May 2008 Archives

Atlanta Fox News channel 5 reported on 53 year old Carolyn Jones, a Georgia substitute teacher who was involved in a fight with a student last week. The fight allegedly occurred on the last day of a school at a Stone Mountain high school, while it was being filmed on a cell phone. Was it a set up by the students? Was the teacher justified in defending herself? Should she be fired? What should happen to the student? Do cell phones encourage this kind of behavior? This incident was aired on the Nancy Grace show. High school student engages in a fight with 16 year old student. This fight occurred on the last day of school.

The student supposedly told someone she was going to take the teacher's wig off. The teacher allegedly removed the wig before the throwdown. A teacher student fight video...times have changed. I would not have dreamed of ever getting into a physical fight with a teacher. Both are charged with disorderly conduct.

There are charges of racism and discrimination in the United States Secret Service in a federal lawsuit brought by black employees, and tonight the story airs on “"Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. ET.

According to ABC News:

“The Secret Service flatly rejects the allegations, but the lawsuit has led to the discovery of troubling internal e-mails circulated among senior Secret Service managers.

One video e-mail attachment depicts an interracial couple — a black man and a white woman — lying on the ground kissing, and then rolling over onto a white sheet. The shot then reveals a group of Ku Klux Klan members surrounding the couple and a burning cross.

That video, according to court documents, made the rounds among senior Secret Service agents.

One of the agents who was recently on the detail of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is under investigation for allegedly sending a January 2005 e-mail that included a crude sexual joke about blacks and American Indians.” READ MORE...

Photo Credit:
ABC News

Man oh man, I hope this isn't true. They are my favorite tennis players. But the reality is, there are many blacks that don't patronize other black owned services or businesses. There is an excellent interview over at Black Tennis Pros blog with blackprofessional tennis coach, Morris King, Jr., photo'd with Richard Williams. King has coached the sisters in the past and here is what he had to say on their hiring practices:

Q: What did you like the most and the least about working with Richard Williams and his daughters?

A: The opportunity itself is what I liked the most. What I liked the least I cannot say due to the agreement. But I will say that I don't like the fact that the sisters, since having reached their majority age (meaning that they make their own decisions due to adulthood) ONLY hire whites, unless the person is a family member.

I am one of those Blacks that was arrested in the 60's for protest marching so that there could be a Venus and Serena Williams as world champions. I was a mere 12 years old when I went to jail (juvenile shelter) so that our people could have the opportunity to achieve success. Does anyone actually believe that I and others placed our lives on the line so that Black folk could have opportunity, then, in turn, give away any resulting opportunities to others, when there are exceptionally competent, talented and professional Black folk available who need a break??? This is a very obvious manifestation of a hidden and deeper self-hatred.

Reference:
Black Tennis Pros

Photo Credit:
Magian10s.com

What an inspirational story. Faith and Chioma Nwoaha moved to the United States less than three years ago from Nigeria, and both graduated at the top of their class as valedictorians. Chioma, 18, is senior class valedictorian at English High School, while Faith, just 16, earned the same top title for Jeremiah Burke High School. Faith is on the left and Chioma is on the right.

You know academic scholarships rained gold dust on them. One will attend Boston University and the other will attend Northeastern University. I think both have their sight on medical school.

Their mom, Comfort Nwoaha, a certified nursing assistant must be twice proud, “This is really a dream come true for us. We came to America to move forward and now I feel as though we truly are,” she said.

Sadly, while many Americans fair well in school, countless others don’t see and take advantage of all of the educational opportunities in front of them. But thousands of outsiders have their eyes on the prize. READ MORE...

Congrats to the girls for all of their hard work, and their family for instilling good values in them!

Reference:
Boston Herald

Photo Credit:
Boston Herald

Beyonce and Shakira ain't got nothing on him...LOL, his hips don't lie...lol and all he needed was to get rid of that pots and pans music, and add a hip hop beat or reggae riddim to make this video complete. Someone should remix this.

Wow! It seems like the word "monkey" has experienced a surge in popularity usage, especially globally. Take a look at this YouTube video in which Aussie cricket player Andrew Symonds is being verbally abused with racial chants, where ironically over 90% the people chanting are either his shade of skin color or darker, AND don't look much different from him.



I don't want to get into the inferiority complex some East Indians suffer from, so I will save that post for another day. Andrew Symonds Bio

I was listening to Tom Joyner in the car about an hour ago, and he was talking about he heard Marlon Jackson was working at a grocery store as a grocery bagger and brother Randy Jackson worked at a friend’s car wash or auto body shop, I can’t quite remember, but it was shocking to hear this.

However, if this is true, at least they are out making an honest living. I wonder if they exhausted all of their loan options with Janet, Michael or Latoya? Shouldn't they have trust funds set up? Someone MUST have snapped a photo of that grocery bagging action, if this is true. I will believe it when I see it.

