Thursday, September 30, 2010

Duchess Harris: President Obama’s Report Card

President Obama’s report card

by Duchess Harris

On Friday September 17, The Washington Post reported that “Black Scholars [were] to debate how to hold Obama ‘accountable.’ I was fortunate enough to be one of several Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commissioners to engage in this dialogue at the 40th Legislative Annual Congressional Black Caucus Conference.

To give some background, in 2008 at its State of the Black World Conference in New Orleans, the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW) announced a new initiative: the Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission (SCPAC), named in honor of the first black woman elected to Congress and the first black woman to seek the Democratic nomination for president.

Richard Adams, Chairman of the Board of IBW and Convener of the Commission said:

Click to read.

Why Do Black Athletes Go Broke?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

I am participating with MSN in a project called "The Invested Life." The program represents the launch of a series of web-based episodes that teach the fundamentals of investing to regular, everyday people. I've worked on the show for months, and I'll be engaged in the project for the rest of the year. It's been an interesting jump into the world of film making, with scripts, production schedules and all that good stuff. I've gained a newfound respect for how hard real actors and actresses actually have to work.
A guest on the show is a man named Winfred. Winfred is a former NFL athlete who found himself done with sports and trying to make sure that his wealth lasted until retirement. He made an interesting point that for many athletes, the challenge of retiring young with virtually no skill set can be a one way ticket to the poor house. As a man who is concerned about the plight of the black athlete, I constantly see men who've traded away their entire educational future in exchange for a very short and meaningless life of glamor in professional sports.

Click to read.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Bethany Storro Pleads Guilty of Acid Hoax: Said a Black Woman Did It

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

Bethany Storro made national news when she claimed she was the victim of a random attack. Storro told police that an African American woman walked up to her and suddenly decided to throw acid in her face. Storro received the sympathy (and financial contributions) of people all around the world. Even Oprah cleared a slot for her on her show.
It turned out that Storro was lying, making herself the latest in a long list of people who've falsely claimed that a black person attacked them. Her face is now blotched and red, where police say she allegedly put acid onto her own face, perhaps in a quest for attention. The story is quite sad, actually.

 

Click to read.

Eddie Long Accuser: Sex Happened on Church Grounds

by Dr. Boyce WatkinsSyracuse University 

Most of you may have read the story about Jamal Parris, the latest and most vocal ofBishop Eddie Long's accusers. Parris and three others have stepped forward to file a lawsuit against Long in state court for allegedly coercing them into having sex. Well, another bombshell has hit the room, and this one was also delivered by Parris.
Parris told WAGA-TV in Atlanta that he and Long engaged in numerous sex acts on church grounds, both before and after morning services. He also said that they would perform numerous sex acts in Long's home, car and office at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
The four accusers claim that Long traded sex acts for cars, clothes and other material possessions. The sex scandal against Bishop Eddie Long seems to get just a bit deeper every single day. At this point, Long doesn't just have to worry about the ethical implications of committing adultery and being accused of engaging in homosexual sex. He also has to deal with accusations of pedophilia, since the public is not yet aware of how old the young men where when the alleged sex acts occurred.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce joins MSN’s “The Invested Life”

 

Click to watch Dr. Watkins’ episodes.

Cornel West and Tavis Smiley Have a New Radio Show

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityBlack Scholarship in Action 

Cornel West and Tavis Smiley are two of the coolest brothers on the intellectual block. They've served as public road maps for the empowerment of black men everywhere, and their work does not get the recognition it deserves.
Well, Public Radio International is working to help change that by granting Smiley and West their own radio show. In fact, the show is going to be called "Smiley & West."
The announcement for the new show was made during the Public Radio Programming Conference, held in Denver, Colorado. When asked about the show, Smiley had this to say:

 

Click to read.

