Dr. Boyce Watkins on MSNBC: The State of the US Economy

Dr. Boyce Watkins on MSNBC: The State of the US Economy

Tom Joyner Talks to Dr. Boyce Watkins About Black Scholarship

Tom Joyner Talks to Dr. Boyce Watkins About Black Scholarship

Your Black World Exclusive Music Release – Research and Development by Mark A. Holmes

Your Black World Exclusive Music Release – Research and Development by Mark A. Holmes

Dr, Boyce Watkins Discusses Chris Matthews State of The Union Comments

Dr, Boyce Watkins Discusses Chris Matthews Comments on the Takeaway

Teen Violinist Beaten By Cops

PITTSBURGH – The photos taken by Jordan Miles’ mother show his face covered with raw, red bruises, his cheek and lip swollen, his right eye swollen shut. A bald spot mars the long black dreadlocks where the 18-year-old violist says police tore them from his head.

Now, 10 days after plainclothes officers stopped him on a street and arrested him after a struggle that they say revealed a soda bottle under his coat, not the gun they suspected, his right eye is still slightly swollen and bloodshot. His head is shaved. The three white officers who arrested him have been reassigned. And his mother says she is considering a lawsuit.

“I feel that my son was racially profiled,” Terez Miles said. “It’s a rough neighborhood; it was after dark. … They assumed he was up to no good because he’s black. My son, he knows nothing about the streets at all. He’s had a very sheltered life, he’s very quiet, he doesn’t know police officers sit in cars and stalk people like that.”

A judge continued the case until Feb. 18 after the officers failed to appear at a hearing Thursday, Miles’ attorney, Kerrington Lewis, said. The police department is saying little as it investigates, and isn’t releasing the officers’ names.

Click to read.

Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices – 1/23/10

The Latest

Beyonce and Jay-Z Dominate The Richest Couples List

• Jay-Z and Beyonce go beyond the definition of a power couple. They might as well be called "Super … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 22nd 2010 12:21PM | Comments (3)

Haitian Earthquake Kills Two Leaders of Women’s Movement

• The Haitian earthquake has killed thousands, and we have spent the week mourning loss with the … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 22nd 2010 7:44AM | Comments (2)

Beyonce, Madonna Added to Haiti Relief in Big Concert

• Beyonce and Madonna have been added to a long list of performers for the "Hope for Haiti Now" … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 21st 2010 3:16PM | Comments (1)

Wyclef Jean Did Not Misuse Yele Haiti Funds, Experts Say

• Wyclef Jean has been backpedaling faster than an NFL defensive back lately, defending allegations … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 21st 2010 2:05PM | Comments (11)

Clark Atlanta University Accused of Fraudulently Violating Rights of Faculty Members

• The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has written a scathing report about … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 21st 2010 10:41AM | Comments (3)

NAACP Embezzlement Case Leads to Charges Being Filed

• A former executive for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 21st 2010 9:04AM | Comments (8)

Report: Economically, Men Benefit More from Marriage Than Women

• A new report says that men are now benefiting from marriage more than women. According to the Pew … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 20th 2010 10:12AM | Comments (10)

Barack Obama is No Martin Luther King: Let’s Figure Out the Difference

• President Barack Obama ran one of the most amazing presidential campaigns in the history of the … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 19th 2010 6:02AM | Comments (33)

Haitian Violence Slows Aid Process: Death Toll Higher than Expected

• Relief workers are stating that pockets of violence in Haiti are making it difficult for aid to be … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 19th 2010 5:44AM | Comments (1)

Wyclef Jean Gets Questioned on Use of Yele Haiti Funds

• Millions across America have seen the attacks on Wyclef Jean’s "Yele Haiti" fund, designed to help … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 18th 2010 8:49AM | Comments (21)

Kelis Holds Nas in Contempt for Non-Payment of Child Support

• The rapper Nas is having some trouble in child support court, as his ex-wife Kelis has held him in … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 17th 2010 12:52PM | Comments (9)

US Insurers Have Very Little Exposure to Haitian Earthquake

• The devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti is not only an emotional challenge for those … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 14th 2010 9:05AM | Comments (1)

Rush Limbaugh says Negroes Served Ted Kennedy Booze

• Radio show host Rush Limbaugh is at it again. The other day, in response to the recent flap over … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 14th 2010 12:50AM | Comments (145)

Morehouse Whiz Kid is Causing a Stir: 13-Year-Old Dominates College

• At thirteen years of age, Stephen Stafford is causing quite a stir at Morehouse College. Stafford … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2010 7:45PM | Comments (442)

Michael Eric Dyson: Obama ‘Runs from Race Like a Black Man Runs from a Cop’

• Georgetown University Professor Michael Eric Dyson criticized President Barack Obama for avoiding … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2010 1:02PM | Comments (197)

Did Clark Atlanta University Violate the Law?