Twelve year old Oregon student, Jaime Nared was kicking the boys' butts in basketball, and parents started complaining…LOL, supposedly, as a result, a no-mixed gender rule was implemented by the basketball league…LOL. I don’t think the girls should be playing with boys anyway. She looks like a beautiful baby SHAQuila O’Neala, towering over those little boys. Interesting story. Nared is nearly 6'1" and has a goal of being in the NBA, not the WNBA. What's wrong with playing in the WNBA? WATCH VIDEO

Some ABC News reader comments, which I think are more interesting than the actual story:

"It's all about money isn't it? The video was the silliest media circus I've ever seen. I think the ABC News department must be secretly run by Dan Rather! Get your facts straight and start using common sense before you try selling a stupid story like this one! Good grief! I can't wait to see the poor little thing play in the NBA! When some big monster like Ben Wallace fouls her into the bleachers! Would you really want your daughter to do that??? Let her play in the WNBA instead and help that league gain more respect and more fans by showing that she can dominate there."---dad_garland

"Mrs. Nared- Please stop trying to sell the lie that we made any policies based off of your daughter's skill level. These policies were in place before the start of the season and your team's coach signed off on these policies when he registered his teams in the league. He has been told on numerous occasions that these leagues are not co-ed. He should have been honest with you in the beginning. As a private business we DO have the right to run leagues that are NOT co-ed RIGHT? Do you honestly believe that your daughter should be privileged because of her skill level? Does that sound like an argument for equality? As a private business do we have the right to make an all girls league without boys playing in it or does this just apply to the boys? If your daughter is not allowed to play in the NBA will they be facing the headache you have given The Hoop?" ---mattisborn

This blog has collaborated with Unitee Design to award three lucky contest winners with one of their fabulous, high quality, professionally designed black pride t-shirts. To enter the contest, you will need to create a short 350 words or less written work on the subject of ‘Black Unity.’

The submission can be a creative or thought provoking opinion, open letter, statement, problems and/or solutions, poetry, lyrics, blog post, a photo with explanation, essay or video less than 5 minutes in length, etc…let your creative juices flow. Submit something you have already written or a video you have already produced and want to share. Three winners will receive a Unitee Design T-Shirt courtesy of Unitee Design, and a Shell or Mobil gas card compliments of WeNeedToStop.com. My favorite entry will receive a $100 gas card, 2nd fave gets a $50 gas card, and the 3rd fave gets $25 gas card.

Etana is another underexposed songstress. Beautiful voice.

Twenty-three year old Rebecca Payne, a Northeastern University student was found shot to death in her apartment. She lived in a building, which housed other university students, elderly residents, and families with children. Apartment dwellers reported to police that they heard shots fired, but no one bothered to pick up the phone to call the police. We don’t call the cops anymore when we hear gunshots?

A Boston police spokesperson said it was not a high gun activity neighborhood, but someone who lives in the complex said he did not call the cops, because shots are heard periodically. He just shrugged it off. The maintenance man found her in her apartment. There is always the slim possibility that a phone call may have saved her life. READ MORE... This case has received national coverage, and last night, Fox News channel's Greta Van Susterin featured this crime story on her "On the Record" show.

ABC News reports:

“The New Milford, Conn., native was loyal to the Yankees despite going to college in Boston surrounded by Red Sox fans. She was also true to "her British roots," her parents said, as a fan of an English football club. "On her bedroom wall hangs the poster for the Liverpool Football Club, with its anthem, 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'"

In the cross examination of the alleged victim's former childhood best friend of 10 years, Simha Jamison, AP reports:

"Adam also showed pictures of a shirtless Kelly and asked Jamison how she knew it was his body on the video. "His head was attached to it," she responded, drawing laughter from several jurors."

Four witnesses including, the childhood best friend Simha, her father, the aunt and uncle of the alleged victim testified.

"She testified that she and her friend visited Kelly at his recording studio and at a Chicago basketball court dozens of times, starting when they were around the age of 12.

Her friend first introduced her to Kelly as "her godfather," Jamison said, adding that the singer frequently gave her friend cash gifts -- "no less than $100 and no more than $500."" READ MORE...

Although it is too premature to tell, it's looking more like the old duck theory just may be proven.

Reference:
Yahoo! News
AP

"It is time for Queens to strike out on our own. In 30 days, a legal framework will be established that will be designed to use every political, social and economic weapon to make the improvement of black female experience a top priority in America." Get involved. Stop complaining and work for change. Get more information on BlackWomenVote!

This is a parody of Usher's new song 'Love in the Club Remix' LOL. Willie, has a lot of time on his hand.