Jamal Parris: The Latest and Most Public Eddie Long Accuser

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

As the days have gone by since the start of the sex scandal involving Bishop Eddie Long, I've become more and more convinced that there needs to be a serious investigation. Something doesn't seem quite right with the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and the world needs to hear more from the young men who've been speaking out in public.
While I've seen quite a bit of evidence and videos that have gotten my attention, nothing has compelled me more than the interview with Long's latest accuser, Jamal Parris. Jamal, who was chased down by Fox 5 in Atlanta, was reluctant to talk at first about the incident. But once he spoke up, his words were heard around the world. I'll lay out some of the quotes that Jamal shared with Fox 5, and give you my take after that.

Click to read.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Black Leaders Quiet about Bishop Eddie Long

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

Trying to get various black public figures to speak out for or against Bishop Eddie Long has been harder than getting four year-olds to go to the dentist. No one is talking, but everyone is noticing. They are all watching CNN and seeing that Long is on after every other commercial break. They are reading the newspapers where Long's face is plastered in every section other than Sports and Classifieds. They are seeing the websites that produce one Eddie Long article after another. The man is omnipresent.
Black leaders are also noticing the spandex outfit Long sported in those racy bathroom pictures. They remember the odd-looking wig Long wore when appearing before the church this past Sunday. Most significantly, they've noticed the long line of young men, in different states, who don't seem to know one another, who are saying that Eddie Long had sex with them.

Click to read.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Eddie Long Speaks to His Church

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

I woke up early to go to the website for the New Birth Missionary Baptist church. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew that Bishop Eddie Long would be convincing. Every bit of his charisma and experience would be needed to manage the complex set of allegations against him for sexually abusing some of his members.
I'll lay out some notable quotes by Bishop Long this morning and let you judge much of it for yourself. What I can say, however, is that Bishop Long seemed to say a great deal without saying much.
"I'll be here next week."

Perhaps that means that he's not going to resign. I look forward to seeing if he is going to be preaching next Sunday.
"(This is) probably the most difficult time in my entire life. I want to talk to you for a moment about how to handle painful and difficult situations."

Click to read.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Jay Vincent: Former NBA Star Set to Go to Prison

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – President of Alarm, The Athlete Liberation Academic Reform Movement

Former NBA star and Michigan State player Jay Vincent pleaded guilty to two major felonies this week. Both involved his creation of a $2 million scam that was perpetrated on the Internet.
The two charges to which Vincent pleaded guilty were mail fraud and filing a false tax return. The charges were filed in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is set to appear in court again on Tuesday.
Vincent owes $110,000 in unpaid taxes, and may see time in prison. Prosecutors have not yet announced his likely sentence and it didn't appear in court papers. Vincent played with Magic Johnson on the 1979 Michigan State national championship team.

click to read.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Fourth Lawsuit Being Filed Against Bishop Eddie Long

Contacts:
Wendy Guarisco 404-354-6468 wendy@guariscogroup.com
Toria Tolley 404-402-8728 toria@guariscogroup.com
FOURTH LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST BISHOP EDDIE LONG FOR SEXUAL ACTS INFLICTED ON YOUNG MALE CHURCH MEMBERS
This afternoon, lawyers BJ Bernstein of The Bernstein Firm, Jay  Sadd of the law firm of Slappey and Sadd, and Katherine V. Hernacki of The Hernacki Law Firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of Spencer LeGrande suing Bishop Eddie Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The lawsuit alleges Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence; Fraud; Infliction of Emotional Distress and other Counts based on Sexual Acts by Bishop Long against this young male church member.
Mr. LeGrande has alleged in the complaint that he met Bishop Long when he was 15 years old at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC where he and his mother were among the founding families.  Mr. LeGrande accompanied the Bishop on several international trips, including trips to Kenya and South Africa.  Mr. LeGrande relocated to Atlanta at the behest of Bishop Long in order to attend Beulah Heights University.  Intimate contact began with the first Africa trip and extended through Mr. LeGrande's time living in Atlanta.  The specifics are alleged in the lawsuit which will be sent to you shortly.
There will be no press conference, and no statements from the attorneys or this courageous young man, who is another David stepping forward against Goliath.

