The Boyce Blog

Black News: Kids Invited Back To Swim

2009-07-12T22:00:00.001-04:00

A suburban Philadelphia swim club has invited children from a largely minority day-care center to come back after a June reversal that fueled allegations of racism against the club, a spokeswoman said Sunday.

Some kids from the Creative Steps Day Care center say club members made racial remarks.

The development came during a hastily called Sunday afternoon meeting of the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. Club members voted overwhelmingly to try to work things out with the day-care center, which accused some swim club members of making racist comments to black and Hispanic children contracted to use the pool, said Bernice Duesler, the club director's wife.

Duesler said the club canceled its contract with the Creative Steps day-care because of safety, crowding and noise concerns, not racism.

"As long as we can work out safety issues, we'd like to have them back," she told CNN.

She said the club has been subpoenaed by the state Human Rights Commission, which has begun a fact-finding investigation, "and the legal advice was to try to get together with these camps, " Duesler added.

Alethea Wright, Creative Steps' director, said, "They should have done that before."

Click to read.

Dr Boyce on AOL – 7/11/09

2009-07-11T16:34:00.001-04:00

Dr Boyce Education: Our Kids are Not Ready for the Future

I have some questions I'd like to ask all of us in an open and strictly rhetorical kind of ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Dr Boyce Money: Why It Pays to be a Dangerous Negro

Dangerous Negro is changing the world. A young company founded by strong, intelligent black men, ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (6)

Dr Boyce Money: What is the Financial Cost of Racism?

I recently did an interview with Charlamagne Tha God (posted below) with 100.3 "The Beat" in ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Dr Boyce: The Economic Implications of Obama's Trip to Africa

President Obama is headed to Africa this week in what appears to be a symbolic, one day visit. ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (5)

Dr Boyce on AOL – 7/8/09

2009-07-09T06:39:00.001-04:00

Dr Boyce: Did Stevie Wonder's Daughter Attempt Suicide?

MediaTakeout is reporting that the 27-year old daughter of Stevie Wonder (Takiyah) attempted ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (7)

Dr Boyce: My Call From the Obama Administration

I got a call the other day from someone in the Obama Administration. I get a sense that key ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (18)

Dr Boyce: My Encounter with Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh

Last week, I received a phone call from the producer for "The Jim Reith Show" here in Syracuse. ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (1)

Michael Jackson Being Attacked: Latest Updates on His Will

We recently heard about Congressman Peter King referring to Michael Jackson as a "pedophile and a ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (9)

Michael Jackson's Will Being Contested Heavily in Court

We've continuously discussed the financial situation wtih Michael Jackson, as well as that for ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Dr Boyce Money: Love Investments Matter More than Money

When I came up with the concept for Financial Lovemaking, I became an intense student of life: I ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (7)

The Latest in Black News from TheGrio

2009-07-09T06:32:00.001-04:00

Police: McNair murdered by girlfriend

By theGrio via AP

6:14 PM on 07/08/2009

Former NFL star Steve McNair was shot dead in his sleep last week by a 20-year-old girlfriend distraught about mounting financial problems and her belief that he was seeing someone else, police said on Wednesday.

> more
Local rapper on the run taunts police in lyrics

By theGrio

5:00 PM on 07/08/2009

Christopher Trent of Jennings, Louisiana is a fugitive on the run. Since April of last year Trent has been evading officers who are looking for him for allegedly committing several sex crimes against young girls. "We had several complaints from...

> more
Two Chicago men released after nearly 20 years

By theGrio via AP

1:40 PM on 07/08/2009

After spending nearly two decades behind bars, two Chicago men finally got a chance to smell freedom today. The Illinois Attorney General's office on Tuesday said prosecutors are dropping charges against 42-year-old Ronald Kitchen and 50-year-old Marvin Reeves. The two...

> more
Study finds blacks more likely to die of cancer

By theGrio

12:50 PM on 07/08/2009

Previous case studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to die from certain cancers. Leading practitioners in the field however, have found that biological factors may be to blame....

> more
Black American in Africa anticipates Obama's arrival

By Mara Schiavocampo

11:00 AM on 07/08/2009

The Grio's contributing correspondent Mara Schiavocampo paid a visit to Dr. Erieka Bennett, Head of Mission for the Diaspora African Forum in Accra, Ghana. Bennett is an African-American who has lived in Africa for the last 8 years. She expressed...

> more
High School football player collapses and dies

By theGrio

10:44 AM on 07/08/2009

Early Thursday evening a member of the North West High School football team in Germantown, Maryland collapsed. Sixteen-year-old Edwin Miller, who went by "Dek," was taking part in conditioning drills at the school when his medical emergency began. "He came...