A few hours ago, Boston’s 96.9 WTKK talk radio personality, Jay Severin played a sound bite of Barack Obama calling his wife Michelle, ‘beautiful’, and Jay snickered something like, “I don’t think so… ‘she is yugly! She is yugly!’” Yugly sounded like “Yooggly.”

He loves words and carefully constructs his wording, so if you ever asked him if he called her 'ugly' on the air, he will be able to deny it. Instead of using the actual word ‘ugly,’ he played around with the word. I wonder what his wife looks like.

His opinion is his and he is entitled to it, but here is a photo of his mug. (and I selected a photo with sunglasses to protect your eyes), and if you disagree with me and like what you see, here is one of his more trying to look sexy photos: Sexy Severin

He is the last person who should be negatively commenting on someone’s appearance on the air…LOL

Btw, he used to always talk negatively about Hillary Clinton’s features calling her what’s equivalent to a fat @ss on many occasions. NOW, she is respectfully referred to as Mrs. Clinton. LOL, I wonder who had “the talk” with him.

Capitol Hill addresses oil: Big oil execs testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD, commitee member and CNBC's Michelle Caruso Cabrera. Some say supply and demand has failed, and other dispute that argument. Do Americans really have an addiction to oil?

We are a wasteful society, and when I see someone like a Tiger Woods who has been reported to have recently purchased a $65 million dollar home in New York State, I think of the waste. That huge home has to be heated in the winter, and I am quite certain it is not solar powered. All of those rooms have to be heated, and other mini McMansions really help to drain oil resources. Everyone is trying to compete with each other from having the biggest lawnmower to the fanciest automobile.

I have changed my driving habits to try to do my part. Do you drive as much as you used to? I know people won't admit it, but have you ever purchased a bigger vehicle or home, because it had to look better or more expensive than so and so's? WATCH VIDEO

Spike Lee is condemning movie director/actor Clint Eastwood for failing to include black soldier portrayals in two of his films, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. Hundreds of black soldiers fought for the Japanese island in 1945.

Lee said: “There were many African-Americans who survived that war and who were upset at Clint for not having one [in the films]. That was his version: the negro soldier did not exist. I have a different version.”

According to the Times Online, Spike said Eastwood had information on blacks who served in the war, but “It’s not like he could say he didn’t know. It was a conscious decision not to have any black people.” READ MORE...

Spike was speaking at a Cannes Film Festival press conference and promoted his new World War II film “Miracle at St. Anna” an epic story about the all-black 92nd Buffalo Division, which fought the Germans in Italy, and four African-American soldiers get trapped in a Tuscan village.

"Miracle at St. Anna" is due out in October 2008 and stars Derek Luke, Kerry Washington, John Leguizamo, Michael Ealy, Joseph Gorden, Derek Luke, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Matteo Sciabordi, John Leguizamo, and Joseph Gordon Levitt.

Here is Spike in an interview talking about the Miracle at St. Anna and race.

Our state Senator Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after suffering from seizure episodes. Nine thousand people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year, and the life expectancy is 1-5 years after diagnosis for the average person. More than half of the patients diagnosed die within 18 months of the diagnosis. Coverage is wall to wall here, as one would expect. All the best, Senator Kennedy.

Here is a link to a physician authored article on this type of diagnosis. It is good general information on brain tumors. Glioma Brain Tumor: Senator Ted Kennedy, What Does It Mean?

Gossip columnist, Jawn Murray is reporting Robin Givens will host her own talk show and it will be produced by Montel Williams. Givens did some hosting on the old talk show "Forgive or Forget," a show hosted by Mother Love. The 43 year old mother of two boys has had enough drama in her life to host a show of serious subject matter, I suppose, but are people still repulsed by the mere mention of her name? Maybe. There is no mention in his column of what type of show she will bring to the airwaves, but all I can say is: Do we need another talk show? I have never been able to take much interest in anything Givens has done. Anyway, much success wishes sent her way. READ MORE...

Mulligan's Tavern a Marietta, Georgia bar owned by Mike Norman is supposedly selling 'OBAMA in '08' t-shirts with Curious George monkey image on the front. Atlanta's WSBTV reports the publishing company Houghton Mifflin, which owns the rights to the cartoon character is said to be weighing its legal options.

The news station adds:
The Anti-Defamation League also condemned the T-shirt being sold, saying it's, "An outrageous slur against Barack Obama and all African Americans."

"Mike Norman - the bar's owner - pretends he is shocked that people would be offended by the T-shirt," said Bill Nigut, ADL's Southeast Regional Director. "But he knows full well that the characterization of African Americans as monkeys is a highly offensive stereotype. Every time he sells one of the shirts he is happily sending a racist message out the door." READ MORE...