Bishop Eddie Long to Step Down After Sunday

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

It has been reported that the Bishop Eddie Long is going to step down as pastor after his sermon set to be delivered on Sunday. Long is currently the pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. He was recently challenged by three young men who filed suit against the pastor for allegedly coercing them into sex.
There are also reports that as many as 30 young men have contacted the plaintiff's attorney, BJ Bernstein, in an effort to file suits of their own or join the existing lawsuit.

Click to read.

Letter from Sheri Mitchell about Accused Racist Sheriff Candidate, Joe Price

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This letter was written by Sheri Mitchell about the disturbing allegations against a man trying to become Sheriff in a community with a substantial African American population.  To read more about Joe Price, click here.  I, Dr. Boyce Watkins, do not support Price’s candidacy and believe that his hiring this week of a black campaign manager is nothing more than a publicity stunt.  Sheri Mitchell’s letter is below.

Click to read Sheri’s letter

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Bishop Eddie Long Bathroom Pics Paint Uncomfortable Image

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 


I woke up this morning expecting the day to be normal. But normal just doesn't seem to visit my house anymore. I am especially convinced of this fact after seeing some really "interesting" pictures of the Bishop Eddie Long. These pictures were allegedly sent by Bishop Long to one of his "spiritual sons," who has not yet filed a lawsuit.
After these pictures were released to the public by the plantiff's attorney, I am sure she said the word "checkmate" out loud. One cannot say with complete certainty that these pictures were sent to the young men to convince them of the importance of working out, to show off the latest fashion trends or to simply say, "Hey man, how ya doin?", but the images leave Bishop Long with a lot of explaining to do.

 

Click to read.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Lawrence Summers Leaves Obama’s Cabinet…Finally

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

President Obama's top economic advisor, Lawrence Summers, is finally. out the door. The former Harvard University President resigned from Obama's Council of Economic Advisors amidst questions about his performance. Summers came to represent the very worst of the economic crisis. He was the man in charge, next to the man in charge, as the world came to associate Harvard University economists with the financial destruction of America.
Summers wasn't a bad economist, but he was hardly an adequate representative of the American people. He was part of the academic aristocracy, the nephew of (not one, but) two Nobel Prize winners and the son of two Yale university professors. Needless to say, Summers was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and doesn't know a thing about economic struggle. He worked hard for what he ultimately received, but quite a few doors were open to him from birth. He personified the white male affirmative action program that has been in existence since slavery. At the very least, the chances of a black man having two Yale professors in his family (let alone a Nobel Prize winner) are virtually non-existent due to Jim Crow. So, if Lawrence Summers had been born as one of "us," we wouldn't even know his name.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce on CNBC – 9/22/10

boyceoncnbc

 

Click to watch Dr. Boyce Watkins discuss estate taxes – Video is here.