The  firing of nearly one-quarter of the full-time faculty members at Clark Atlanta University a year go led to an investigation by the American Association of University Professors.

The investigatory committee has just released its report about the sudden termination of 55 faculty member, concluding that the college’s actions were egregious.

Among the findings:

The administration selected the particular faculty members for dismissal without any discernible prior consultation with appropriate faculty bodies. The administration in its selections also paid no heed to the rights of tenured over nontenured faculty with respect to retention.

1. By not affording the dismissed faculty members opportunity for a hearing before a body of faculty peers, the Clark Atlanta University administration denied them academic due process to which they were entitled under stated university regulations as well as Association-supported standards.

 

Click to read.

Would Dr. Martin Luther King Support Obama

Dr. Boyce Watkins on MSNBC Live discussing if Dr. King would support President Obama’s policies

“The Dream” Is Still a Dream

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III

On January 18, 2010, America will celebrate the birth, death, and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We will hear those powerful words "I Have A Dream.” What has troubled me over the years is how Dr. King, the visionary, prophet, and revolutionary’s vision, action, and ultimate sacrifice have been hijacked, compromised, and relegated to being those of just a dreamer.

Dreamers are safe, docile, and non-threatening. People are comfortable with dreamers. Why? To be a dreamer you must be in a restful state, usually asleep. To cast Dr. King in the light of a dreamer allows people to be convinced that action resulting from clear vision is not necessary. It allows the oppressed to be fooled into being patient and non-revolutionary; yours will come by-and by. It allows Dr. King’s “Dream” his vision to remain a dream.

What many fail to realize is that Dr. King was no dreamer. He was a visionary, not some abstract thinker or philosopher. He was a prophet and a true revolutionary.

Click to read.

News: African Americans Weigh in on comments by Harry Reid

 

These are the comments coming in on the facebook page of Dr. Boyce Watkins:

You can join Dr. Watkins’ facebook page by clicking here.

 

Carlos Anthony Thomas

is the issue that he used the term negro or that he stated what we already know but only talk about in our community? personally, i’m only saddened by his used of the term "negro"…demonstrates how archaic his perspective is…

Yesterday at 4:22pm ·

Jeff Owens

"NEGRO???" ….I’m speechless. (well, not really… but nothing I’d say here. I’ll pause before reacting.)

Yesterday at 4:42pm ·

Victoria Boateng

I don’t know what in the hell, Mr. Reid was thinking about using the word "NEGRO". That is simply racist. I mean you had the audacity to call him out because of his intellectual and how well he speaks. Yes he might be light-skined, but he is still black and a great candidate. That is to show how people envy each other. It is ashamed.

Yesterday at 5:38pm ·

News: Elliot Millner Speaks on Gilbert Arenas Gun Charges

Elliot Millner, Legal Advisor for the YBW Coalition, had this to say about the gun charges for NBA Star, Gilbert Arenas:

“It is still very early in the criminal investigation of Gilbert Arenas, and many facts are still unclear, however Arenas could be in some trouble. First, Arenas has prior gun-related charges, having plead no contest to a misdemeanor charge of illegally possessing a concealed weapon while in California in 2003. Also, Arenas not only has D.C. authorities to answer to, but possibly Virginia police as well, given that he transported his guns from Virginia into D.C. It has been mentioned that Arenas may not have had proper registration for the guns in question, and also may have lacked a concealed weapons permit. Virginia accepts concealed weapons permits from certain other states, so that could work in Arenas favor if he had a concealed license permit from another state. In addition, even in regards to registered guns, D.C. prohibits guns deemed to be particularly "unsafe", so if any of Arenas’ guns fall in that category, it could lead to other charges. It has been reported that all of Arenas’ handguns were unloaded, however we do not know if Arenas stored any bullets in his locker also, which could lead to more charges. Some commentators have discussed the idea of Arenas being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, however given the statements made by most who observed the incidents in question, I see that as highly unlikely. The act of Arenas removing the guns from the locker and placing them out in the open (even if unloaded) could be problematic for him as well.

Ultimately, we will know more about what charges Arenas may face in the next few weeks. It is a sad and ridiculous situation, that was completely avoidable with even a little bit of forethought."

Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices – 1/7/10

KFC Ad Considered Racist: Has Black People Chasing Chicken

• KFC is in hot water after an allegedly racist ad that ran in Australia. In the ad, a white man is … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 7th 2010 5:46AM | Comments (4)

Michelle Obama is Livid with PETA Over New Ad

• Michelle Obama is angry with The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) after the … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 7th 2010 5:04AM | Comments (0)

Woman Claims to be Michael Jackson’s Wife and Wants Money

• A woman by the name of Shellie Doreen Smith filled legal papers laying claim to Michael Jackson’s … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 6th 2010 11:21PM | Comments (6)

Black United Airlines Pilot Charged with Trying to Fly Drunk

• Pilot Erwin Vermont Washington was removed from United Airlines flight 949 in November, after a … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 6th 2010 11:14PM | Comments (0)

Washington State Judges Open Door for Felons to Vote

• We know that one of the most egregious violations of civil rights in America has to do with the … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 6th 2010 1:44PM | Comments (0)

Funk Legend George Clinton is Broke: Can’t Pay for Mother’s Funeral?

