The Syracuse Professor

Jury selection for Heather Ellis continues

Dr. Boyce Watkins on Black Planet – 12/28/09

December 30, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, syracuse professors, syracuse university · Comment

OPINION: Black Males Plagued by Wrongful Convictions

By Dr. Boyce Watkins December 29, 2009 10:30 am

TAGS: black men, Eric Holder, justice system, Prison

OPINION: Police Who Shot Unarmed Man Must Be Held Accountable

By Dr. Boyce Watkins December 28, 2009 2:15 pm

TAGS: Police brutality

OPINION: Tiger’s Wife Wants Half? That Would Be Insane

By Dr. Boyce Watkins December 22, 2009 11:30 am

TAGS: sex scandals, Tiger Woods

OPINION: Florida State, NCAA Steal Education from Black Athletes

By Dr. Boyce Watkins December 21, 2009 10:32 am

TAGS: black athletes, education, NCAA

OPINION: Man Exonerated after 35-Years Should Be Given Recourse

By Dr. Boyce Watkins December 18, 2009 10:45 am

TAGS: Eric Holder, justice system, Prison

OPINION: Tavis Smiley Should Not Be Working With R. Kelly

By Dr. Boyce Watkins December 16, 2009 5:18 pm

Tags: <black speakers, dr boyce watkins>

A Presidential Candidate Writes SU on Behalf of Dr. Boyce

December 17, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers · Comment

Chancellor Cantor:

I write this letter with fond memories of interactions with the wonderful students at Syracuse University. While on your campus, I found the students to be both thoughtful and welcoming: perfect for a university campus.

I write to lend my full support for Dr. Boyce Watkins and his tenure application at Syracuse University. Dr. Watkins has raised the profile of Syracuse University as he informs our national community on money matters as well as matters of the conscience. And at this particular time in our country’s history, financial literacy must be viewed as an important life skill. Dr. Boyce is doing for America what he does in Syracuse University classrooms every class meeting period. So why would Syracuse University not want such a prolific and publicly appealing face as its representative?

Ultimately, Dr. Boyce must be judged by what he does in the classroom and in publications. Does Dr. Boyce elevate Syracuse University and does he elevate his field? Dr. Boyce demonstrates "academics in action" and makes scholarship relevant. Why should Dr. Boyce’s scholarship and activism (which elevates Syracuse University) not be rewarded by a grant of tenure from Syracuse University?

As a former Member of Congress and Green Party candidate for President of the United States, I realize that political complexities can play a role in the decision to grant tenure to faculty on most American campuses. As I have just concluded successful organizing against war that brought together four 2008 Presidential candidates, I am reminded of the clean break that Dr. King had to make with his friends of the civil rights movement when he decided to speak out against the Vietnam War. But Dr. King intoned that he had been fighting segregation too long to segregate his moral concerns. Your decision with respect to Dr. Boyce is both political and moral. And so, I will end with one very famous Dr. King quote and hope that the leadership of Syracuse University will do in this decision what is right:

"Cowardice asks the question – is it safe?
Expediency asks the question – is it politic?
Vanity asks the question – is it popular?
But conscience asks the question – is it right?
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right."

Sincerely,
Cynthia McKinney

–
http://www.livestream.com/dignity
http://dignity.ning.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/runcynthiarun
http://www.twitter.com/cynthiamckinney
http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaMcKinney

Tags: <cynthia mckinney, dr boyce watkins>

Dr. Boyce Watkins: Setting the Record Straight on Heather Ellis

November 23, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers · Comment

Heather Ellis case one in a long line of Missouri’s racial injustices

This Nov. 4, 2009 file photo shows Heather Ellis, left, arm-in-arm with her mother, Hester Ellis, exiting the Stoddard County Justice Center in Bloomfield, Mo. (AP Photo/Corey Noles, Dexter Daily Statesman, File)

This week, for the first time, I had the chance to speak with Heather Ellis.

Heather was not previously allowed to speak, since her attorney told her to remain silent. I can tell you that after speaking with Heather for nearly two hours, she is a fine young woman. She is NOT the kind of person who needed to spend any time in prison, and I am glad she took the plea deal from the prosecution. Let me explain a few facts about the case that you may not know:

1) Heather is not admitting guilt: Anyone familiar with the criminal justice system in America should understand that there are times when you have to plead in order to make something go away. There was no smoking gun implicating Heather Ellis; there was only the risk that the jury (which her high powered attorney, Scott Rosenblum, considered to be the worst jury he’d seen in 26 years of practice) was going to send her to prison or jail.