Mulligan's has exercised his free speech, so if you want to exercise yours, here is the link to contact information if you want to contact the owner, and let him know what you think about his t-shirts. Contact Mulligan's

I don't know how come I didn't run across this story in my Boston Herald, but thanks to Jonathan for sending me the news link.

FINALLY. FINALLY. Someone in the media was brave enough to comment on exactly what is and has been going in film for a long time. I somewhat alluded to this when I wrote a Cuba Gooding Jr. post last year. However, Wesley Morris, a Boston Globe staff writer, wrote a decent article entitled 'A Black Hole,' which appeared in yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe, about black actors, their roles, and black themed films.

He articulated clearly the problem we have with blacks in film. When we get to the heart of the issues, we have one extreme or another in respect to how we are presented in film and the movie industry. To quote him: In film, the choice is either bawdy and preachy or earnest but safe---with a void in between." He made much reference to Tyler Perry, giving him positive acknowledgement for his accomplishments, but on the other hand, appropriately criticizes his style, because as he states "he is black movies right now." In addition, studio executives are looking to emulate the success of Perry's clumsiness.

An important question Morris asks, and I ask myself this every time I see a Grade A actress such as an Angela Bassett landing mediocre roles, is how can a Terrence Howard play a legendary role in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," but be cast as Robert Downey Jr.'s jealous sidekick in "Iron Man?" Morris mentioned Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's next “big” role as Jessica Parker's assistant in the “Sex and the City” movie. What is going on here?

A reader sent this video link to a meaningful, thought provoking song called 'Keep Praying'. Enjoy.

"A Reflective song, utilizing modern day imagery, provoking thought to where we are and what is around the corner. This is Real life."---Lifeline Entertainment

Thanks Miriam for the suggestion! :)

We are back to another non-issue. What about the issues? The media continues to focus on the fact that Obama called a reporter 'sweetie.' He leaves an apology message on the reporter's voice mailbox, and she further fuels the flames and plays it back to the media.

I am not a water carrier for Obama, but now people want him to answer questions about calling her 'sweetie.' I have never witnessed such ridiculousness. If he does offer an explanation, it will never be good enough, and only give people something else to pick apart and complain about. They need to take Keyshia Coles advice and LET IT GO.

It has been reported that ex-NBA star Charles Barkley has unpaid casino gambling debt of $400,000, which he acknowledges and says he intends to pay. These are apparently old debts, and with the career earnings he has made, that amount is probably synonymous to about $4000 for the majority of us, and even $400 for many other people, and $40 for the poorest of people, and $4 for a broke homeless person. I have read reports of impending criminal charges he faces, if the sum isn't paid. How could you let $400,000 slide?

I remember reading maybe last year where he won $700,000, I think, then he said something to the effect, that he has lost maybe $2 million, so he we winning his money back. The figures may be off, but the point is he is a gambler. And I don't care how many millions you make, when you can lose that kind of money at a casino, something is wrong.

The San Diego Union-Tribune quotes him as saying, "My mistake...I'm not broke, and I'm going to take care of it.” Sounds like the issue is a bit deeper than whether or not he is broke. Continued habitual gambling, no matter how much money you have--- eventually leads to BROKE. I wonder how much rice he could have bought with that money? READ MORE...

Is this hilarious or what? Barkley says the casino didn't call him. LOL

According to ESPN Barkley says he has been gambling for 20 years. If you have been gambling for 20 years, that sounds like a potential problem exists. Chucky, seek help--if you need it.

ESPN notes:

"Barkley could be granted up to six months to pay if he agrees to the standard district attorney's office restitution program, bad check unit chief Bernie Zadrowski said. He would be responsible for the $400,000 plus a 10 percent program fee totaling $40,000.

Roger said that if the case remains unresolved, as many as four felony theft or four felony bad check charges could be filed. The possible penalty for each theft conviction is one to 10 years in state prison. A conviction on a felony bad check charge could carry a one- to four-year term." READ MORE...

Critics of this ad are buzzing about the tight clothes and stilletos the young children wear in this advertisement. Do you see this as innocently creative advertisement? What about parents who buy these types of clothing for children, are they being irresponsible parents by buying clothes such as the child models have in Beyonce's House of Dereon children's clothing line? Do you find nothing wrong with the ad?

Conservative political pundit and columnist, Michelle Malkin's title of her column on the subject: "KIDDIE-PORN CHIC: BEYONCE'S TINY HO'S" was highly inappropriate, but I understand the point she is trying to make, and agree with most of her column. Beyonce, like most child stars, and I am speculating, may have missed most of her childhood due to performing, and probably matured quite fast and obviously sees nothing wrong with this ad, so I could see some justification as to why she would market her product in this fashion. I don't agree with how children are presented in the ad.