> more
Teen pilot sets record

By theGrio

8:50 AM on 07/08/2009

A teenaged pilot flies into the record books. She's the youngest African American female to pilot an airplane transcontinentally. It was a record she set over the weekend. It was a flawless landing for a single engine plane piloted...

> more
Jackson's daughter speaks at the memorial

By theGrio

6:06 PM on 07/07/2009

An emotional public memorial for Michael Jackson has concluded in Los Angeles. The ceremony attended by thousands in the downtown Staples Center and watched by millions around the world had a spiritual tone punctuated by performances...

> more
Sasha Obama is Agent 99

By theGrio via AP

11:11 AM on 07/07/2009

Sasha Obama as Agent 99? President Barack Obama says his daughters proved to be "great travelers" on the family's visit to Russia and they're fitting right in -- even at the Kremlin. Obama found a lot of things to praise about Russian culture...

> more
Boston becomes the first city to offer its own iPhone app

By theGrio

11:08 AM on 07/07/2009

A city steeped in history turns to technology to report neighborhood nuisances. Boston becomes the first city in the country to offer an iPhone application connecting communities with city hall. See a pothole that needs filling...

> more

The Call I Received from The White House

2009-07-07T21:16:00.003-04:00

To join the Your Black World Coalition, please visit www.YourBlackWorld.com.

Dr. Boyce Watkins

www.BoyceWatkins.com

Hey peeps,

I wanted to share something with the YBW family. As you know, I've said quite a bit in my writing about President Obama's policies, both good and bad. Much of what I do as a Black Public Scholar is driven by what I read in the emails that you send to me (I apologize for not always being able to reply, but I always appreciate them). For example, last year when we went after Bill O'Reilly in response to his attacks on Michelle Obama, I did it because I got the sense that Black folks were frustrated by O'Reilly's underhanded activities and that I could use my media access to help give a voice to those I love (yes, I love you and I am not afraid to say it!).

Well, there are times when I've praised President Obama when his decisions serve the interests of our community, but I also try to engage in just enough critical analysis to never give a blank check to any politician. Perhaps as a result of all this, I received a call last week from someone within the Obama Administration. I should probably not say his name in public, but I have made it clear that I represent the people, so I want to share the spirit of our correspondence with you.

In light of the fact that many Black newspapers and magazines across the country are unfortunately going bankrupt (due to the decline of print media), he and others are looking to the Internet to see what the Black community is thinking. AOL Black Voices is the largest Black news website in America (Essence.com is number 2, according to his calculations and my own), so its natural that this be one of the places that the administration looks to see what African Americans are happy and not so happy about.

You know that I don't typically hang out with politicians (I'm not interested in being a politician, since I am addicted to telling the truth), but I listen when people talk. After listening to this official for an hour (who was very respectful and informative), I got the sense that he really wants our feedback. Now obviously, there is a difference between listening and acting, but Barack is in a very tough position right now, and I think we should at least make sure that his administration hears from us when they make critical decisions. The last thing they want to do is roll something out and then find out that it has made us angry.

The Obama Administration official has offered to run ideas by me before releasing them to the public (which I am fine with him doing), but the truth is that I don't want to be any kind of "public voice" that mutes the individual voices in our community. So, I let him know that while I would certainly be happy to share my own opinions, it is most important that I help facilitate the sharing of opinions from those within our coalition.

So, I will start by asking you to submit your opinion of the president's performance over the first 100 days in office. I have set up a link on my blog for this (which you can get to by clicking here), and after the comments have been made, I will make sure that the link is forwarded to our contact in the White House. I am hopeful that they will listen and it is my greatest hope that we can help the president succeed by telling him how we truly feel. While I certainly can't force the president do anything, we should at least supplement their information set by letting them know what matters to us and then holding them accountable in their reactions.

Here is a link to the blog. Here is a link to a video I put together breaking it all down in case you want to hear it "straight from the Boyce's mouth."

Take care and God bless,

Dr Boyce

www.BoyceWatkins.com

Dr Boyce – AOL Black Voices – 7/5/09

2009-07-05T12:57:00.001-04:00

Steve McNair's Legacy as an NFL Great: Dr. Deborah Stroman

Most of us know about the tragic death of NFL great Steve McNair. On this episode of "The ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce Money: Love Investments Matter More than Money

When I came up with the concept for Financial Lovemaking, I became an intense student of life: I ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Breaking News: Steve McNair Shot and Killed in Nashville

Image: Dr Boyce Watkins with Steve McNair in 2004 Media outlets are reporting that former NFL MVP ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (8)

Michael Jackson Update: Celeb Insider Talks about Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's financial and family situations are getting more complicated by the second. As ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Marc Lamont Hill on Michael Jackson

2009-07-04T21:38:00.001-04:00

by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill

Last week, the world lost one of its most precious treasures. Michael Jackson, the greatest entertainer to ever walk the earth, died tragically from cardiac arrest. While much of the media coverage has focused on the most salacious aspects of his life, Jackson has undoubtedly left a legacy that is bigger, broader and brighter than the words of his detractors.