Like most of us, Heather is not a person who wants to go to jail for any significant period of time. I personally worried that she would be abused if left in the presence of the very officers who’d attacked her on the night of her arrest, not to mention the criminals she would be incarcerated with. If she were my daughter, I would have told her to take the plea.

The good thing was that her fight led the entire nation to talk about issues that we would never have discussed otherwise. Anyone who doesn’t agree with her decision needs to go put their own child on trial with up to 15 possible years in prison and see how much yapping you do then.
2) There is no evidence of an assault on an officer and she was not convicted of these felonies: According to Heather (whom I believe and I’ll tell you why in a second), there was one police officer who was dead set on the idea of pursuing and harassing her. He followed her closely out of the store, referring to her as a b*tch and a ho. He then told her to "go back to the ghetto." That is when Heather turned and asked him why he was harassing her instead of chasing real criminals. That is when he said, "Because I want to harass your stupid a**." That is also the officer who, without warning, tackled Heather and dragged her to the police car.

The reason Heather’s story is credible is because this officer had been fired from another job for sexual harassment and had lied on the witness stand in the past. Her attorney’s research uncovered the officer’s dirty past, and Heather discussed this issue in more detail in our conversation.
3) This was not a jury of her peers: Heather’s father, Pastor Nathaniel Ellis, told me that he had wanted to push the trial to the very end. What changed his mind, he said, was seeing his daughter break down in tears over the idea of going to jail or prison.

Tags: <dr boyce watkins, heather ellis>

Dr. Boyce Watkins on Black Planet – 11/22/09

November 22, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, black scholars · Comment

OPINION: Depression in the Black Community – Why it is a Serious Problem

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 22, 2009 8:27 am

TAGS: african american doctors, african american news, black doctors, black news, depression in the black community

OPINION: Heather Ellis Finally Tells Her Story & Why I Believe Her

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 21, 2009 11:20 pm

TAGS: african american news, black news, Heather Ellis, heather ellis case

OPINION: Heather Ellis Reaches Plea Deal, But I’ve Still Got Questions

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 20, 2009 9:18 pm

TAGS: heather, Heather Ellis, heather ellis case, heather ellis plea

OPINION: Jesse Jackson Was Right About Artur Davis … Sort Of

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 20, 2009 12:56 pm

TAGS: artur davis, black politics, Congressional Black Caucus, Jesse Jackson

OPINION: How We Can Work Toward Justice For Heather Ellis

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 13, 2009 5:05 pm

TAGS: justice system, Missouri, Wal-Mart

OPINION: We Should Mind Our Own Business In Chris Brown Vs. Rihanna

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 8, 2009 11:35 am

TAGS: Chris Brown, domestic violence, Rihanna

OPINION: The Racial Ignorance Of Barack Obama’s Financial “Gurus”

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 5, 2009 10:54 am

TAGS: ben bernanke, poverty, wealth

OPINION: 5 Things President Obama Can Do For Black Men

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 2, 2009 10:30 am

TAGS: Barack Obama, black men, education, prisons

www.TheHeatherEllisCase.com

Dr. Boyce: Heather Ellis Video Released

November 20, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers · Comment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

When I held the rally for Heather Ellis last week, the woman facing up to 15-years in prison after allegedly cutting line at a Wal-Mart, I was hoping that one day the rest of the world could see what I saw nearly two weeks ago. In spite of the prosecutor’s contention that the video tape would prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt, the truth is that the video is highly inconclusive. Check the video out and see for yourself.
You can click here to watch the video.

Tags: <dr boyce watkins, heather ellis>

Dr. Boyce Watkins: NCAA May Hire a Black President? Who Cares

October 28, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars, finance, syracuse professors · Comment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

I am not a fan of the NCAA, a sports league that earns money on the par of the NFL and NBA, but has somehow decided that they don’t have to properly compensate their employees or give them standard rights to negotiation. What’s worse is that the NCAA does tremendous harm to the African American community, sucking up kids with hoop dreams and destroying their futures with inferior educations.

When I recently read that the NCAA may be hiring a black president (Dr. Bernard Franklin), the only thing I could say is “whoopty-damn-doo.” While some of us might be tempted to applaud such an achievement, we must fully understand that the disease of racism is sometimes delivered through the hands of a black overseer.