Malkin writes:

"If you thought the soft-porn image of Disney teen queen Miley Cyrus - wearing nothing but ruby-stained lips and a bedsheet - in Vanity Fair magazine was disturbing, you ain’t seen nothing yet. [The young models] are seductively posed and tarted up, JonBenet Ramsey-style, with lipstick, blush and face powder…The creepiness factor is heightened by the fact that women were responsible for marketing this child exploitation. So, what’s next? Nine-year-olds performing stripper routines?"
READ MORE...

Well, what do you think about this publication?

Spotted at WhatAboutOurDaughters by way of Black and Missing Blog. http://blackandmissing.blogspot.com

You can download the pdf file for this publication here.

Joshua Packwood graduated at the top of his class with a 4.0 grade point average. He will make history at the historically black college as the first white valedictorian in the school's 141 year history. Packwood could have gone to any Ivy League school of choice, but he chose Morehouse in Atlanta, Georgia. “I’ve been forced to see the world in a different perspective, that I don’t think I could’ve gotten anywhere else," Joshua states. READ MORE...

Reference:
MSNBC

Photo Credit:
FreshDizion.com

All I can say is "wow!" Another child genius, Moshe Kai Cavalin, 10, has an A- average at the East Los Angeles College in California. He is taking courses in advanced mathematics, foreign languages and music. I wonder outside of studying and school if he acts like and plays like a 'typical' 10 year old. These stories always amaze me. Was he speaking, read, and peforming mathematical calculations at 12 months of age? READ MORE...

Reference:
MSNBC

Jamaican dancehall artist Assassin is doing a collabo with R&B superstar Usher, for a remix of Love In This Club. How many times are they going to re-fix this song? I flat out don't like this song.

I don't hate it, but it's just an average sounding song (to me, and it does not match the same level as his previous work), so hopefully, Assassin can add so island fire to it and change my mind.

His videos are always cool. Love dancehall. READ MORE... WATCH Love in this Club Video

Reference:
The Jamaica Star

Below is an opinion piece from the LA Times. The government wants to ban flavored cigarettes, but not menthol flavored cigarettes. Seventy-five percent of black smokers buy menthol cigarettes, so the message is: Blacks can have their menthol cigarettes along with the cancer, heart, chronic and terminal respiratory disease and ailments, cigarette smoking causes? They want to protect non-menthol flavored smokers, but not menthol flavored smokers? I agree people shouldn't take the first puff which may be the beginning of a lifelong habit, but that is not the subject at hand. Great article.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Why not ban menthol?

A new bill stops short of banning the cigarette flavoring with the most market appeal, and the most African American buyers.
May 14, 2008

Legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration power to regulate tobacco products includes the ability to ban flavored cigarettes, such as those infused with strawberry, cloves or cinnamon. But it stops short of listing the flavoring that actually entices the most smokers: menthol. Mentholated brands, it seems, are simply too important to the industry's bottom line. But let's be clear: It's not the brands that are important, it's the buyers -- African Americans.

Almost 75% of African American smokers use menthol brands, compared with one-quarter of white smokers, and removing menthol might lead to a significant drop in smoking. That could lead to a big drop in profits, as menthol cigarette sales account for more than a quarter of the $70-billion U.S. market.

Democrat Karen Bass has been sworn in as speaker of the California Assembly and she is the first black woman to hold that position since the Legislature was created 159 years ago. She the FIRST Black female speaker in the country. The 54 year old is a former community activist. Remember that history tidbit. READ MORE...

Watch her news interview

I know school is coming to a close for many, but this is an interesting story about Laurence Thomas, a black Syracuse University philosophy professor, who recently caused a campus wide debate on text messaging in class. Some students were texting in class and he walked out. Students and family members were angered, saying they pay $30,000 for tuition and he should not have walked out. I took a course where the professor had a rule: If your cell phone goes off in class, you are dismissed for that day. I never heard one ringtone in that class.

Here are excerpts from Higher Ed:

"Thomas followed through on his threat (as he had done just a few days earlier). And he then sent the university’s chancellor, his dean, and all of the students an e-mail message explaining his actions and his frustration at the “brazen” disrespect he had received in class. In the e-mail, he noted that the student who sent the text message is Cuban, and that last year, two Latino students had started to play tic-tac-toe during his class.

While Thomas noted that white students are also rude, he expressed frustration that — especially as a minority scholar himself — he would be treated in this way. “One might have thought that for all the talk about racism and the good of social equality, non-white students would be particularly committed to respecting a black professor,” Thomas wrote.

What the bleep was she thinking? What is the mindset of a person who thinks this attire is appropriate for a school prom? She wound up getting arrested for...perhaps, disturbing the peace? WATCH VIDEO

Rihanna spoke with Contact Music on how she's tiring of having to be phony and fake at all times (pretending to be happy) with fans and people in general (when she's actually miserable and unhappy at times), because of her star status in the music industry:

"I love what I do but, yes, this stuff does start to take its toll on you. Sometimes you get really miserable and on the edge, but people don't know why you're acting like that.