To call Michael Jackson a superstar would be an extravagant understatement. In his early days with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson demonstrated a level of childhood virtuosity unseen since the days of Mozart. Although he was only 8-years-old, Jackson channeled luminaries like Sammy Davis, Stevie Wonder and Sam Cook with the effortless grace of a veteran performer. As he grew into adulthood, Jackson moved from child prodigy to world-historical figure, selling more records and garnering more fans than anyone in human history. More important than numbers or money, Michael Jackson was the embodiment of the African-American cultural tradition, a living testimony to the creative imaginations of our gods and our ancestors.

Michael Jackson's extraordinary success, however, was not purely self- serving. In pushing MTV to play his videos, Jackson opened the door for countless artists to be seen and heard on mainstream cable video networks. Decades later, Jackson's songs, music videos and dance routines continue to provide the artistic foundations for everyone from Justin Timberlake to Chris Brown. His trans-racial appeal enabled contemporary prominent blacks like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to enjoy universal appeal. On a more personal level, Michael Jackson was the first pretend boyfriend, imaginary brother and cultural hero of an entire generation of global citizens. In his best moments, Michael Jackson was quintessentially American, undeniably black and universally loved.

Click to read.

2009-07-04T00:52:00.001-04:00

The Latest

Dr Boyce: Rapper Drake Learned Lessons from BET Awards

Some have seen the discontent I expressed about the most recent BET Awards. But I am not the only ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (7)

Dr Boyce: Congressman Compares NBA Age Limit to Slavery

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Congressman Steve Cohen has chosen to take on the ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (8)

Michael Jackson Update: Details Released on the Will

We're doing a regular series here on AOL Black Voices where we talk about what's going on with the ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Dr Boyce Featured in Hip Hop Wired Magazine

2009-07-01T00:59:00.001-04:00

Hip-Hop Wired’s Michael “Ice-Blue” Harris recently sat down with scholar Dr. Boyce Watkins. The Syracuse University Financial Professor and advocate for African-Americans obtaining education and economic empowerment and warrior against racial injustice goes in on a few topics affecting Black America in the first of many insightful interviews.

HipHopWired: As far as Hip-Hop is concerned, you’ve been one of the people who….you’re part of the Hip-Hop generation, you speak to the Hip-Hop generation without criticizing but you do point out some of the things that are wrong. What are some of the changes you think we as men need to step up and do with the music?

Boyce Watkins: We need to stop being high paid hoes and learn how to be pimps. The truth is that…I actually wrote an article about this literally three days ago. Basically I created a hypothetical conversation between a rapper, a hypothetical rapper named Cash Money and the record label. Basically, Cash Money’s going to the executive and he’s saying, “Oh I know that my last album, Booties, Hoes and Bitches did real well on the charts but I’ve been thinking that this stuff’s not positive and I want to do something more positive next time, so I’m gonna do an album called Studying, Homework and Better Grades…” or something like that. I was just being silly so the executive is basically saying, “You know that’s a great idea Cash Money, I really feel ya dawg but the thing is that Booties, Hoes and Bitches sold two million copies last time and our projections show that the people who follow you, they want more booties, extra hoes and many more bitches so we’re thinking that that would be a great album title for your next release.

Click to read more.

Dr Boyce Money: Financial Advice for Michael Jackson’s Kids

2009-06-30T09:13:00.001-04:00

by Dr Boyce Watkins

"Stuntin like my daddy" was the first song on the album, "Like Father, Like Son," issued by Lil Wayne and Birdman in 2006. "Stuntin" is a hip hop term synonymous with "flossing," blinging," and "balling." It means that you've engaged in excessive spending to ensure that you have the finest of everything and are even willing to live at the edge of your means in order to present appropriate status symbols to the world. Anyone who follows hip hop knows that you should never take financial advice from a rapper. In light of the recent passing of their father, I sincerely hope that the children of Michael Jackson didn't hear the Lil Wayne song, since their daddy's financial "stuntin" before his death has left the children with a conflicted economic legacy.

On one hand, we shouldn't feel sorry for Michael Jackson's kids, at least not financially. Their father's amazing talent gives them a brand that is literally worth well over a billion dollars in future royalties and licensing fees. Michael Jackson may have died physically. But financially, he is still a viable and overwhelmingly powerful corporate entity.

Click to read.