Dr. Franklin, while running around the country applauding his organization for giving one opportunity to one black person, should probably think of the thousands of African American families being used up by the very system he has been trained to manage. The NCAA is, without question, one of the most exploitative regimes in the history of America, right next to slavery and the prison system. Billions are earned each year off the backs of African American families, while the league has worked together with Congress to create a nexus of regulations that keep the athlete and his/her family from getting a piece of the economic pie.

Tags: <dr boyce watkins, ncaa, paying colllege athletes>

Black News: 15 Years in Prison for Cutting Line – Pretrial Has Begun

October 25, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars, syracuse professors, syracuse university · Comment

Click to Play

Heather Ellis is a college student facing15 years in prison for cutting line at Walmart – visit www.SaveHeatherEllis.com for more details on the national protest to be held in Kennett, MO on November 14.

According to the family, the prosecutor in the case, Stephen Sokoloff, has asked for the trial to be moved to Bloomfield, MO, a town with less than 20 African Americans in it.

Dr Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton are planning a march in Kennett to support Heather Ellis.

Tags: <al sharpton, black news, dr boyce watkins, heather ellis case>

Dr Boyce Watkins: the Meghan Williams Story is Unbelievable

October 21, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars, syracuse professors, syracuse university · Comment

Megan Williams, left, and her mother Carmen Williams stand outside of the Logan County Courthouse Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Logan, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

Megan Williams, an African-American woman who was allegedly raped, tortured and kidnapped by a group of seven white men in West Virginia two years ago at the age of twenty is now claiming that she was playing with our minds. It is a shock to hear that Williams is now saying that the story is a lie, a complete fabrication. She is set to recant her story in a press conference today.

The stomach-turning story that involved drinking urine and eating human feces while being raped repeatedly and subjected to racial slurs was something she apparently made up for fun. If Williams were playing with our heads, I only wish she’d come up with a less disgusting way to do it. The problem is that the prosecutor, Brian Abraham, isn’t buying Williams’ new story, and neither am I.

The prosecutor’s position is that he did not convict the defendants based solely on Williams’ testimony. Abraham has stated in published reports that he learned early on that Williams tends to exaggerate and embellish details, perhaps due to the fact that Williams has been described as being "mentally slow."

Abraham also claims that he did what any good prosecutor should do: achieve a conviction based on physical evidence and the defendants’ statements. If there is evidence that a sexual assault occurred and proof that Williams endured kidnapping and torture, such evidence should certainly outweigh the significance of any statements made by Williams. There are also other possibilities in this case, such as the chance that Williams may be receiving threats that have pressured her to change her testimony.

Tags: <black scholars, dr boyce watkins, meghan williams>

Dr. Boyce on Serena Williams

October 19, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars, syracuse professors, syracuse university · Comment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

Serena Williams has been listed as a headliner for this year’s Australian Open. The problem is that it’s not clear whether she’ll be allowed to play.

Because of a recent outburst in which she threatened a line judge, Williams may be banned from at least one Grand Slam tournament. According to published reports, Williams told the judge, "You don’t know me. You better be right. I swear to God I’m going to take this ball and shove it down your throat."Given that a ball going down your throat might actually kill you, the judge felt that Serena had threatened her life. Then again, Serena’s from Compton, a town that has become famous for finding creative ways to kill people. Serena does not, however, need to take "the hood" with her all the way to Australia.

To make matters more interesting, Serena recently got naked for the cover of ESPN magazine, certifying her status as an iconic and thought-provoking figure for the early 21st century. These two events, plus the fact that she just happens to be one of the most dominant female tennis players in history, makes her the kind of woman we’ll all be talking about for the next 100 years. Our great-grandkids won’t be talking much about the boring apolitical figure called Michael Jordan. We’ll congratulate Tiger Woods for being the first incredibly rich black man to consistently beat the crap out of the arrogant guys at the country club. Serena Williams’ name, though, will come up in classes on feminist theory, history and sociology. Like Muhammad Ali, Serena is becoming bigger than her sport, and my greatest hope is that her ability to transcend tennis is guided by a desire to serve all humanity, and not just herself. Her nude body on the cover of ESPN is her way of yelling to the world that she is more than a tennis player. I agree that she is.

Click to read more.

If the link doesn’t work, click here.

Tags: <black scholar, dr boyce watkins>

What We can Learn from Eddie Griffin’s New Show

October 9, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars, finance, syracuse professors, syracuse university · Comment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

I had a lot of fun watching the new Vh-1 show, "Going for Broke," starring comedian Eddie Griffin. Griffin is one of the funniest comics in America, the comedian that Chris Tucker could have been (if he would simply stop disappearing between Jackie Chan movies).