"You always want to be kind to people, so you're forced to be a bubbly person, but, to be honest, sometimes I'd just like to sit in a corner by myself and be quiet."

LOL. Wondering if she was feeling that way in this photo at WDKX when she took the pic with Liz...lol, just a thought.

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Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy your day Queens, and those grandparents, sisters, brothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who take the place of mom. Another day, also to reflect on the moms and grandmothers whom have passed on.

Artwork:
A Mother's Love by Kolongi

I was thinking about 15 year old Tiffany Evans, the talented teenage actress/singer, and below is her dismal Soundscan CD sales for 4/29/08. She sold 4,713 copies of her album and her album was positioned in the 134th spot. I am somewhat puzzled and keep asking myself, why can't young black girls enjoy successes similar to a Miley Cyrus, who is on the fast tract to a billion dollar revenue producing career?

134 EVANS*TIFFANY TIFFANY EVANS 4,651 999 48 4,713

Yes, there is Raven Simone, but she is all grown up now and someone needs to fill that age group where Simone graduated from...why not a Tiffany Evans? Why does a Disney not jump at the chance? Somebody help me on this one. Miley, replaced the teen/pre-teen/tween IT girl who held the crown before she came on the scene who was not a person of color.

Why can't someone like Tiffany enjoy a similar success? She is more talented vocally, is just as beautiful, talented, and isn’t linked to any scandals (that I am aware of). Tiffany has not reached the point to where she is *flaunting it* to sell records, and I hope this won't be a future strategy to move units.

What about network corporations taking a chance on, if not her, Keke Palmer or someone else? If someone has some insight please educate me with some facts...not conspiracy theories. Send an email if you don't want to leave a comment. Thanks. I am baffled, because it's an issue that isn't raised enough.

In the court house, that is. Finally. I can't believe it. He arrived at noon in the Cook County Criminal Courts Building looking confident. Jury selection begins today. Can't wait to see the side by side screen shots after the verdict is rendered. You would think he was getting ready to do a charity concert, after walking the red carpet, with all of the fans screaming his name on the side line. READ MORE... and follow the link to watch the video.

I am surprised he did not do away with the braids. Those seem to be the first thing to go-- to change up the ole image. Grab your wine glasses or koolaid...whatever your preference, let us toast: Here's to no more delays

According to the Chicago Tribune here is the 14 count indictment against R.Kelly:

Count 1: Child pornography – intercourse

Counts 2 and 3: Child pornography – sexual contact

Count 4: Child pornography – masturbation

Count 5:Child pornography – lewd fondling

Count 6: Child pornography – excretion/urination

Count 7: Child pornography – pose/exhibition

Counts 8-14: Child pornography – produces or performs

Each charge is a Class 1 felony. If found guilty, the sentence would be non-consecutive, meaning he would get the same time – 4 to 15 years – whether he is convicted of one or all the charges. The charges are also non-probationable, which means, if convicted, he will have to serve time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Therefore, if he is found guilty of one charge he will have a minimum of 4 years with no probation. If he is found guilty of all 14 charges he is looking at a minimum of 4 x 14= 56 years. So the math puts all of that stalling into perspective.

That's the greatest phrase someone in dire need of a bone marrow transplant can hear.

Once again, we have another bone marrow success story. Five years ago Eunique Darby, a 14-year-old ninth grade Syracuse, New York student was diagnosed with Leukemia. Recently, her community organized a donor drive and as a result, over 150 people registered. A 100% match donor was found, and since the information about the potential donor is confidential, we do not know the person or their location. Eunique is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This is life-saving news.

This young person was blessed with a second chance. What a feel good real human-interest story. I wish her well.

According to Syracuse’s News 10 Now: “Eunique will travel to Rochester for her transplant in June. She will stay there for several months while she recovers, but she will not be "cured" until she's gone five years without a relapse.” They are planning a benefit and organizing more drives for other patients. WATCH VIDEO

We should not be waiting for a celebrity to call us to action to register. If you want to register and join the National Marrow Donor Program visit: www.Marrow.org

The Miami Herald did a phenomenal job with it's series called "A Rising Voice: Afro-Latin Americans" and it is a five part series on black populations is Latin America, accompanied with beautiful photos which capture the lives of people in some of these countries. Countries covered include, Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Photo'd above are two young ladies for Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua.

In the Honduras and Nicaragua they address cultural and civil rights issues. A quote in the Dominican Republic segment "Nearly all Dominican women straighten their hair, which experts say is a direct result of a historical learned rejection of all things black." The Brazilian part covers "racial democracy." The Cuban part covers the black political activism movement. READ MORE...