WNBA Having Financial Problems: We Don’t Support the Women

2009-06-29T12:23:00.000-04:00

by Dr Boyce Watkins

My beautiful daughter Carmen just helped her school win its first state championship. She is the shortest person on team, the quickest and the scrappiest - both a lady and a monster when she has to be. As I sat in the stands cheering like a lunatic, I noticed that there weren't enough parents cheering along with me. The stadium was half empty, and most of the people cheering in the stands were women and children. I wondered how these young women felt, knowing that while their stands were only partially full, the boy's game (which they lost) had been sold out.

I couldn't quite figure out why we don't support women's sport the way we should: The fundamentals of the WNBA are better than the men, and the women are incredibly talented and competitive. But after some long reflection on the disparity of support, I gave myself the answer to my own question.

When planning our trip to New York City. I said to Carmen, "How would you like to see a Knicks game?" Her eyes brightened like Times Square and she shook her head up and down so hard I thought she was going to break her neck in the process. I then realized my mistake: While it was quite natural for me to think about inviting my daughter to a Knicks game, I didn't think for one second to invite her to see the New York Liberty, the women's team in the city.

Click to read.

Learning from Michael Jackson’s Debt

2009-06-29T09:36:00.001-04:00

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

Janet Jackson honors Michael at BET Awards

Doctor talks to police about Jackson's final moments

Let's remember what Michael did for us

Michael Jackson is not dead. No, he's not on a deserted island chilling with Tupac and Elvis (who some believe faked their deaths), but he is certainly alive in corporate and social spirit, impacting millions of people.

Michael will make 1000 times more money in death than most people make when they are alive. But similar to when he was alive, massive amounts of cash will have to be generated in order to counter the enormous debt that Michael created while he was doing his thing.

Reports have stated Michael Jackson's debt to be as high as half a billion dollars, enough to make some major corporations blush. What's worse is that this debt was not created via a series of sound financial investments: it was conceived by building personal amusement parks, buying rare monkey statues, and rocking his way from one expensive store to the other.

Michael's spending became his addiction. Financial needs could have been what led to him agreeing to do 50 concerts in London this year (a tour he was preparing for just before his death), when he may have not been able to handle one. It was starting to get sad watching Michael perform, similar to watching Muhammad Ali after he'd spent 10 years dealing with Don King. While the 50-year old Michael Jackson may have given a great performance, it would probably be something less than what we've come to expect.

Click to read.

Meeting Jeremiah Wright

2009-06-27T21:11:00.001-04:00

Rather than letting Fox News sound bites define Jeremiah Wright for you, take a look at his bio.

Life, Love and Legacy

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. is a man of faith, a homiletic genius, a theological scholar and a pastor’s pastor. He is a family man who enjoys spending quality time with his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.

Steeped in Family Tradition and Educational Achievements

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Wright is a son of the parsonage and hails from a family steeped in educational achievements. A third generation family member to matriculate at Virginia Union University, Dr. Wright followed in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Dr. Hamilton Martin Henderson who graduated from Virginia Union with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the late 1800s and finished seminary at Virginia Union in 1902. His father, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr., also graduated from Virginia Union with two undergraduate degrees and from the seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1938. The senior Wright also received a Master of Sacred Theology degree (S.T.M.) from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

Dr. Wright’s mother, Dr. Mary Henderson Wright, also graduated from Virginia Union and earned her first master’s degree before age 19 from the University of Chicago. She also earned a second master’s degree and her doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Foundational Strengths

With four earned degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from Howard University, a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. grew up in a home where reading books was a daily way of life. Wright read a wide range of sources from the Greek philosophers and Shakespeare to African American authors such as Carter G. Woodson (the Father of African American History) to Sterling Brown (one of the Harlem Renaissance artists), as well as one of Dr. Wright’s college professors.

A student of Black Sacred Music, ethnomusicology and African Diasporan studies, Dr. Wright is trained as an historian of religions. He came from a family where diverse ideas were discussed and lessons were learned. In that context, his faith was formed and his commitment to the continent of Africa and social justice were born. These foundational strengths shaped Dr. Wright’s vision for prophetic ministry.

Pastoral Ministry

As senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, where he served 36 years, Dr. Wright combined his studies of African Traditional Religions, African music, African American music and the African American Religious Tradition with his studies of Judeo-Christian thought to create ministries which addressed the needs of the community and enriched the lives and faith of his congregants by moving ministry, as stated in his own words, “from theory to praxis.”

Dr. Wright said in a published article: “I have tried to bring those two different worlds together [the academy and the pew] in the context of pastoral ministry in an effort to move an ignored people from hurt to healing and from hate to hope. My mission at Trinity has been to bring those worlds together by using the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the life of Christ as a model for what is possible, of what might be, and of what our faith really is—‘the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.’”

Dr. Wright’s efforts made Trinity - long considered, in theological circles, a model for the Black church - one of the most politically active and socially conscious churches in the nation. When he retired the church had over 50 active ministries with social justice advocacy at the core of its theological perspective.