Dr. Boyce Tweets – 9/22/10

  1. A young black female politician named Natasha Pettigrew was killed this week - very sad: http://tinyurl.com/26cl4b6about 9 hours ago via web
    • OK - the article I wrote on AOL Black Voices about Bishop Eddie Long's sex scandal has gotten 3,500 readers in the past 45 minutes...hmmmabout 14 hours ago via web
      • Bishop Eddie Long accused of coercing young men into sex:http://tinyurl.com/35rhxaxabout 16 hours ago via web
        • Black woman says she's tired of defending Obama:http://tinyurl.com/2cyjmzkabout 20 hours ago via web
          • Black celebs can learn a lot from Lady Gaga:http://tinyurl.com/37hyonjabout 21 hours ago via web
            • Broncos player Kenny McKinley found dead:http://tinyurl.com/378vqyz9:11 PM Sep 20th via web
              • Are Americans responsible for making our politician's dishonest?http://tinyurl.com/34ze4g312:21 PM Sep 20th via web
                • CNN's Black in America gets it completely wrong when it comes to the black white wealth gap: http://tinyurl.com/3528tb412:13 PM Sep 20th via web
                  • Jamilah B. Creekmur's book, Raised by the Mistress:http://tinyurl.com/3x3bt798:20 AM Sep 20th via web
                    • Today Show guest Robert Plant refers to blues as "Spook Music"?http://tinyurl.com/34samrw9:26 PM Sep 19th via web
                      • Former coach says Reggie Bush looks like an idiot:http://tinyurl.com/2bsm63m9:29 PM Sep 18th via web
                        • Police confirm that woman blamed black woman, but actually threw acid on her own face: http://tinyurl.com/27kbzem6:58 PM Sep 16th via web
                          • A 14-year old boy in Chicago was killed in a drive-by shooting:http://tinyurl.com/25axstk12:06 PM Sep 16th via web
                            • NFL lockout is on the horizon - black athletes beware!http://tinyurl.com/36sr8yl9:25 AM Sep 16th via web
                              • Did this woman throw acid on her own face and say a black woman did it? http://tinyurl.com/394zjre7:32 PM Sep 15th via web
                                • "Raised by the Mistress" is a book about a woman who was raised by a woman in a relationship with a married man:http://tinyurl.com/2a833qa6:11 PM Sep 15th via web
                                  • What's wrong with hip hop? This panel helps us to figure that out:http://tinyurl.com/33bx9y38:50 AM Sep 15th via web
                                    • Varnette Honeywood, artist for the Cosby Show, dies at 59:http://tinyurl.com/25vhrjp8:12 AM Sep 15th via web
                                      • I am glad to see that Reggie Bush gave back the Heisman Trophy:http://tinyurl.com/2eu7xx97:11 AM Sep 15th via web
                                        • Dr. Christopher Metzler and I on CNBC: http://tinyurl.com/2buesn22:09 PM Sep 14th via web

                                          more

                                          Natasha Pettigrew: Young Black Lawyer/Politician Killed

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                           

                                          Natasha Pettigrew was a 30-year old Green Party candidate for the United States Senate out of Maryland. The reason that I have the misfortune of referencing Ms. Pettigrew in past tense is because she was killed on Monday night. Pettigrew was hit by a car while riding her bike.
                                          The young politician died at 10:30 p.m. on Monday at Prince George's County hospital. She's been critically injured at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday while training for a triathlon. The driver of an SUV said she thought she'd hit a deer until she saw Pettigrew's bicycle caught underneath her truck. She didn't realize the bike was under her car until she arrived home.
                                          The driver of the vehicle, Christy R. Littleford, called the police around 6:30 a.m.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Tuesday, September 21, 2010

                                          Bishop Eddie Long Accused of Coercing Young Men Into Sex

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                           

                                          CNN is reporting that two men in Georgia are suing Bishop Eddie Long in Atlanta, alleging that the powerful pastor used his power to force them into having sex. In DeKalb County, the suits claim that Long used his position of authority at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to influence young male employees into various forms of misconduct.One of the plaintiffs, Anthony Flagg, is a 21-year old man who claims that some of the misconduct occurred during overnight trips to various cities.
                                          "Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact," according to the lawsuit.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Black Woman Says She’s Exhausted of Defending Obama

                                          Black Woman Tells Obama I'm Exhausted of Defending You

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                          A black woman stood up in the Town Hall Meeting held by President Barack Obama yesterday and made a comment that got the attention of the world. She mentioned that she was "exhausted" from trying to defend the president to his critics:
                                          I am one of your middle class Americans and, quite frankly, I'm exhausted... I'm exhausted of defending you. I'm exhausted of defending your administration, defending the mantle of change that I voted for. And I'm deeply disappointed with where we are right now.
                                          I have been told that I voted for a man who said he was going to change things in a meaningful way for the middle class. I am one of those people and I'm waiting sir. I'm waiting. I don't feel it yet. And I thought, while it wouldn't be in great measure, I would feel it in some small measure... And quite frankly Mr. President, I need you to answer this honestly: Is this my new reality?
                                          (Thelightnc.com)

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Black Celebrities Can Learn a lot from Lada Gaga

                                          Lady Gaga leads while celebs of color sit on sidelines

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                           

                                          When we use the word “intellect,” we don’t typically apply it to Lady Gaga.  I’m not sure what to make out of her, primarily because I don’t think about her very much.  But now, when I hear the name Lady Gaga, I’ll think of the terms “leader” and “role model.”