Reference:
Miami Herald

Photo Credit:
Miami Herald

This couple is kissing outdoors in Salvador, Brazil. I don't think I can ever recall seeing a black couple kissing in public. I have witnessed a white couple or two in my lifetime swapping saliva, but in general, is this something we do?

Photo Credit:
Miami Herald

I had to bring this one back after what this guy has being going through. Reese Hopkins of WRKO made this "My Name's Barack Obama I Came to Bring the Drama" rap song. It is comedy. So don't take it seriously.

Just when I was sick of hearing about Rev. Wright, even whining, Reese comes up with a Rev.Wright remix. Oprah's vocals are thrown in the mix of it all. Follow the jump to listen to the remix. I don't know why, but Vanilla Ice crosses my mind everytime I hear this song. Listen to the audio here if you can't open YouTube.

I just played this quiz to try to pick out a person who has HIV. Sure, we can't tell by looking at someone, but sometimes our instincts are correct. Try it and see the impact it may have on you. www.posornot.com

Actress, comedian, and I think attorney, Aisha Tyler volunteers for the Hometown Heroes Campaign for the Red Cross. She is a national celebrity cabinet member.

"I joined the Red Cross celebrity cabinet because I believe deeply that the great gift, and burden, of being human is our responsibility to share what gifts we have and do what we can to alleviate the suffering of others." -- Aisha Tyler

I had to do a double take on this film. It looked like a brawl at a European football game. The men were beaten, stomped, and kicked by police who pursued them in a car chase, after a stop, after reports of a nearby shooting. READ MORE...

WATCH VIDEO

Mildred Jeter Loving, 68, passed away from pneumonia in her Milford, VA home this past Friday. She refused to accept Virginia's ban on interracial marriage and led a fight which resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court striking bans on mixed marriages across the country. Her husband was Richard Loving and they had three children together.

She always said she did nothing noteworthy and never considered herself a pioneer. According to the U.S. Census bureau, there are 4.3 milion interracial couples.

Reference:

New York Times: Mildred Loving, Who Battled Ban on Mixed-Race Marriage, Dies at 68

Photo Credit: NY Times

Another funny Steve Harvey Morning Show "Nephew Tommy" Prank...LOL. Here is the audio.

"I been at this church for 47 years. I been saved all my life...telling me bout some 'be nice.' LOL

Is straight to DVD the new trend? Seems as if people aren't going to movie theatres anymore. I really enjoy the theatre experience. Vivica's new film will be released on May 13th on DVD and it's about downlow men and raises HIV awareness. She stars with Aunjanue Ellis and the film is directed by Bill Duke (remember him as Abdullah, the black militant activist, in the 1970's movie "Carwash"?). This sounds like an interesting movie, and here is actress and director in an interview about the film, with scenes from the movie.

Here is a video of those famous Haitian mud cake and cookie survival delicacies being prepared. Seeing is believing. I have read it. Now I see it. The ingredients: mud, salt, butter, water, lemon

Reference:
Desperate Haitians Survive On Mud Cookies
MostHighMinistries.com

The celebrities appear in commercial campaigns starting this week to reach out to African American consumers in an effort to increase multicultural marketing by the company, Colgate-Palmolive.

Holly Robinson Peete promotes a new toothpaste, Total Advanced Whitening, and the gospel duo Mary Mary take part in the company’s “"A Mother's Smile” special Mother’s Day promotion. Holly's daughter is so cute in the video. My has she grown up. Time flies. Tom's of Maine Natural toothpaste is my preference. When is Cogate going to come out with a natural toothpaste? I'm waiting..

Does the pressure really begin in preschool? This little girl is already thinking about law school. Check out the vocab...lol, she's probably ready to take the SAT or LSAT. This is a symbolic video about societal pressure to be accepted by others. I like it. The YouTube member describes the video:

"A preschool girl attempts to gain social status through material means only to find out she's been trumped."

This was a same-sex gay marriage debate. Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, D-Philadelphia was speaking to a black pastor when he made the slavery remark. Was the slavery comment a bad analogy? Yes. However, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Check out the debate.WATCH VIDEO

Here is an excerpt:

"What you are advocating here is that we take away the rights of a minority. And I don't think that's right," Fumo, a staunch defender of gay rights, told the witness, Gilbert Coleman Jr., senior pastor of Freedom Christian Bible Fellowship in Philadelphia.

He added, "If we introduced a bill on slavery, it might pass. That doesn't make it right."

Coleman, who was testifying in favor of the measure, responded: "I doubt that sir."

"Oh, don't bet on it in this General Assembly," Fumo countered. "I know some people up here, especially on a secret ballot, it would be almost unanimous."