From HIV/AIDS outreach programs and two senior housing complexes, to a federally funded childcare program for low-income families and the church’s newly formed Kwame Nkrumah Academy to serve students on Chicago’s South Side, the congregation has put into practice the Gospel that was preached every week.

Commitment to Education

As a result of Rev. Wright’s commitment to higher education, Trinity has provided scholarships for graduating high school seniors since 1977. Over 1000 students have been recipients of these scholarship awards and have finished both college and graduate schools. Over the past several years, the amount of scholarships awarded each year has been over $100,000 a year.

In addition to the scholarship awards, the congregation has ordained 40 seminary graduates under Pastor Wright’s leadership and currently has over 30 members of the church who are students in fully ACT-accredited seminaries, working on their Master of Divinity degrees as they prepare for full-time service to the church of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives in excess of $250,000 a year in theological education reimbursements to augment the seminarians’ efforts to acquire those degrees. The M.Div. is required for ordination for ministry in the United Church of Christ.

The Connection

In an effort to help his congregation make the connection between their faith, history and heritage, Dr. Wright led study tours each year for 15 years while was pastor. Those tours took African Americans to Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil to learn more about their past, the Bible and the role of Africans in the history of Christianity and the history of the development of the cultures in the Colonial Diaspora. He still leads tours as Pastor Emeritus.

He also led the congregation of Trinity United Church of Christ to support mission work around the world. In addition to the church sponsored special mission projects in Ghana, Ethiopia, South Africa and Bahia, each year the congregation gives more than $200,000 to the denomination’s Mission work.

Dr. Wright also led the congregation to be strongly committed to ministry and mission work in the Continental United States above and beyond its ongoing denominational commitments. In the aftermath of hurricanes Rita and Katrina, for example, the church gave $100,000 to the United Church of Christ’s denominational effort to help with the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast region and they also gave an additional $100,000 to help with the restoration of Dillard University, an HBCU started by the denomination immediately following the Civil War.

Scholarship

Following in the path of his mentor, Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor, the legendary preacher of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York, Dr. Wright has taught hundreds of young seminarians the art of preaching and how to examine the Gospel and make it relevant to the listener.

Dr. Wright has authored numerous articles for academic journals and has published four books widely used in seminaries: What Makes You So Strong?, Good News: Sermons of Hope For Today’s Families, Africans Who Shaped our Faith and When Black Men Stand Up For God.

A Model to Emulate

Each Sunday, churches from around the country and from various denominations visit Trinity. When Dr. Wright was serving as pastor, they came to hear him preach and to experience a worship service that feeds both the intellect and the soul, and both the “head and the heart,” to use the words of Howard Thurman.

Describing Dr. Wright’s preaching style, Rev. Otis Moss III, the pastor of Trinity and Dr. Wright’s successor, says, “The weight of the holy is upon his words.”

For all of Wright’s work and contributions to Trinity and the global church community, he has received numerous awards, commendations and appointments, including nine honorary doctorates. The most recent honorary degrees were from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and The Starr-King (Unitarian) Seminary at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkely, California.

He has served on a variety of boards, including the Amistad Commission of the State of Illinois, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Commission of the State of Illinois (appointed to both Commissions by the Governor of Illinois), and he continues to serve on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastor’s Conference and the Kwame Nkrumah Academy.

The Continuation

At the end of May 2008, Dr. Wright retired as senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ. He will became pastor emeritus and now spends his time preaching, teaching, leading study tours to Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean.

Dr. Wright is married to the Rev. Ramah Wright and has five children, Janet, Jeri, Nathan, Nikol and Jamila; and three grandchildren, Jeremiah, Jazmin and Steven.

Why Wendy Williams Will Dominate TV

2009-06-27T12:55:00.001-04:00

The first time I appeared on "The Wendy Williams Experience," I was admittedly a wee bit concerned. I didn't know as much as I should have about Wendy, but I did know that she was ferocious. I was being invited on her show to talk about Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, 50 Cent and Ice Cube. There was a beef between hip hop and the Oprah crowd, and Wendy seemed to feel that I could be a good referee.

I didn't mind standing in the middle of this conversation, because I have respect for both sides of the fence. Hip hop is one of the most powerful creative art forms in the history of the world, but it also possesses tremendous problems, primarily due to the impact of selective commercialization within the context of socially irresponsible corporate models. Oprah, on the other hand, is one of the most amazing and prolific public figures I've ever seen. But she is also not without her issues as it pertains to dealing with black men. I respect all sides, but I am not afraid to critique all sides when necessary.