• One of my favorite rappers in the world is TI. He’s not just my favorite rapper because his lyrics … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 5th 2010 3:55PM | Comments (18)

B2K Member J-Boog Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges: What We Can Learn

• Jarell Damonte (aka J-Boog) of B2K (pictured second from the right) was arrested yesterday on … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 5th 2010 3:07PM | Comments (1)

Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton Are Right About the Census

• It’s kind of strange when the first person who calls you on the morning of New Year’s Day is Rev. … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 5th 2010 12:37PM | Comments (8)

Morgan Freeman to Replace the Voice of Walter Cronkite on CBS News

• It’s been six months since news legend Walter Cronkite died. Cronkite’s voice has remained on ‘CBS … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 5th 2010 11:26AM | Comments (0)

Eunice Johnson, Founder of Ebony Fashion Fair, Dies at 93

• An era came to an end on Sunday, when Eunice Johnson, widow of Ebony Magazine Founder John … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 5th 2010 1:57AM | Comments (11)

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Hazing Incident Halts National Member Intake

• I’ll never forget the day that my friend at The University of Kentucky asked me to consider joining … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 5th 2010 1:43AM | Comments (6)

Bobby DeLaughter, Medgar Evers Prosecutor, Going to Prison

• Bobby DeLaughter, a well-known former prosecutor and judge in Mississippi, is set to report to … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 4th 2010 3:07PM | Comments (1)

Black Men in Prison: What Obama Must Fix Right Now

• The prison industrial complex affects all of us. Most of us in the African American community have … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 4th 2010 1:15PM | Comments (32)

alpha Phi Alpha Stops Membership Drive Nation-wide

From Macon.com:

WARNER ROBINS — Citing flawed membership intake processes at chapters across the country, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity incorporated has put a halt to new membership processes nationwide.

The ruling, announced to active members in a letter from the fraternity’s General President Herman “Skip” Mason Jr., comes nearly a month after a member of the student chapter at Fort Valley State University was charged with aggravated battery against a new member. Mason said the decision to halt intake was due to “the failure of some of our members to behave honorably and with care.”

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins on Black Voices – 1/4/10

 

Bobby DeLaughter, Medgar Evers Prosecutor, Going to Prison

• Bobby DeLaughter, a well-known former prosecutor and judge in Mississippi, is set to report to … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 4th 2010 3:07PM | Comments (1)

Black Men in Prison: What Obama Must Fix Right Now

• The prison industrial complex affects all of us. Most of us in the African-American community have … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 4th 2010 1:15PM | Comments (5)

Danny Glover vs. Barack Obama: Is Glover’s Criticism Justified?

• Just a few weeks ago, actor Danny Glover weighed in heavy on Barack Obama’s work as President of … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 4th 2010 11:35AM | Comments (4)

Detention Officer Fired for Being a Member of the KKK

• Detention officer Wayne Kerschner admitted to being a member of the KKK and blogging for a KKK … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 3rd 2010 5:33PM | Comments (9)

Four-Year-Old Boy Dies in Church from a Stray Bullet on New Years

• I was in Memphis this weekend, bringing in the New Year with my assistant and her husband. As we … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 2nd 2010 11:23AM | Comments (13)

Diddy Announces That He is Married on Twitter- Then Backpedals

• OK, it’s official: Diddy is married to Kim Porter. Well, maybe he’s not. All of this seems … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 1st 2010 11:28AM | Comments (10)

Tyra Banks or Tyrant Banks? Employees Say She’s Over The Top

• It appears that Tyra Banks may not be the most beloved figure in the eyes of her former employees. … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 1st 2010 10:49AM | Comments (46)

Diddy Allegedly Marries Kim Porter for the New Year

• Update: It seems official: Diddy tweeted at 3:30 this morning that he is "juat [sic] married!" … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 31st 2009 10:56PM | Comments (10)

Fox News May Be Taken Off the Air Because of Money

• It turns out that Fox News may be taken off the air after the new year. Now, before you start … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 31st 2009 6:13PM | Comments (15)

You Can’t Blame President Obama for The Recent Terrorist Incident

• People want to blame President Barack Obama for the recent terrorist attack on an airliner from … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 31st 2009 5:36PM | Comments (13)