                                          Since her brilliant and impressive stand on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Lady Gaga is officially an important and historical figure in America.  In fact, she’s an icon.  She is becoming a symbol of her generation, one who transcends petty fashion trends and dance moves.  She has chosen to stand up for something she believes in, and as a result, has a whole legion of fans that she didn’t have before.  She’s getting respect from the likes of Wolf Blitzer, who acknowledged her on his show and even sang some of her lyrics.  She is using her power to change the world.

                                          If a wealthy white woman can become passionate and committed enough to impact the world in which she lives, why can’t black entertainers do the same?  Black celebrities have an easier job than Lady Gaga when it comes to finding a whole host of issues worth fighting for: Poverty, homicide, mass incarceration, unemployment, HIV, etc.  In fact, for many black entertainers, these issues affect their own families.  The proximity of these problems to their own lives should make it quite easy to become passionate enough to stand up.

                                          To my personal dismay, I have yet to see any significant black athlete or entertainer take a stand on damn near anything.  Other than polite public service announcements and charitable work that’s been sanctioned by their corporate overseers, you hardly see African American public figures take aggressive dispositions on anything that doesn’t involve drug possession. In fact, Lady Gaga has more in common with Martin Luther King than nearly every black celebrity in America. 

                                          Black celebrities have been drinking the kool-aid when it comes to believing that everything should be all about them.  They are told that their own personal success is what matters, and that making the green stuff should be their sole priority.  As a result, they sit on powerful platforms and do nothing with them, having access to the world, only to watch their communities die.  Rather than hearing about black celebs giving millions to meaningful charities or Historically black colleges, we get to see another uneducated rapper on MTV Cribs buying a bigger gold chain than he had the year before.   Of course I can’t put every black celebrity in one box, but you know exactly what I’m talking about.

                                          It wasn’t always like this.  Black athletes and entertainers fought during the Civil Rights movement to create the opportunities that we have today.  They stood up for what they believed in, and Muhammad Ali even gave up the peak of his career to make a stand for poor people around the world.  There will never be another Muhammad Ali, as black celebs are more comfortable at Martha’s Vineyard than they are at a justice rally. Rather than lining up to make songs with Lady Gaga, perhaps many of our black entertainers can learn a thing or two from Gaga about finding a purpose.   Any person who has not found a cause bigger than himself to fight for has led a virtually unproductive existence. 

                                          Kenny McKinley: Denver Broncos Receiver Found Dead

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

                                          Denver Broncos Wide Receiver Kenny McKinley was only 23 years old this year. He was also found dead in his apartment. McKinley appears to have died from a suicide, according to initial reports.
                                          "Although the death of McKinley appears to be the result of a self inflicted gunshot, the investigation into this matter, conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office, is on-going, " Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.

                                          Click to read.

                                          Monday, September 20, 2010

                                          CNN’s Black in America Gets it Wrong on Black/White Wealth Gap

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                          I was recently checking out some of CNN's special, "Black in America," the show they seem to do once a year. In the series, African Americans are analyzed like lab rats in a cage, with producers highlighting every dysfunction imaginable, as if we have a monopoly on counter productive behavior. Although I've always had a good relationship with CNN, I can barely stomach some of what I see. This is not to say that black folks are perfect: but the idea that we are somehow less perfect than whites is nothing short of paternalistic, White Supremacist thinking.
                                          The segment that threw me through the roof was one covering the wealth gap between blacks and whites. In this particular Black in America segment, CNN shows that the wealth gap between blacks and whites is $28,000 to $140,000, with whites being the leaders. They then go on to state that African Americans save and invest less than whites. I give a "check" on most of these numbers, I have no problem with the data.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          The Child of “The Other Woman”: How Does that Work Out?