On the show, Griffin gives insight into his personal life, which is both intriguing and disturbing. The show is called "Going for Broke" for a reason, because Eddie just might actually get there.
Here are some reasons that Eddie Griffin might actually become the broke celebrity that he is trying to become:

1) He spends like a damn fool. One of the easiest traps for an entertainer to fall into is the "infinite money trap." That’s when the person thinks that they’ve got an endless supply of cash, giving them ability to spend whatever they want on whatever they want. Apparently Eddie may have fallen into this trap, since his Bentley was being repossessed in an early episode of the show. Eddie’s conversation with his accountant was also revealing, as the words "all the accounts are empty" seemed to strike him hard. With all the success that Eddie Griffin has had, it is difficult to imagine that he would be completely broke. But the truth is that this kind of thing happens all the time.

If the link above doesn’t work, click here.

Click to read on MSNBC’s TheGrio.com.

Dr Boyce: Obama’s Racial Quagmire

September 21, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars · Comment

Dr. Boyce Watkins

A few years ago, Dr. Cornel West wrote an outstanding book called "Race Matters." In the book, he explains why a post-racial America is not yet a reality. Race certainly matters in our nation, and we don’t need to look any further than the anti-Obama lynch mobs to find evidence of this fact.

What is most interesting is that the people who hate Obama for being black don’t even realize that this is the reason they hate him. That’s how the social sickness called "racism" sneaks into the very fabric of the social infrastructure on which our country operates.

President Obama’s recent experience is yet another reminder that the disease of racism has its greatest impact on those who think they’ve been cured. In spite of his continuous efforts to "just get along" with those on the right wing, they have insisted upon engaging in some of the most pathetic, thug-like behavior imaginable, creating a climate unlike anything our country has seen in the last 30 years.

If you think this has nothing to do with Obama being black, you need to open a history book. Lynch mobs rarely attacked a black man just for being black. They attacked him for being black and doing something that white people found to be unacceptable.

Tags: <black professors, black scholars, dr boyce watkins>

Dr Boyce and Al Sharpton Speak on Kanye, Serena

September 18, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, african american speakers, black scholars · Comment

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

Were there any racial implications to the recent outbursts by Serena Williams and Kanye West? Yes, there were. In my latest conversation with Rev. Al Sharpton, we break down these interesting events, all of which occurred during the past week. We can agree, however, that there are certainly things more important than worrying about Serena Williams and Kanye West. But these situations, in light of the backdrop of Obama’s comments about Kanye, might provide true teachable moments regarding America’s tattered racial history.As I’ve written before, Serena and Kanye have a lot in common, but nothing in common, all at the same time. Serena’s actions were justifiable, given the intensity of the situation and the fact that the line judge made the wrong call. At the same time, most of us can agree that Serena went over the line by threatening to "shove the ball down the f**ing throat" of the line judge because of her mistake. Yes, Serena, you are from the hood. But you don’t need to take it back to the hood to make your point to a U.S. Open line judge.

Tags: <black professors, black scholars, dr boyce watkins, rev al sharpton>

Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices– 9/14/09

September 14, 2009 · Posted in african american scholars, black scholars, syracuse professors, syracuse university · Comment

The Latest

Kanye West and Serena Williams: Big Egos Cost Big Money

When Kanye West stood on NBC four years ago and said "George Bush doesn’t care about black … Read More
Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

The Odd Relationship Between Insurance Companies and Doctors

One of the things missing from the healthcare debate in the black community is how insurance … Read More
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Financial Lovemaking: Is Kelis Being Greedy with Nas?

In this episode of Financial Lovemaking, we dig deep into the situation with Nas and Kelis. As you … Read More
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Dr Boyce: Black Athlete Punches White Player, Loses Career

When I saw the video of the punch out by LeGarrette Blount of The University of Oregon, I was … Read More
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Dr Boyce: What’s Wrong with Howard University?