Lil Wayne Says Goodbye to Fans on His Way to Prison

• Part of me feels sorry for Lil Weezy, also known as Lil Wayne. I am probably too old to understand … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 30th 2009 11:45AM | Comments (38)

Five New Years Resolutions that Black Folks Should Observe

• I’m not one to tell anyone what to do, but I am about to do just that. Not because you should … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 29th 2009 12:33PM | Comments (9)

Jesse Jackson Speaks on Man Shot in the Back by Police at Church

• The Reverend Jesse Jackson has intervened in the case of Mark Anthony Barmore, the man who was … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 27th 2009 12:38PM | Comments (12)

Mark Anthony Barmore: Unarmed Black Man Shot in Back by Police at Church

• I recently found out about the case of Mark Anthony Barmore, an unarmed African American male in … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 26th 2009 10:27PM | Comments (71)

Holiday Spending Tips: Cutting the Financial Fat – Dr Boyce Money

• After the holidays, you are probably going to feel a little chubby: physically fat from all the … Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Dec 25th 2009 12:43PM | Comments (1)

The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa

Umoja (Unity) To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

50 Cent Challenges Tiger Woods in a Nasty Way

Watch 50 Cent hit hard on Tiger Woods on George Lopez’s Show.

A Presidential Candidate Writes SU on Behalf of Dr. Boyce

 

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

What Grade Should Obama Get for his First Year in Office?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

The other night on the Oprah Winfrey Christmas special, President Barack Obama made an unwise move. When asked what grade he deserves as president, Obama gave himself a B+. Giving himself a grade was not necessarily the best decision, since there are over 300 million Americans who then realized that they should be giving him grades as well.
So, allow me to be the first to provide our president with a grade for his performance. I’ve been giving grades to college students for the last 16 years, and one thing my students will tell you is that I am fair. My other argument is that I never actually GIVE you a grade; I simply report the grade that you’ve earned.
1) Handling of the Economy (B-): President Obama is better than John McCain ever could have been when it comes to managing our economic downturn. The problem is that while the president has spiraled our deficit out of control, our nation has yet to see any concrete evidence that the economy’s fundamental strength has returned. He has made an enemy out of Wall Street by grandstanding around executive pay issues, but he has lost the backing of Main Street because job losses continue to mount. That’s the problem with always reaching across the isle: Sometimes, you don’t have firm support on either side of it. The president’s inability to translate massive spending into real jobs is going to cost him big time.
2) Management of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (B): On one hand, the president must face the stern reality that you can’t just walk out of a war in the middle of it. We all know that Bush got us into these messes, and Obama must get us out. At the same time, Obama pledged to get us out of the wars faster than he is actually doing it, and it is incredibly awkward for a man to accept a Nobel Peace Prize while simultaneously escalating the troop presence in an occupied country. Sure Obama didn’t give himself the Nobel Prize, but he still must be held accountable.

 

Click to read.

Black News: Syracuse Students Voice Their Thoughts on Dr. Boyce’s Tenure Battle

Reported in the SU Student Voice.

 

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and former Rep. Cynthia McKinney have now thrust themselves into the debate over Boyce Watkins’ tenure appeal, The Student Voice has learned.

Three days after the Rev. Al Sharpton sent Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor a letter in support of Whitman professor Boyce Watkins’ pending tenure appeal case, Jackson told Watkins that he wanted to get involved. Watkins sent SV writer Naresh Vissa a text message early this morning saying Jackson wants to speak with Cantor as soon as possible.

Watkins and Cantor are scheduled to meet today to discuss Watkins’ future at the university after he was denied tenure, first reported in The Student Voice.

And McKinney, the Green Party presidential candidate in 2008, wrote what Watkins called “the most astonishing letter in support of my tenure case” to SU administration yesterday. Prominent African-American syndicated columnist Julianne Malveaux has also voiced her support for Watkins.

 

Click to read.

Black Attorney Takes Eric Holder to Task for Attacking Black Fathers

by Elliot Millner, J.D. – Your Black World 

Attorney General Eric Holderrecently spoke at a Black church in Queens, NY, and during his speech he gave Black fathers another talking to, stating that:
"It should simply be unacceptable for a man to have a child and then not play an integral part in the raising and nurturing of the child."
Sounds good on face value. Who doesn’t think that any man who has a child should play a vital role in that child’s growth and development? A.G. Holder is 100% right on that point, and I have no disagreement with him whatsoever.
However lets look beyond the truthfulness of the words. When communicating, there are many other factors to consider other than what is being said. So, let’s consider the question: If a person is truly concerned about promoting the increased participation of Black father’s in their children’s lives, what would that person do? Seemingly, a person sincere about achieving that goal would go speak to the people most in need of that talk, in this case Black fathers who were not being responsible for the children they had helped bring into the world. Although I’m sure it may have been some people in Memorial Presbyterian Church who were being negligent in their parental duties, I doubt that A.G. Holder’s message applied to the majority of them.