In my first appearance on Wendy's show, I met her incredibly efficient producer,Nicole Spence. I was sad to see Wendy and Nicole fall out, because I honestly feel that they needed each other. But I digress. Before the show, Nicole told me, point blank: "The interview is going to last for at least 20 minutes. It will only be longer if Wendy likes you."

Okey-dokey then. Either we would hit it off nicely or she would put the hook around my neck like the Apollo Theatre. Wendy is not polite enough to care if she hurts your feelings, so I knew she would only keep talking to me if I could give her good commentary. In front of 11 million listeners, we were going to be feeling each other out. The pressure was on, but I respond well to pressure and confront all challenges head on. In fact, I almost always win.

Click to read.

Why Michael Jackson Will Live Forever

2009-06-26T14:02:00.001-04:00

by Dr Boyce Watkins

I was the guest host of a radio show yesterday. The show started at 3 pm (back when we all thought Michael Jackson would be going back on tour soon), and the producer asked me what kind of music I wanted to use for my intros and outtros. I said "Throw on some old Michael Jackson. The pre-nose job Michael Jackson." He did.
I then spent the next 2 hours reflecting on the air about Michael Jackson's talent, as well as his peculiar personality. That's when I got "the news."
While I was certainly shocked at the irony of a man dying right after I'd spent 2 hours talking about him on the radio, I wasn't surprised. Michael Jackson had that kind of effect on music and our world. In spite of the fact that he'd turned into something we couldn't quite understand, we always loved him.

Michael is going to live forever. The life and existence of such an impactful human being can't be captured in his physical manifestation. Most of us never knew Mike the man, but he was always present in our lives. He was nothing like Elvis, he was not the Beatles. He was too interesting for that. He is one of a kind, even beyond the fact that he sold 750 million records.

Here are 5 reasons Michael Jackson is going to live forever:

Click to read.

Damnit Michael Bay, Why Did you Have to Do This?

2009-06-25T09:04:00.001-04:00

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

I came to the latest release of "The Transformers" looking for what I saw in the first film: Jaw-dropping special effects and a story just interesting enough to hold you over until the next explosion. I didn't go to the film looking for racism or embarrassing minstrel shows. My "racial bias glasses" are designed to weed out harmless, inadvertent racism, which comes with living in a society that spent 400 years thinking that black people were less than human. But when racism is thrown in my face repeatedly in the form of ridiculous and disgusting stereotypes, that's when I start to get mad.
Michael Bay is one of my favorite directors, next to the Hughes Brothers (where are they by the way?). He's damn good at what he does. But on this occasion, Bay simply missed his creative target and I'm not the only one who's noticing.

Meet Skids and Mudflap, two Transformers who may as well have been called Lil Wayne and Random Black Male idiot. One of them actually has a gold grill, and neither of them can read. They are bungling buffoons and cowards with barely an ounce of intelligence. One of them rides around as an Ice cream truck with the words "suck my popsicle" on the side, yelling "get your ice cream bitches" to those who might want to buy from his dirty little truck. They also remind you in every other sentence that you are a "punk ass bitch" and that they want to "bust a cap in your ass."

Click to read.

The Transformers Movie: Good, but Racist

2009-06-24T23:44:00.001-04:00

That clunking engine noise you’re hearing may be the sound of ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ rolling along on broken-down racial and ethnic stereotypes.
Movie critics and columnists from the Associated Pressto the New York Times are raising concerns about two newly added Autobots, described as "jive talking,""minstrelsy," illiterate and action avoiding. And of these bickering twins, Skids (Tom Kenny) and Mudflap (Reno Wilson), one even reportedly sports a gold grill, I mean tooth. Oh, you get the picture.

The only robots with any discernible personality traits, aside from bravery or antagonism, are the Autobot twins, Mudflap and Skids. These are shockingly crass and unfortunate black stereotypes, jive-talking fools who can’t read and bumble their way from one mishap to the next. They are Jar Jar Binks in car form.
Source: ‘Transformers’ Shape-Shifts Into Noise, Nonsense, AP

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The Boyce Watkins Tenure Case Reflects the Challenges of Black Scholarship

2009-06-24T08:04:00.001-04:00

Dr. Christopher J. Metzler

Institutions of higher education are supposed to be the place where the free market place of ideas takes hold. In fact, the basis for tenure has always been that academics should not be punished for speaking out. The theory is that such speaking out is protected even when university administration does not agree with the content of that speech. However, these same institutions are also political fiefdoms where tenure has been used and will continue to be used to punish those with whom the members of the promotion and tenure committee do not agree. In other words, academic freedom is only free when one agrees with those in power. All junior faculty understand very quickly that the definition of “scholarship” is a moving target and that if they wish tenure, they better move with the target. The hypocrisy of the promotion and tenure process (and I use the word process lightly) is that too many faculty are more about politics and less about scholarship. So, they play the game to get tenure and then when some of them get it, they punish the ideas of others they find unpopular by denying them tenure.