Today, I got with my co-host on Financial Lovemaking, Ms. S. Tia Brown, to talk about the situation … Read More
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Barack Obama Got Gangsta with His Critics: Good for Him

The other day, I mentioned that it was time for President Obama to get tough with his critics. … Read More
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Dr. Boyce: The 5 Lowest Paying Majors in College

According to the "College Majors Handbook," the 5 lowest paying college majors are Social Work, … Read More
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How to Avoid Catching the Swine Flu

The H1N1 virus is making headlines this year, as the world is finding out that the Swine flu can … Read More
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6 Things Insurance Companies do to Keep You from Getting Paid

As we learn how the insurance industry works, I thought I’d reach out to prominent Atlanta … Read More
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Barack Obama Might Have to Get ‘Gangsta’ — You, Too

I once saw a documentary by filmmaker Byron Hurt, called ‘Barack and Curtis,’ comparing President … Read More
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Howard University Student Controversy Over Financial Aid Problems

Howard University has a problem. Apparently, the school’s students have taken lessons on freedom of … Read More
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If You Ever Win the Lottery: 5 Risks You Don’t Want to Take

Some of us saw the story about the woman who won the lottery as a teenager and blew her money on … Read More
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Black News in Black America

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Man Arrested for Slapping Another Person’s Child in Public

Have you ever been in the grocery store and fantasized about "whooping" somebody else’s screaming … Read More
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Dr. Boyce Talks Money and Sex on ABC News

I recently appeared on ABC News to talk about Financial Lovemaking, and the link between sex and … Read More
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Your Black News: Dr Boyce Watkins on MSNBC’s TheGrio – 8/26/09

August 26, 2009 · Posted in african american speakers, black scholars · Comment

about Dr. Boyce Watkins

Teddy was a lion for civil rights

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

8:30 AM on 08/26/2009

OPINION – In a multitude of areas including housing, income, and civil rights for African-Americans and all minorities, Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts has been on the front lines.

> more
Cocktail of unethical behavior and incompetence killed MJ

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

8:15 AM on 08/25/2009

OPINION – It was Dr. Conrad Murray’s cocktail of unethical behavior and extreme incompetence which ultimately killed the most well known entertainer in history…

> more
Felix the Cat flap signals era of racial paranoia

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

8:30 AM on 08/20/2009

In an article for the Financial Times, Ferguson compared President Barack Obama to Felix the Cat, stating that Obama, like the cat, is "black and lucky."

> more
The return of the prodigal quarterback

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

6:40 AM on 08/14/2009

OPINION — I was as shocked as the rest of America to hear that Michael Vick has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. Although I’ve always supported Vick’s human right to fairness…

> more
NCAA treating black athletes like second-class citizens

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

8:50 AM on 08/11/2009

The revolution has been televised. I always knew it would be, since African American athletes have always been center stage in the NCAA’s multi-billion dollar money machine…

> more

Tags: <african american scholars, black athletes, black scholars, dr boyce watkins>

Dr Boyce Talks Ted Kennedy’s Legacy for MSNBC

August 26, 2009 · Posted in african american speakers, black scholars, finance · Comment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – MSNBC’s TheGrio.com

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, FILE)

Many of us once joked that Bill Clinton was the "first black president" (which he wasn’t). We had it wrong. If such a title were to be given to any white man, that should have to be the late Senator Ted Kennedy. He was never president of the United States, but he was certainly one of the kings of his generation.

As a member of the Senate since 1962, Senator Kennedy had a long career fighting for those forced to live in the underbelly of a capitalist society. Over the last 47 years, he has done it better than nearly any politician in American history. African-Americans were among the many beneficiaries of his passionate life’s work, and for that, we will always be appreciative.

In a multitude of areas including housing, income, civil liberties, and equality, Ted Kennedy has been on the front lines. His brother John introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964, considered to be one of the most impactful pieces of legislation ever produced by our government. After John’s death, Ted and his brother Robert were instrumental in seeing that the bill was passed.

Senator Ted Kennedy then went on to help pass one law after another to support the rights of the elderly, the sick, the poor and the incarcerated. He introduced the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Civil Rights Act of 1991, The Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act, among others. He also helped to amend the Fair Housing Act, and has fought relentlessly for those who’ve never known the comfort of attending an Ivy League University.

Senator Kennedy’s political compassion, as well as his complicated coping mechanisms, may be linked to the tragedy he experienced during his life. As a young child, he watched his sister Rosemary endure a failed lobotomy, saw his brother Joseph die in World War II and then witnessed his older sister Kathleen’s death in a plane crash. This tragedy was compounded by the assassinations of his two brothers, Robert and John during the 1960s. This kind of pain doesn’t heal easily, and few families endure such an amazing amount of personal tragedy. It is quite possible that the weight of his psychological pain gave Senator Kennedy the ability to empathize with the struggles of others, as well as the strength to fight through hurdles presented by his adversaries.