Click to read.

Tiger Woods and Race: Are there any racial complexities here?

Dr. Boyce Watkins is on CNN with Don Lemon wondering if Tiger Woods will be “OJ Simpsonized” by the recent events in his personal life.

Your Black News: Dwight Howard Suing Mother of His Son

 

Posted by Freezy on December 11th, 2009 under Recent Blogs • No Comments

According to documents filed in California, Dwight Howard is suing Royce Reed, the mother of his 2 year old son, over allegedly defamatory comments that surfaced on gossip site LipstickAlley.com. Dwight claims that posting the comments – whether “directly or indirectly” under an Internet alias – is in violation of an injunction he filed against her. In it Reed is ordered not mention the superstar by name or talk about him (that’s a…

Click to read.

Tiger Acting Like a Black Athlete Now?

by Dr. Deborah Stroman 

 

Tiger Woods has a problem and now so do I. I was naïve to think that I could survive this holiday season of Tigervision with its seemingly minute-by-minute reports of his self-described transgressions. Every media outlet needs a story to remain viable in this world of at-your-touch news and Tiger’s naughtiness provides the perfect scoop. This tale probably has no beginning and quite possibly no end. However, my nerves became frayed and I saw the immediate end of my sideline observer role when I changed the channel and popped in on the Joy Behar Show. As they discussed the latest Tiger escapade, Ms. Behar cleverly asked for insight on how the African-American community might possibly feel about his sins. Her query was directed to a female African-American guest, Karith Foster, who calmly stated that Tiger was finally acting like a black athlete. Pump your brakes!

Although Ms. Foster’s listed occupation is comedian, she made her bold statement sans smile or giggle. She was very serious and obviously hurt by his choice of women in this scandal. She went on to describe how the black athlete needs a white woman – a trophy wife – to be successful. Ms. Foster’s understanding of the black male athlete is a stereotype and confusion-filled. Shame on her and the media for supporting the racist mindset that promulgates a representation of the black male athlete as a superhuman man that seeks sexual pleasure from every white female that worships his athletic prowess. Surely we in 2009 know better, right? Yes, the ESPNification of our sports world has created larger than life entertainment figures. Money, power and women. That’s the ticket out of a poor situation – mentally and physically. It is no longer satisfactory to score a touchdown and hand the ball to the referee or dunk the basketball and hustle back to play defense. Instead we see many of our athletes (and more likely a black man) showboating, drawing attention to themselves, and discounting the teamwork necessary to achieve such success. We as fans are drawn to the television waiting to see the clownish antics instead of running to the restroom or going back for more chips.

Click to read.

News: Syracuse Students Discuss Dr. Boyce’s SU Legacy

Watkins, a finance professor at SU, is ignored by the administration.

By Naresh Vissa

In January 2007, college student Heather Ellis and her cousin stood in two lines at Wal-Mart. They agreed that the first to reach a register would combine the items for purchase. When the African-American Ellis gave her cousin the groceries, bystanders behind complained that she had cut. After some verbal exchanges, Ellis walked to her car and found the police waiting to arrest her. She tried her best to resist and suffered numerous cuts and bruises in the process.

Today, Ellis should be in medical school. Instead, she has pled guilty to charges of disturbing the peace and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

The case was covered by CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, Good Morning America, The Today Show and every major black media outlet in America. Even more importantly, Syracuse University is connected to it, but hasn’t issued any statements. As a producer of two radio shows, I myself find it embarrassing that I discovered Ellis through a press release pitch e-mail I received.

At the forefront of all the outrage is Whitman School of Management Finance Professor Dr. Boyce Watkins, but it’s not getting any attention from SU administrators.

“I’ve come to accept the fact that the University is not appreciative of my work,” Watkins said. “It’s part of their tradition when it comes to progressive black scholars. If I’d learned to sit down and shut up, I might be treated better. Quiet Negroes do quite well in academia.”

Click to read.

Some think Whitney Was Snubbed at Grammys

Of many unexpected admissions and omissions in last night’s Grammy nominee announcement, few are as surprising as the total absence of Whitney Houston on the ballot. Granted, her August release I Look to You was not her finest hour, and it yielded few commercial singles; her often uneven performances to promote it didn’t help.

But she’s also the stuff these shows are made of (26-time Grammy nominee, seven-time winner); her label even moved the release of her album up a day to make sure it was eligible, and Look’s redemption tales seemed calibrated to hit Academy voters right in the solar plexus—and the voting-finger.  And yet, not a single nod for the chest-thumping title track or slinky “Million Dollar Bill,” penned by Grammy darling Alicia Keys. So is it the notes Houston hit (or didn’t) that kept her out?

