Yvette Carnell: Why Stanley Crouch is Wrong about Black People and Soul Food
Yvette Carnell explains why Stanley Crouch’s approach to the soul food issue is sad and just a wee bit igorant.
Dr. Boyce Spotlight: Meet Erica Crump – Author of the Exciting New Book, “Miscellaneous Blues”
Erica Crump, the author of “Miscellaneous Blues,” describes how she pursued her dream of writing.
Dr. Boyce: Did Oprah Play a Role in the Spread of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community?
How has AIDS affected the black community and did Oprah’s demonization of gay men play a role?
Why are So Many Black Kids Being Arrested in School? Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Christopher Emdin Discuss (Video)
Dr. Boyce Watkins and Professor Christopher Emdin respond to the report that one child per day is arrested in NYC public schools, with 93% of those kids being black or Latino. The professors discuss the reasons behind the crisis and why kids are being criminalized in public schools all across America.
Dr. Boyce: Soledad O’Brien, Michael Arrington and the Non-Existent Black Entrepreneur
Soledad O’Brien had a lot to say to Michael Arrington about the fact that he doesn’t believe that black entrepreneurs exist. Dr. Boyce Watkins has a few things to say as well.
Dr. Byron Price: Fixing the Prison Problem Comes Down to Entrepreneurship
Prof. Byron Price has a lot to say about the prison industrial complex and how to fix it.
If She Insists on Having the Baby, Should a Man Be Able to get a Financial Abortion?
Kirsten West-Savali at Your Black World makes some interesting points on this controversial topic.
The Latest in Black News – 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…
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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…
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Rapper Nicki Minaj Gets Sued Over Payments on a Lamborghini
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Lola Adesioye: Was Dorothy Height the Last Significant Black Woman to Have a Voice?
by Lola Adesioye, Huffington Post
Dr. Dorothy Height, the matriarch of the civil rights movement, died today at the age of 98. Dr. Height stood with Dr Martin Luther King during his "I have a dream speech" and worked tirelessly as an activist until her last days.
Her contribution was invaluable in the shaping of black America and American society as a whole. Dr. Height provided an example of ceaseless dedication to a cause greater than oneself, and was a living, breathing demonstration of the formidable power of female leadership, especially for black women.
President Obama referred to Dr. Height as the "godmother" of the movement, going on to say that she "served as the only woman at the highest level of the civil rights movement — witnessing every march and milestone along the way."
In the 60s, Heights had to overcome gender prejudice in order to do her work. She was cropped out of photos because she was female and she was less well known than her male counterparts. Yet despite the challenges, she recognized the importance of women in black leadership and continued to push for that.
Bob Marley’s New Book Draws Controversy
Bob Marley is embroiled in a fiery debate with a Las Vegas-based publisher over alleged unauthorized changes to the cover and title of his recently released memoir which threatens to taint the near-perfect image of reggae music royalty, the Marleys.
Ky-Mani Marley, a Grammy Award-nominated reggae and hip-hop artist, penned "Dear Dad: Where’s the family in our family, today?” which was released this month by Farrah Gray Publishing in celebration of Marley’s 65th birthday.
The issue between author and publisher lies mainly in the extra coverline: "The Story The Marley Family Apparently Doesn’t Want You To Know.”
In an online statement, Ky-Mani says the caption is unauthorized: "I did NOT authorize him to make any changes to the cover of my book, nor do I condone any of the captions he has written!”
Further, Ky-Mani told The Gleaner, a Jamaican newspaper, that he was considering legal action against the Gray, saying he simply wanted to tell his story without causing any conflict. He told the newspaper the title was changed from "Dear Dad: The Marley Son Who Persevered From The Streets To Prominence."
But Dr. Farrah Gray, the publisher, stands by the book, saying he worked with Marley every step of the way. He said that Marley wrote the book using a ghostwriter and the interviews were recorded.
"I didn’t write his book,” Gray told BV on Books. "I published it. He did the final edit. Now he’s issuing a statement that he didn’t approve it…for those of us who believe in one love, Ky-Mani Marley’s story deserves light. He’s throwing me under the bus and going on a smear campaign, but I have the tapes. The tapes are worse and he doesn’t want those publicized.”
Michael Vick and Nike: The Secret Love Affair
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, MSNBC’s TheGrio.com and AOL Black Voices
Dick’s Sporting Goods recently made a decision that is bad for business. Taking one of the boldest, and perhaps silliest, stands of any corporation in recent memory, Dick’s decided not to sell Michael Vick jerseys in any of their stores.
Perhaps they earned a few dog-loving customers, but they lost the support of any shareholder who cares about making money. It’s one thing for lynch mobs to embrace vigilantism, but another for a corporation to engage in the same irrational behavior. Vick paid his debt to society; it’s time to move on with our lives.
The top brass at the Nike Corporation are smarter than the management at Dick’s Sporting Goods, but they too understand the need to stay away from Michael Vick, at least for right now. When asked to respond to rumors that Vick had signed a deal with Nike, the company gave an immediate and resounding "no." After the Nike denial, Michael Vick’s agent, Joel Segal, had to backpedal faster than an NFL defensive back to kill any indication that his client has re-signed with the "big swoosh." However, the confidence with which the signing was announced indicates that the relationship might be deeper than we think.
The truth is that I don’t believe a single word of the Nike dismissal. Like the big egos in Beyonce’s song, Nike’s swoosh is " too big, too wide, too strong" for them to sit idly by as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL makes his return to the game. Nike executives have seen Vick grace the cover of Xbox games and sports magazines and often refer to him as the man who "revolutionized the quarterback position." They know that Vick is not washed up, and that some of his best years may still be ahead of him.
Dr Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World coalition.
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