Are black men or black women the ones to blame in the decline in African American marriage?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Should Black Preachers Be Preaching about Money?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, Your Black World
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.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Obama’s Security Threatened by White Privilege – Dr. Wilmer Leon
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Howard University
On the evening of Tuesday, November 24 a young couple from Virginia made their way into one of the most secure events in the country, President Obama’s state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Monmohan Singh and his wife at the White House. Like the other 300 plus invited guests, Tareq and Michaele Salahi went through multiple layers of Secret Service security, took photos with Chief of Staff Rom Emanuel and mingled with Vice President Biden and other invited guests. The problem is that the Salahi’s were not invited to the dinner. Their names were not listed on the official guest list or any other list that would have allowed them entrance into the White House. They crashed the party!
All that this couple needed to gain entrance into a state dinner at the White House was a tuxedo, traditional Indian evening wear, attitude, and white skin. When they arrived at the Secret Service check point without a printed invitation and without their names on the official guest list, they were not detained or questioned. No telephone calls were made; no further inquiries were needed; just white skin, blond hair, the expectation of admittance, and a pretty smile. Had this occurred at an airport the Salahi’s would have never made it past airport security.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Black News: President Obama Gets Low Support Among Whites
President Obama's approval among white Americans has fallen to 39 percent since taking office in January, Gallup Daily poll results indicated.
Overall, Obama's approval rating slipped below 50 percent for the first time in his presidency, a 16 percentage point drop since the 66 percent average he enjoyed during his first full week in office, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said of its results released Tuesday.
Support among blacks for Obama averaged 93 percent during his time in office, and has been at or above 90 percent since he was sworn in, accounting for the reason Obama's support among non-white respondents didn't drop as much, Gallup said.
click to read.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Why We Don’t Need Sarah Palin: Dr. Wilmer Leon
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, Howard University
With the release of her new book Going Rogue: An American Life, former Alaskan Governor and Republican party VP nominee Sarah Palin is once again being given a spotlight she does not deserve. Under normal circumstances Palin would have drifted into obscurity by now; a political has-been who never was. Instead, a sub-par politician with no substantial constituency; no command of relevant issues, and no solutions to substantive problems, is being given air and face time as though she really matters. The simple reality that few are willing to articulate is, if she were not relatively attractive, of European ancestry and a woman, Sarah Palin would be day old bread.
Former Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) did not select Palin as his running mate because she was a “rogue”, innovator, or had demonstrated intellectual heft. McCain simply pandered to the Conservative Right, tried to siphon off some of the disgruntled Senator Clinton supporters, and gave America more of the same ole’ politics. From that point until now, Sarah Palin has continually tried to reinvent herself, but continues to give Americans more of the same; “all sizzle and no steak”.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Dr. Boyce speaks on Ole Miss and the KKK
By Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
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.
News: Mississippi Governor Wants to Merge All of It’s HBCUs
Gov. Haley Barbour’s plan to merge Mississippi’s three historically black universities has created a tense atmosphere in a state saddled with a violent civil rights past and a decades-long legal battle over the historic underfunding of those schools.
At Jackson State University, students have turned to Twitter and Facebook to gather signatures on a petition to block the move proposed by the Republican governor. A half-dozen students attended a state College Board meeting Thursday expecting some discussion about the proposal, but there was none.
“I personally believe they undermined the uniqueness of the black colleges and how far we’ve come with the little resources we have,” said Marissa Simms, a 20-year-old JSU student.
Many of the nation’s public historically black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs, were founded more than a century ago. Mississippi’s own Alcorn State University in Lorman was the country’s first land-grant black college.
The state’s other historically black campus is Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena.
Nationwide, there are 40 four-year public HBCUs, and dozens more two-year colleges and private institutions. White House officials and representatives of national organizations say the colleges play a vital role in an initiative by the Democratic Obama administration.
Your Black 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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.
Dr. Boyce Watkins: Heather Ellis Video Released
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.
Click to read more on the Heather Ellis case.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
News: Black Professor Punches Out a White Colleague in Conversation Over Race
A prominent Columbia architecture professor punched a female university employee in the face at a Harlem bar during a heated argument about race relations, cops said yesterday.
Police busted Lionel McIntyre, 59, for assault yesterday after his bruised victim, Camille Davis, filed charges.
McIntyre and Davis, who works as a production manager in the school's theater department, are both regulars at Toast, a popular university bar on Broadway and 125th Street, sources said.
The professor, who is black, had been engaged in a fiery discussion about "white privilege" with Davis, who is white, and another male regular, who is also white, Friday night at 10:30 when fists started flying, patrons said.
LIONEL McINTYRE "Unfortunate event."
McIntyre, who is known as "Mac" at the bar, shoved Davis, and when the other patron and a bar employee tried to break it up, the prof slugged Davis in the face, witnesses said.
"The punch was so loud, the kitchen workers in the back heard it over all the noise," bar back Richie Velez, 28, told The Post. "I was on my way over when he punched Camille and she fell on top of me."
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sirius/XM Satellite Host Dr. Wilmer Leon Talks about Heather's Case
Listen as Dr. Wilmer Leon speaks with Elliot Millner and Pastor Nathaniel Ellis about Heather's trial.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Media Coverage on the Heather Ellis Trial Continues
CNN is going to interview Dr. Boyce Watkins on Friday, and Fox 5 has jumped on the case.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
NNPA Discusses Heather Ellis and her Fight for Justice
By Pharoh Martin NNPA National Correspondent
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 8:53 AM CST
(NNPA) - Because of a trip to Walmart three years ago, Heather Ellis is now fighting for her life. The 24-year-old former college student is facing felony charges that could get her up to 15 years in prison after being arrested for an incident that stemmed from her cutting a line at a Walmart in Kennet, Missouri.
The case is garnering national attention because of the racial underpinnings and perceived multiple injustices involved. It goes to trial Nov. 18. On November 16, the Your Black World Coalition, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union, National Action Network, and Southern Christian Leadership Conference plan to converge on the small town of Kennett to protest and heighten the publicity.
Here’s what happened: On Jan. 6, 2007, Ellis and her cousin were sent on a midnight run to Walmart by her parents to pick up some items. With her cousin already standing in line near the register, Ellis tried to join him at the front of the line. That's when the clerk accused Ellis of cutting in front of other customers.
Customers behind objected and verbally accosted the then 21-year-old, according to Ellis' father Rev. Nathanial Ellis in an interview with the NNPA News Service. One White customer physically pushed the former college student. Ellis tried to explain that she was joining her cousin who was already in line and told the lady not to push her again. She was subsequently pushed again. The cashier would later refuse to ring Ellis up even after everybody else in line went through.
“The cashier stalled my daughter long enough for the night manager to come up,” Rev. Ellis explained. “My daughter paid with cash but she asked my daughter for an I.D. [Heather] said that she didn't need an ID because she paid with cash.”
Christopher Metzler Spars with Bill O'Reilly
Dr. Christopher Metzler at Georgetown University spars with Bill O'Reilly over President Obama's position on race relations.
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