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: What We Can Learn from Shaq’s Alleged Cheating

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

 

It seems that NBA star Shaquille O’neal, like many other athletes, has a personal life that no one knows about. The YBF.com has released exclusive text messages between Shaquille and his mistress, Latosha Lee. I am noticing a trend here: People are starting to find out that athletes are not always one-woman people. But are you actually surprised? In fact, do you ever wonder why anyone would consider marrying an athlete in the first place? But then again, we also know that not every athlete is going to be unfaithful and not every unfaithful man is an athlete. Either way, both Shaquille O’neal and Tiger Woods are in the middle of major marital drama.

In the text messages, Shaq’s personal life is put on blast.

The messages are long and drawn out, with an awkward reading from bottom to top. During the conversation, the two lovers describe their travel arrangements and Latosha’s relationship with NBA baller Damien Wilkins (nephew of Dominique Wilkins). They also have an argument about a purse that Latosha wants from Shaq, but that he is not willing to buy her. If you like drama, then you can find it here.

But above and beyond the drama (remember, I analyze and find teachable moments in everything), there are some other thoughts that went through my mind:

 

click to read.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux: Too Many in College?

by Dr. Julianne Malveaux

A week or so ago, I had the privilege of participating in a conversation on NPR about college attendance. Sparked by a conversation in the Chronicle of Higher Education, a group of "experts" were opining that too many people are going to college. Too many? Conservative and racially biased Charles Murray (author of The Bell Curve) thinks that too few high school students have the cognition to successfully navigate college attendance. Marty Nemko says it is a cost-benefit thing. Sandy Baum says that everyone should have opportunity and access. Nobody mentions race, but I think it is the elephant in the room. Too many white folks are opining that too many people go to college, but their kids are in college. So do they really mean that too many black folks go to college? Are their objections really about reinforcing a class system?

Here is what we know about the benefits that come from college attendance:

·College graduates have lower unemployment rates than those who did not graduate from college.

·College graduates have higher lifetime earning than those who did not graduate from college.

·College graduates are more likely to vote, and to be civically involved than those who did not graduate from college.

·College graduates are more likely to contribute to philanthropic causes and to volunteer than those who did not graduate from college.

Click to read more.

Why are Black Couples Not Staying Married?

Are black men or black women the ones to blame in the decline in African American marriage?

Tiger Woods 911 Call

A neighbor calls 911 when Tiger Woods slams his car into a tree.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: Prosperity Gospel: Is it Real or Not?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

Nearly every African American knows just how important the black church is to our community. We also know about "prosperity gospel," the act of preaching about God within the context of wealth building. I admit that this form of faith is a bit odd to me. I am a Finance Professor and I become confused when my pastor talks about money more than I do. The saddest truth is that it’s hard to tell the difference between a pastor and a pimp: Most pastors aren’t pimps, but any pimp could be a pastor. The same skill set is required in both professions.

My father is a preacher, but he almost never preaches about money. I’ve never heard him asking for money on the pulpit, or mentioning that giving money to him is one of the keys to gaining access to heaven. But I don’t presume that my father is right about all things, and given that I write about money on a regular basis, I have gained an appreciation for what financial resources can do to enhance your life. Also, one must be aware of the pragmatic realities of running a church: You have the building fund, bills to pay every month and any community service initiatives that the church chooses to pursue. The proper use of money can certainly enhance your ability to do God’s work.

 

Click to read.

Shocker: Tiger Woods in a Major Car Accident

I have some very sad and shocking news. A reporter from ABC News called me today to tell me that Tiger Woods was in a serious car crash. Woods was pulling his 2009 Cadillac SUV out of his driveway and struck a fire hydrant and then a tree. According to police, alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident, but Woods is in serious condition. Tiger Woods is currently the number one ranked golfer in the world, earning over $110 million dollars on the golf course alone.

Click to read.

Why We Should Fund Inner City Schools

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

The following is an excerpt from the book, "Black American Money."
I saw some random "expert" on a "60 Minutes" segment discussing the state of the education system. The man was attempting to argue that more resources won’t make a difference in the quality of our schools. He went on to argue that many of the pathetic schools in the inner city are run by blacks, implying that not only do African-Americans not care about their own youth, they are shiftless buffoons when it comes to money management. I’ve heard similar arguments from members of oppressive groups around the world, as oppressor attitudes are shockingly consistent and universal. A friend of mine from India once explained to me that additional government resources being allocated to create opportunities for "the untouchables" were a waste of time, in large part due to the fact that the people were too lazy to efficiently use these opportunities.Stereotypes against historically oppressed groups are quite common, as the world has been trained to believe that when it comes to managing money, white men are gods and black people are idiots. But when it comes to poor money management, few institutions are worse than the Pentagon which has been known to spend $500 for a toilet seat. They also fail to look to the airline and automobile industries, the ultimate welfare queens of American capitalism. These industries consistently seek government bailouts in the form of tariffs and subsidies. I won’t begin to discuss the Financial Crisis of 2008 – 2009, as we saw our entire global financial system artificially inflated and subsequently destroyed by individuals who are not black. Rather, people are usually quick to point to black administrators in inner city schools and historically black colleges and universities as the most wasteful individuals in American education and industry.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: Has Obama Helped Black Men?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I did a recent CNN appearance along with the actor Hill Harper and Dr. Alvin Poussaint at Harvard University. The series was a one-year anniversary segment featuring political issues within the African American community. for the entire week, the primary focus was on the impact that President Barack Obama has had onAfrican American men. Given that I’ve been a black man for quite a while now, I found this conversation topic particularly interesting, so getting to speak to Richelle Carey again wasn’t the only perk of doing the job that day.