Progressive Black scholars find ourselves in a particular pickle. On the one hand, we want to advance ideas that look critically at the academy and simply not accept the status quo. On the other, if we are too progressive, then we will be Boyced. That is, we will be fired from predominately white institutions that will reduce our entire scholarly career to a warm bucket of spit. Of course I am not suggesting that all predominately white institutions will Boyce progressive Black scholars. I am suggesting that too many can and do.

First, regardless of whether one agrees with Dr. Watkins’ views or not, one cannot in good faith question his credential or his scholarship. One can disagree with it, one can dislike it, one can criticize but one cannot question its rigor, funny, I thought that this is what academic freedom is about. In fact, Syracuse University believed him to be of sufficient scholastic heft to hire him on tenure track in the first place. So, did he suddenly become a less than mediocre scholar after he joined the faculty? Of course not, in fact, an objective reading of his work suggests that he is a scholar who pushes his knowledge to a public that is very much outside “the ivory tower.” Perhaps the problem is that those judging scholarship should realize that scholarship as well as its consumption is evolving and that progressive black scholars such as Dr. Watkins must, if we are to be true to our mission, bring the scholarship to many who may never step foot on our campuses.

Second, it is not an understatement to say that Black male scholars do not dominate the ranks of predominately white institutions. It is also not an understatement to say that progressive Black scholars are in the numerical and scholastic minority at these same institutions. Thus, perhaps promotion and tenure committees should stop trying to pretend that they value our contributions and admit that far too many of them are more interested in visual representation (diversity for diversity sake) than diversity of thought, diversity of scholarship, diversity of methodology and diversity of thought. A reading of that which is considered “scholarly” by many of these committees reveals a common theme: protection of the status quo of ideas by a limited number of elite intellectuals. To be sure, one can argue that there is nothing wrong with this approach. I would argue that in the interest of transparency that promotion and tenure committees should not shrink from stating this since many of them believe it to be true. This way, progressive Black scholars will simply need not apply.

Third, for Black scholars, the reality of being Boyced stifles academic freedom and suffocates scholarship. Many of us will be loathe to publish anti-establishment scholarship for fear that ultra-right wing bloggers and T.V. entertainers can influence whether we are promoted or fired. We will also question whether the entertainers of whom I write are adjunct members of the committee with whom we should vet our scholarship before we publish it. Of course, some of them do not have the educational or scholarship credentials to judge our work in the first instance. But, I digress.

The losers here will be students who will not be exposed to a panoply of ideas and approach to teaching and learning but to educational malnutrition in the form of anti-intellectual mediocrity. It will also be academic freedom which in too many of these institutions is simply not free.

How can institutions of higher learning justify living in a state of educational humdrum? Just ask the institutions that Boyce black progressive Black scholars.

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The Great Jim Brown Goes After Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan

2009-06-23T12:04:00.001-04:00

For years different people have always grumbled about the lack of activism and social change involvement of professional athletes. Specifically our most successful athletes like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods. In a recent interview with HBO's Real Sports, former NFL great Jim Brown went in on the lack of activism for social change from both Tiger and Jordan in recent years.
"There are one or two individuals in this country that are black that have been put in front of us as an example," Brown told Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel. "But they're basically under a system that says, 'Hey, they're not gonna do a certain thing.' Yes, that

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The latest from Dr Boyce on AOL Black Voices

2009-06-23T11:10:00.001-04:00

What Chris Brown, Oprah Winfrey and R. Kelly Have in Common

I have 3 daughters who worship Chis Brown. No, seriously. If Chris Brown were to start a church, ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce: Oakland Salon Beating Victim Won't Press Charges

I was happy to see that there was an arrest made in the infamous beating in an Oakland beauty ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (1)

Woman Beaten in Beauty Salon: Financial and Legal Issues Abound

black hair OK, don't lie. You know that when you heard about the woman being beaten in the beauty ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (120)

Dr Boyce: Michael Eric Dyson vs. Barack Obama? Not Quite

When I heard the controversial and heated comments about President Obama that were made by my ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (5)

Dr Boyce: Kobe Bryant's Climb Back to the Top

Kobe Bryant started his career with the LA Lakers as a tremendous athlete with a valuable brand. ... Read More
Posted by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (18)

Why I support Obama’s Overhaul

2009-06-22T11:19:00.001-04:00

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Finance Professor Syracuse University

I have a friend who broke both of his legs climbing a dangerous mountain in Southeast Asia. This friend has nearly died 8 times, been chased by bears, and has had food poisoning too many times to count. After his latest injury, we presumed that he would understand that taking such risk simply doesn't pay. But he rebuffed our intervention, stating that the risk is what makes his life worth living. My friend seems to believe that pursuing and living the dream might be worth enduring the occasional nightmare.