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                           

                                          This is the second part of my interview with author Jamilah B. Creekmur. I enjoyed speaking with Jamilah and I found her book, "Raised by the Mistress," to be a compelling layout of what it might be like to be the child of "the other woman." I recommend taking a look at Jamilah's book and watching the interview. I think you'll enjoy what you see.

                                          Click to read.

                                          USA Today Author Says College Athletes Should Be Paid

                                          by Dave Meggyesy

                                          The question of whether colleges should pay their revenue-producing athletes — football and basketball players at the NCAA's top 120 college programs — is a no-brainer.

                                          OUR VIEW: When student-athletes cheat, corrupt adults escape blame

                                          The amazing reality is that these athletes, the hired help whose performance generates hundreds of millions for these top programs, don't get paid. Who wouldn't want a business where the cost of your product is virtually zero? The performance of college athletes is the product!

                                          Yet, as a marketing ploy, the NCAA defines college-revenue athletes as "student-athletes" and the games as contests among amateurs, creating a huge distortion. In these "big time" college programs, even the term "athlete-student" would be a stretch; athlete-employee is more accurate, young men and recently young women who work year-round at jobs and don't get paid.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          HBCU TV Network to Launch This Fall

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                          NewsOne.com is reporting that there are plans to launch a 24-hour network dedicated to HBCUs. The network is set to be focused on "edutainment" and lifestyle for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The company behind the platform, C3 Media LLC says that the network is set to fill a niche within the cable industry that has barely been reached in the past.

                                          Much of the programming will also feature various sports teams sponsored by black colleges all across America. "The idea and vision behind the creation of the HBCU Network is to preserve and celebrate the African American colleges and universities, while also providing opportunities for their growth and further prosperity," CEO Curtis Symonds told NewsOne. "At the same time, we are passionate and excited about building a strong media brand and network from the ground up."

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Dr. Boyce Video – 9/20/10

                                          Today Show Guest References “Spook Music”?

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                          I was in New York doing what I try to do best: show up for my little girls and support them in their endeavors. My daughter had a volleyball game at her university and I was pumped for the event. Although I do all I can to stay away from work when I am with my kids, I couldn't help but sneak away to appear on one of my favorite radio shows, "The Main Line" on 98.7 Kiss FM.
                                          During the show, we discussed all the usual topics for a hot blooded Sunday afternoon: Politics, news, African American issues, Obama and more. Toward the end of the show, someone made mention of Robert Plant's appearance on The Today Show. My first thought was, "Who in the heck is Robert Plant and why does he matter?" It only took me a couple of seconds to figure out the answer to both of those questions.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Sunday, September 19, 2010

                                          Steve Sarkisian: Coach Says Reggie Bush was Acting Like an Idiot

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityBlack Athlete Coalition

                                          Steve Sarkisian is the head coach of the Washington Huskies. He's not a very good coach, since the Huskies are are a horrible football team. In fact, you might say, that as a coach, Sarkisian is an idiot. I am sure that part of the reason he was able to land such a prestigious position at The University of Washington was due to the fact that he was able to coach the great Reggie Bush as Offensive Coordinator at USC. Bush likely made him rich and got him a lot of opportunities.
                                          Apparently, Sarkisian isn't exactly grateful to Reggie Bush for giving him his big break. He recently said that Reggie Bush was "acting like an idiot" for giving back his Heisman Trophy last week. Sarkisian might want to sit down and shut up for a second, so I can tell him just how silly he looks.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Friday, September 17, 2010

                                          Charles Barkley: I Took Money in College

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

                                          I'm not a huge fan of the "vast intellect" of Charles Barkley. In fact, I usually turn the volume down when he's talking. All the while, I have to admit that I am one of those people who sometimes finds myself admiring Barkley's candid nature. He's the man willing to say the things that other people wont' say, and he's usually pretty honest about it. As someone who monitors the status, actions and treatment of black athletes in America, I've paid careful attention to Sir Charles for quite a while.
                                          The world was fed a healthy dose of that Barkley honesty recently when Sir Charles decided to admit that he took money from sports agents in college. He didn't actually say that he took the money and kept it, he just said that he borrowed some money and paid it back when he got to the NBA.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Thursday, September 16, 2010