It must be made clear that the president should not be expected to save the entire world in one swoop. His job is difficult, and he can’t give everyone what they want all the time. But to the extent that President Obama has been positioned to trump pre-existing black leadership (remember that some say we now live in a post-racial America), one can argue that President Obama’s rantings in black churches come with some degree of accountability from the Oval Office. Obama has spoken at NAACP meetings, telling black men to take responsibility for our families (as if none of us do) and to engage in more personal responsibility (as if we don’t do that already). Such tough talk should be backed by meaningful policy, since structural incentives play a dominant role in the ultimate choice of the individual. For example, when companies get tax incentives to invest in new projects, they almost always do.

Click to read.

Heather’s case discussed on MSNBC

Dr. Boyce and Richelle Carey Discuss Heather on CNN

Things You Don’t Know about Heather Ellis

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

 

Jury selection for Heather Ellis continues

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.

 

Click to read.

KKK Rally at Ole Miss University

By Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I was intrigued by recent reports that the Ku Klux Klan had a rally on the Ole Miss Campus recently. It might surprise you to know that I am essentially unconcerned by their presence on campus. Don’t get me wrong, Klansmen are incredibly ignorant. Also, we cannot deny their historical reign of terror over people of color in America. But I can also give you a list of reasons that we should stop paying attention to the KKK.

1) They thrive off of attention: The KKK has very little power. They don’t do very much anymore, and even in this rally, it appears that there were only a few members present. The truth is that the klan only has power because we give it attention. They are like a grease fire: The more water you put on it, the more it grows. But if you starve the fire of oxygen, it eventually dies out. The klan must be starved of attention, and then they will go away. They only remain relevant because we want them to be.

 

Click to read.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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OPINION: How We Can Work Toward Justice For Heather Ellis

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

Read more about OPINION: How We Can Work Toward Justice For Heather Ellis

TAGS: justice system, Missouri, Wal-Mart

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

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

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

TAGS: Chris Brown, domestic violence, Rihanna

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

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

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

TAGS: ben bernanke, poverty, wealth

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OPINION: 5 Things President Obama Can Do For Black Men

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

Read more about OPINION: 5 Things President Obama Can Do For Black Men

TAGS: Barack Obama, black men, education, prisons

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Must See Video: Oprah Performing a Song at the age of 17!

Oprah Winfrey like you’ve never seen her before.

Heather Ellis Finally Speaks: Listen to her Side of the Story

Here is an interview that Heather Ellis did for AOL Black Voices – it appears that her side of the story is very different from the prosecution and she may have reason to sue the police department.

CNN Video on the Heather Ellis Plea Deal

Here is more CNN coverage, including final statements from Heather Ellis.

Jesse Jackson Vs. the CBC

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Black Planet 

I love speaking with Rev. Jesse Jackson.  He walks and talks like a man who has seen and heard nearly everything.  Our civil rights leaders are social hubs through which many members of our society must travel in order to reach their destinations.   You can’t call yourself a black man and not know the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Jackson took things a step further by stating recently at a Congressional Black Caucus function that,”You can’t vote against health care and call yourself a black man.”

RELATED: Jesse Jackson Says To CBC You Can’t Be Black And Be Against Health Care

This comment was aimed at Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, the only member of theCongressional Black Caucus who does not support health care reform.   What is most interesting about Jackson’s comment is that he is right, but not quite.  You can certainly argue that Davis’ lack of support for the plan implies  that his interests are not in line with the majority of African Americans in this country:  Most of them love Barack Obama and are willing to support anything that he supports.  The other sad truth is that health care reform is so complicated that most Americans don’t have a clue about what’s going on.   In that regard, we can argue that it is difficult for Davis to say that he represents the black community when he votes in a direction that is not correlated with the majority of African Americans in the state of Alabama.

Click to read.