Reference:
ABC News

A list devised by a task force of physicians from prestigious universities, medical groups, and military and government agencies was submitted as recommendations for patients whose lives won’t be spared or won’t be on the priority list for emergency treatment should there be a pandemic outbreak. These recommendations appear in the May edition of Chest, the medical journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. A pandemic occurs when an infectious disease hits large masses of populations and can even spread globally.

The list violates federal laws on age and disability discrimination, but seriously, who is going be running around trying to enforce these laws in the advent of a catastrophic national or potentially worldwide pandemic.

Here is a list of those who will not be on the priority list to be saved if we should experience a pandemic.

Troy Simpson an African American retired Dallas police officer and CEO/founder of Trafficare International was featured in a segment on CNN this weekend.

His company offers a service similar to an insurance type plan or a AAA membership. Think along those line. First you sign up for membership, and once you become a member, your moving violation tickets will be paid.

Moving violations covered according to the website: red lights, stop signs, yield signs, etc. Sounds like a good service if you are addicted to traffic tickets or if you are a person who likes to have insurance for everything.


Trafficare costs $12.95 a month and you're allowed up to seven moving violations a year. And, the cost covers fines and increases in insurance premiums.

The advantages they list to becoming a member, especially if you are a serial ticket recipient include:

• Saves you money
• Saves you time
• No trips to court
• No time off work
• No attorney needed
• No court cost
• Traffic Tickets are paid guaranteed
• Increased insurance premiums paid guaranteed
• Defensive driving paid guaranteed
• Driver safety courses paid guaranteed

For more info visit: www.trafficare.net

This film was spotted over at the blog Black Women Vote! (BWV). BWV interviewed Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinley. She is running for U.S. President on the Green Party ticket. For those who are not familiar with her, you will recall when she made headlines back in 2006. It was widely reported that she had an altercation with Capitol police over the showing of an ID badge. READ MORE…

This past Tuesday, McKinney did an interview with BWV’s Blogtalkradio show “The Queen’s Council.” LISTEN TO AUDIO

Media mogul Babara Walters is promoting her memoir, "Audition" is which it is rumored she exposes a 1970's love affair with former African American senator Ed Brooke. Why do people feel the need to divulge affairs they have had in the past to the world? LOL, I wonder what those interview sessions were like. One could only imagine. Ba, wa, wa

Excerpt from The Washington Post:

"The two were both rising stars: The Boston-born Walters, then in her 40s and separated from her second husband, was making history as "Today" co-host and then anchor of ABC News; the D.C.-born Brooke, a decade older and estranged from first wife Remigia, had in 1966 become the first African American popularly elected to the Senate." READ MORE...

A true testament about forgiveness. This is not the first time Kai Leigh Harriott has forgiven shooter Anthony Warren. When he was sentenced, I remember her saying she forgave him. She was just a baby, and her mom, had not reached that level of readiness for forgiveness.

At that time, I did not give Kai Leigh enough credit, because my thought was: She's young and does not understand the full implications of her disability, and may grow to be quite angry one day. My anger was overwhelming. I was wrong. She still holds forgiveness in her heart and is old enough to understand what has taken place.

A stray bullet shot by Warren struck Kai Leigh in her spine when she was 3 years old and paralyzed her. Warren said he only intended to scare two women when he recklessly fired those shots in Dorchester, MA, which forever changed this young angel’s life. It seems as if this happened not so long ago.

Warren videotaped an apology in an interview conducted by the Center for Teen Empowerment, which produced this documentary called “Voices From Behind the Wall,” a video on inmates at Old Colony Correctional Center. Warren is serving a 13 to 15 year sentence there for the crime. Back then, I remember seeing her in the wheelchair, so easily forgiving of the person who stalled her childhood and robbed her of her physical abilities. More senseless gun violence. WATCH VIDEO

Learn more about what Kai Leigh is up to, visit: SheShallWalkAgain

Reference:
Boston Herald

Photo Credit:
Boston Herald

This is a short video of Brazilian international bodybuilding professional, Jane Oliveira. These bodies are a bit too hard for me. She's beautifully sculpted but I think women look ladylike with this kind of physique. And I don't think I could walk around with all of those muscles on me...lol. Just way too much muscle. Buffalicious to the extreme. I know men like fit women, but still. By the way, those aren't my Google ads on the video. It's annoying, but this clip is less than a minute.

Okay. We get it. It has reached a point of overkill. Call your radio networks and newspapers and complain if you are sick of it. Email them if it's convenient. I am not on the Obama wagon, but this coverage is getting to be ridiculous. Tonight Fox News O'Reilly is supposed to have a segment on all of the Rev's riches: his Mercedes, the number of cars he owns, his bling, property, etc. It is getting out of hand. I am a Rev. Wright show or two away from becoming a FORMER Fox News channel watcher.

One of hundreds of interesting articles out on the web: This Just In: Perception Is Reality