The current financial crisis is certainly the worst of economic nightmares. Job losses have been enormous and the stock market has shrunk faster than Lindsay Lohan's dress size. A report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week reported that in May jobless rates were higher in all 50 states and in the District of Columbiathan they were a year ago.

The Black community has had a double dose of economic drama, as our unemployment rate is nearly double that of White Americans, standing at 14.9% according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Black urban centers such as Detroit have been hit especially hard.

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Why We Must Support Troy Davis

2009-06-20T09:55:00.001-04:00

by Elliot Milner, JD.

" I have faced execution and the torment of saying goodbye to my family three times in the last two years and I may experience that trauma yet again; I would not wish this on my worst enemy and to know I am innocent only compounds the injustice I am facing."- Troy Davis, from Georgia's death row, on facing a fourth possible execution date.

For those who are unaware, Troy Davis has been on Georgia's death row for about 18 years, after being convicted of murdering police officer Mark McPhail(Mr. Davis has maintained his innocence from the very beginning).

It would take pages to give all of the details of Troy Davis' case, however I will say that there was no physical evidence found(including a murder weapon) connecting Troy Davis to the killing of Officer McPhail; he was convicted largely on the basis of inconsistent and often contradictory eyewitness testimony. The vast majority of those prosecution eyewitnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony implicating Mr. Davis, and one of those who hasn't is Sylvester Coles, the main alternative suspect presented by the defense during Troy Davis' trial. In addition, there have been multiple allegations of police coercion and the usage of unethical interrogation techniques.

(For additional information on Troy Davis' case, or to get information on how to act, check out www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis and http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/.).

Troy Davis' ordeal has been going on for nearly two decades now, and is nearing its end, one way or the other. He has had numerous appeals denied(most recently in April 2009), habeas corpus petitions denied, stays of execution granted and expired, and also had one request for clemency denied by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles(the same board that would decide any future request for clemency regarding Troy Davis).

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The Legal and Financial Issues Behind the Famous Hair Salon Beatdown

2009-06-19T17:54:00.001-04:00

OK, don't lie. You know that when you heard about the woman being beaten in the beauty salon in Oakland, you clicked on the link faster than Eminem's neck snapped when he had Bruno's behind in his face. You were curious, yet disturbed by the incident, as was nearly everyone else in America.

But one thing that black attorneys such as Christopher Metzler noticed during this incident were the legal implications of attacking someone in public, in broad daylight, videotaping the incident and then bragging about it on the radio. Now that the Oakland Police Department has taken notice, the women responsible for the attack are going to have some serious problems.

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Quick Thought: Meeting Malcolm’s Daughter

2009-06-17T19:12:00.002-04:00

I was on the radio today with Malcolm X’s daughter, Qubilah Shabazz. It was ironic that we were on the radio together, since I’d just been reading about her father’s life two days earlier. I read about the lives of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali a great deal, and I learn many lessons from them. I learn that the struggle toward progress for Black men has never been easy. I also remind myself that you can’t ever give up. Courage is more important than intellect, and we must have passion and purpose to merge with opportunity. Any hurdles we encounter are our chances to make a difference in the world. It all depends on whether you choose to engage your destiny or run away from it.

I am saddened by the way Muhammad Ali abandoned Malcolm when he left the Nation of Islam. The truth is that Malcolm was a highly educated man who served to inspire Ali, while Ali was still learning his way through the world. But regardless of their parting of ways, they are both my heroes.

Dyson and Obama: Their Awkward Conversation

2009-06-17T16:50:00.001-04:00

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

When I heard the controversial and heated comments about President Obama that were made by my respected colleague Michael Eric Dyson, I felt like a 2nd grader running outside to see the fight between two middle school kids. Both Barack and Michael are men I've grown to appreciate, and I love them for their strengths as well as their imperfections. Michael was the reason I became a public scholar during graduate school, as I would watch the words flow out of him like an MC in the booth dropping his hottest album. The man is good, damn good.

Barack Obama needs to listen to the words of Michael Eric Dyson. In fact, he should give Dyson as much, or more respect than he gives me or any other black public intellectual in America. Dr. Dyson, no matter how you perceive his critique of President Obama, represents a form of insight that you are not going to find in politics, the pulpit or anywhere else. At the same time, I will confess that his words may also come from an impure place that lies within the darkest part of our souls. In other words, Dyson, Tavis, Barack, Jesse and every other ambitious man in America is always going to be tempted by the "Demon of Playerhaterology". Men are naturally competitive, and no man likes to be disrespected. Obama, as a condition for his employment, is often asked to disrespect other leaders across America who represent the essence of meaningful black thought. That's going to create a long list of enemies.

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