Heather Ellis Takes the Plea

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Black Planet 

I have been actively involved in the fight for Heather Ellis, the 24-year old school teacher now facing up to 15-years in prison for cutting line at a local Wal-Mart.  Although Heather has now reached a plea deal with prosecutors over her arrested, there are still questions that need to be answered.  No, she was not charged with cutting in line, but it was the cashier’s reaction to the alleged line cut which led to the relevant sequence of events.  Had the cashier been more professional and not refused to serve Heather, none of this would have happened (You hear that Walmart? Perhaps that’s why your attorneys are telling you to remain silent).

I have five simple questions about the trial of Heather Ellis:

1) If “no one was seriously injured,” why was she facing up to 15-years in prison?

In the opening statements of the trial, the prosecutor in the case, Morley Swingle (the dandy fellow with the Confederate flag on the cover of his book) stated that “There was no serious injury, but it did hurt,” when referring to the alleged assaults committed by Ms. Ellis.  If no one was seriously injured, does that constitute a Class-C felony?  This statement was quite telling when it comes to understanding the style of justice being administered in the Southeast Missouri area (which is why we are sending our reports to the Justice Department after the trial is over).  Given that Ellis appears to have been the only person to go to the hospital after she allegedly beat down all of these great big men, it would seem to me that perhaps she might be the one who is able to file an assault charge against the officers.  Additionally, the defense attorney on the case, Scott Rosenblum, presented evidence in court of there being blood in Heather Ellis’ jacket pocket from the night of the incident.  This would be consistent with her claim to the doctor the next day that she was assaulted by the police.

Click to read.

Heather’s Attorney is Ripping Witnesses Apart

It appears that Heather’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, actually knows what he’s doing – the trial is getting interesting.

Heather Ellis Walmart Video Released on CNN

Does anyone see a smoking gun in this video?

Dr. Boyce: Anderson Cooper 360 Weighs in on the Heather Ellis Case

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Heather Ellis is facing 15-years in prison for allegedly cutting line at a Wal-Mart store in Missouri.

Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World  
Special to AC360°

Heather Ellis is in trouble. The 24-year old preacher’s daughter has spent most of her life doing the right things: Going to college, getting ready for medical school and staying out of trouble. What Heather didn’t realize is that even when you do the right things, your margin of error as a person of color in America is virtually non-existent.

When I wrote my book, “What if George Bush were a Black Man?” the key point was that America’s justice system has a difficult time understanding that punishments must match the magnitude of the crime that has allegedly been committed. The actions that a “frat boy” can get away with 20 times during college can send an African American to prison for the next 20-years. America is a country that has, without question, consistently over-charged, over-searched, over-incarcerated and over-sentenced African Americans for the past 400 years of its existence.

Given its ugly past, the criminal justice system has very little credibility, and even police reports are subject to being questioned – especially in a town like Kennett, MO. My father’s a cop, so I know how all this works. Even when black men were lynched 100 years ago, there were always “witnesses” and police reports to say that he was a bad person. Fortunately, lynching does not occur anymore (although a black boy – Walter Currie Jr. – was burned alive by his white classmate in the same area as Heather), but the noose has been replaced with the long prison sentence as the most typical and most devastating form of punishment. As a result, black men and women are filling up America’s penitentiaries at an alarming rate, and it is destroying the core of the black family.

Click to read.

Didn’t See the Rally? This Might Not be the last one

Heather Ellis’ case makes the top story on the Memphis news – the country awaits the verdict of her trial.

More Video Footage from Our Rally in Kennett

Watch video of our rally that was held for Heather in Kennett, MO.

Dr. Boyce: How it Went down at the Heather Ellis Rally

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

I am sitting in my hotel room in Memphis after the exhausting day I spent marching forHeather Ellis, the 24-year old college student now facing up to 15 years in prison after cutting in line at Walmart. If you were to be picky about it, you could argue that Heather is technically not being charged for cutting in line. But had the Walmart employee not mistreated Heather after accusing her of cutting in line, the entire incident would not have taken place.

When the black folks rolled into Kennett, Missouri for our rally, the entire town stopped, the police showed up in massive force and there were even snipers on the rooftops. I assume the snipers were there for our protection, but after visiting the Lorraine Hotel (where Dr. King was killed) just the day before, I was honestly a wee bit nervous. There were people standing on the side of the road, taking pictures and some holding up flags with swastikas and confederate flags on them. It was very interesting.

I’ve put together some random thoughts about the case, the rally and everything in between. I have to be blunt and honest, since you know that’s how I operate:

1) The fight is not over: Heather’s trial begins Wednesday and I am highly concerned about the outcome. The idea that this young woman’s entire future can be stolen over such a tiny incident is simply unbelievable. The truth is that common sense tells us that this situation should have been squashed long ago, and Kennett, MO is becoming known as the racist town that destroys the lives of young black women.

Click to read more on AOL Black Voices

Listen to Dr. Boyce, Roland Martin and Tom Joyner Discuss Heather Ellis

Given that Tom Joyner’s Show is sponsored by Walmart, this leads to a relatively awkward conversation!