBC – 5/21/10
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Dr. Boyce on MSNBC: Good ol fashioned Kentucky Racism of Rand Paul and the Tea Partiers – Click to watch
From the Kirwan Institute for the study of race and ethnicity – The Ohio State University
Before you convict Lawrence Taylor for rape, consider this
As the father of three girls, I am not interested in defending a standard racist, statutory rapist, child molester or sexual predator. I don’t even like fellow college professors who think it’s O.K. to sleep with their students (I lost respect for a colleague over a case like this a few…
MAY 21ST, 2010 | AFRICAN AMERICANS, FEATURED | READ MORE
Dr. Boyce on MSNBC’s TheGrio.com
I don’t dislike Rand Paul, the Republican candidate for Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seat. He claims to believe in freedom, and he’s from Kentucky, just like me. But growing up under the fist of Kentucky racism affected me, and Rand Paul reminds me of the men and women who hurt me the most.
Paul is a member of the Tea Party and a political star. He mobilized more Republican voters for his primary than any candidate in the history of Kentucky, and he may even one day challenge Mitch McConnell for the Senate Republican leadership. His views are fresh and new, in a subtly racist sort of way, and he’s a perfect fit for the anti-Obama climate that has led to our nation’s racial roaches coming out of the closet.
Paul took some heat for comments he made about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is politically sacred ground that even his fellow Republicans won’t touch. The firestorm started when Paul said that it should be ok for restaurant owners to discriminate if they choose to do so. In other words, if Woolworth’s had not wanted Dr. King at their lunch counter, they should have been allowed to turn him away. But he then went on to say that any business receiving federal funding should not be allowed to engage in discrimination, that Martin Luther King is one of his heroes, and that he understands the fact that racism in America has become systematic.
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Dr. Julianne Malveaux Questions the Elena Kagan Nomination
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Black Women Feel Replaced by Elena Kagan on the Supreme Court
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Black Leaders Dance Around Kagan
by Faye Anderson
It’s Election Day in Pennsylvania, where voters will decide whether Democrat-turned-Republican-turned Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter stays or, as expected, gets the boot.
Specter’s primary opponent, Rep. Joe Sestak, hammered him for voting against Elena Kagan’s nomination as Solicitor General of the United States.
In a floor speech on March 19, 2009, Specter said:
I have gone to really great lengths to find out about Dean Kagan’s approach to the law and approach to the job of Solicitor General and to get some of her ideas on the law because she’s in a critical public policy making position… We had an extensive hearing where I questioned her at some length. Written questions were submitted and she responded to them. I was not satisfied with the answers which were given and when her name came before the Committee, I passed.
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Teacher Uses Obama Assassination as Geometry Example
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
A teacher in Alabama apparently takes his geometry lessons a little too seriously. A high school math teacher was teaching his students about angles and used the assassination of President Barack Obama as his teaching example.
The Secret Service was alerted and the teacher was questioned by federal agents. He was not taken in to custody or charged with a crime.
"We did not find a credible threat," said Roy Sex ton, special agent in charge of Birmingham’s Secret Service office. As far as the Secret Service is concerned, we looked in to it, we talked to the gentleman and we have closed our investigation."
The teacher was explaining the use of angles by describing where you would stand if you wanted to aim and shoot Obama.
Julianne Malveaux Questions the Kagan Nomination
I was among the many who were disappointed that President Barack Obama did not nominate an African American woman to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. After all, there are six white men, two women, one Latina and one white, and a nominal African American man on the Court. Why not an African American woman?
The Black Women’s Roundtable, led by Melanie Campbell, was so disappointed that they shared their concerns with the President in a letter that spoke both to the contributions African American women have made and the qualifications of a few good women that President Obama should have considered before nominating Ms. Kagan to the nation’s highest court.
I won’t even speak on what I perceive as some of the shortcomings of the Kagan nomination. The Solicitor General has earned the support of some colleagues that I fully respect, such as Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree. At the same time, we have to pause at the fact that her definition of diversity is ideological diversity, not racial and ethnic diversity, and that she seemed to make Harvard a more welcome place for conservatives, if not for African American faculty.
Dr. Boyce Watkins: How Should Black Women Feel About Elena Kagan?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
To the disappointment of the Black Women’s Roundtable, Elena Kagan was the latest white American to leapfrog in front of black women for a chance to serve on the Supreme Court. The second-class citizenship of African American women has been consistently enforced by our nation, going back 221 years to the date that the Supreme Court was founded. This nomination was especially disheartening for those who felt that the year of Dorothy Height’s death would be the perfect time for the nation’s first black President to do what should have been done long ago and nominate a black woman for the highest court in the land.
"Needless to say, we are disconcerted by the perceived lack of real consideration of any of the extremely qualified African American women as potential nominees," reads the statement released by the Black Women’s Roundtable.
After this is over, President Barack Obama will have serious trouble re-inspiring the millions of African American women who left the Hillary Clinton camp to back his "Hope and change" campaign. There was no logical reason for him to pass over a black woman for consideration for this post, only political reasons. Kagan was the nominee that could shore up the white female vote for mid-term elections and help the Obama Administration and the Democratic Party stop the bleeding set to occur in November. Roland Martin does a wonderful job of breaking down the losses within the black female demographic that are set to occur as a result of the Kagan snub on the Supreme Court.
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