                                          Bethany Storro: Police Confirm that Woman Did Throw Acid On Her Own Face

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

                                          Bethany Storro gained the sympathy of the world when she alleged that she was the victim of a random attack in which someone threw acid on her face. The story she was going to tell Oprah Winfrey on a planned appearance on her show was that a black woman with a pony tail walked up to her and said "Hey pretty girl, want something to drink?" and then proceeded to throw the acid.
                                          Oprah would have hugged her on the air, and the show would have made us cry. We would have heard stories about how the woman had been courageous enough to fight on, in spite of this horrible thing that happened to her. The episode would have been glorious, moving, fascinating, and inspirational. It would have also been a big old butt-naked lie.

                                          Click to read.

                                          14-Year Old Chicago Boy Killed in a Drive By

                                          Black Athletes Beware: NFL Lockout May Be Forthcoming

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

                                          For NFL fans and those who have teams in their cities, there's something you should know. Like a dark cloud hanging in the sky on a bright, sunny day, a pending NFL lockout is waiting on the horizon. A lockout is sort of like a strike, but the workers aren't the ones calling for it. Instead, team owners are the ones calling for a halt in NFL activities, where the league will be shut down and games cancelled. Even if games aren't cancelled, we might be forced to endure another season of tacky replacement players, and nobody wants that.
                                          The AFL-CIO has decided to put it's power behind the NFL Players Union in this battle with team owners. The organization sent a letter to the owners of NFL teams, warning them that a lockout could have a powerfully detrimental effect on workers and fans in cities all across America. They also warned that cities could lose $140 million in revenue.

                                          Click to read.

                                          Wednesday, September 15, 2010

                                          Did Woman Throw Acid on Her Own Face to Fake a Black Woman’s Crime?

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

                                          Bethany Storro was once the target of the nation's sympathy. She is slowly becoming the target of the nation's suspicion. The 28-year old Storro, who is deaf, said that she was the victim of a random attack. According to Storro, a young black woman came up to her and said, "Hey, pretty girl," before throwing a cup of acid into her face.


                                          The attack on Storro, which allegedly took place on August 30, grabbed international headlines. She was even scheduled to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show. That's when reporters started asking a lot of questions.


                                          According to Storro, the injuries to her nose and face did not affect her eyesight because she was wearing sunglasses. But one reporter asked her why she was wearing sunglasses when it was nearly sunset. The reporter also asked how Storro could hear what the woman was saying when she is deaf.
                                          The suspicions of the reporter were accelerated by the fact that many of the homeless people in the park on the night Storro was attacked said that she was all alone when she fell to the ground screaming. While the incident is still under investigation, it is known that Storro did cancel her scheduled appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show without giving producers a reason for her decision.

                                           

                                          Click to read.

                                          Interview with Author Jamilah B. Creekmur

                                          by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

                                          One of the most interesting things about black people is that we are able to build love in some of the strangest situations. I had a friend who introduced me to her "grandmother." Now, although I thought this woman was actually a relative, she was not. She never married or had a child with my friend's actual grandfather. Instead, she'd had a long-term affair with my friend's grandfather and simply took care of his kids as her own. The man had a relationship with his wife and an even more meaningful relationship with the mistress, and everyone accepted this as a default state of being.


                                          While the adults might be comfortable with what some would define to be an uncomfortable situation, no one ever really asks the kids what they think. The parents do their dirt for years, thinking that the kids are too young to understand what's going on, then two decades later, the questions start coming. That's when parents either find out that their kids understood more than they were letting on, or that their children's perception of reality was quite different from that of either parent.

                                           

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                                          Dr. Boyce on CNBC – 9/15/10

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                                          Black Scholars Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Christopher Metzler Discuss "Keeping The Bush Tax Cuts" on CNBC