The Latest from Dr. Boyce Watkins – 1/13/11

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Black Women, Mass Incarceration and the Market for Finding a Husband

• In a very compelling article, The Economist magazine stepped away from its standard delivery of ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 11:27AM | Comments (27)

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Needs to do For Black People

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: Rev. Jesse Jackson Talks Money, Prisons, Black Issues

• I've always had a special admiration and appreciate for Rev. Jesse Jackson. While most of us ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 10:22PM | Comments (0)

Obama Speech Tucson: Memorial Hits a Homerun in a Polarized Nation

• President Barack Obama has done it again. Like Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 9:46AM | Comments (37)

• 

  Palin uses 'gangsta rapper defense' in Tucson blame game

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  2:21 PM on 01/12/2011

  OPINION - Palin reminds me of rappers who gladly use their public platforms for personal benefit, yet neglect any responsibility for the negative outcomes of their words...

  > read more

Tavis Smiley: The Good, the Bad and the Interesting of Smiley's Coming Forum on Obama, Politics

• Yesterday, I rushed through the snow to do an interview with NPR's 'Talk of the Nation' to ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 12th 2011 12:09PM | Comments (69)

Writer Who Asked If the Church Keeps Black Women Single Has Some Answers: Dr. Boyce Spotlight

• Given that I've always been concerned about the breakdown of black families, I thought I would ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 12th 2011 10:52AM | Comments (8)

Crosshairs: Company Attacks Palin, Says Obama Should Not Speak to O'Reilly During the Super Bowl

• Credo Mobile is a wireless company that has no problem engaging in the political issues of the ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 12th 2011 1:14AM | Comments (33)

F. Lee Bailey Says He Believes O.J. Murder Was a Drug Hit

• One of O.J. Simpson's attorneys, F. Lee Bailey, says that there was strong evidence held back ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 11th 2011 12:49PM | Comments (60)

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: News Anchor Cheryl Wills Teaches Empowerment Through Book, 'Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale'

• What is your name and what do you do? My name is Cheryl Wills and I am an author and television ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 11th 2011 6:33AM | Comments (6)

3 Things Obama Must Address for Black People

• I was shaking my head over and over again in preparation for a conversation we are going to have ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 10th 2011 8:16PM | Comments (81)

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: Keri Hilson on Money Management & Social Media Brand Building

• What is your name and what do you do? Keri Hilson and I'm a R&B/Pop Singer and also write ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 10th 2011 4:15PM | Comments (5)

• 

  Tucson puts gun control politics back on the map

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  8:09 AM on 01/11/2011

  OPINION - Guns plague black communities all across America, in large part due to those who make billions by allowing guns to hit the streets by any means necessary...

  > read more

On Founder's Day, Delta Sigma Theta Is Sitting on Millions of Dollars

• I never joined a fraternity during college. My sister and brother pledged, but I was too broke to ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 1:35PM | Comments (3)

On Founder’s Day, Delta Sigma Theta Is Sitting on Millions of Dollars

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I never joined a fraternity during college. My sister and brother pledged, but I was too broke to afford the expense of joining any organization other than the "Broke Negroes of America" club. Also, I was concerned that spending six weeks being mistreated, awakened in the middle of the night and yelled at would cause two unfortunate outcomes: 1) My GPA would drop, and 2) I'd end up going to jail for issuing a couple of beat downs.

But even though I chose not to pledge during college, I gained a degree of respect for many of those who decided to do so. Quite a few members of the African American community are proud of the black greek tradition and find it to be one of the cornerstones of cultural, economic and political power within our society. While the college students get a bad rap for using their greek identity as an excuse to wear matching clothes and have more parties, there are more mature members who see their involvement as an avenue for political and social engagement.
Black America is in consistent need of organizations designed to pursue our collective purpose. Our community lacks the economic and political infrastructure necessary to lift us from the bottom of America's racial caste system. Delta Sigma Theta is part of that tradition, as are other African American sororities and fraternities.

 

click to read.

Missing Honor Student’s Case Should Get More Attention

 

Two weeks after a 16-year-old North Carolina girl disappeared while visiting relatives in Baltimore, police appear to be hitting a dead end in the investigation.
There are no suspects, no motive and few leads to follow in the disappearance of Phylicia Barnes.
"It is almost like she completely vanished," Baltimore police spokesmanAnthony Guglielmi told AOL News today. "We have nothing tangible in terms of leads. There was a big meeting today -- we have gone 14 days now -- and not a single sighting or a single tip has turned out to be true."

 

Barnes lives in Monroe, N.C., but was visiting relatives in Baltimore. She was last seen around 2:30 p.m. Dec. 28, when she left the apartment of her 27-year-old half-sister, Deena Barnes. According to relatives, Phylicia Barnes told her sister she was going shopping.
What happened to the teenager next remains a mystery, police said.
Investigators do not suspect Phylicia is a runaway. They do suspect foul play in the case, but at this point they do not know if she is the victim of a homicide or abduction, Guglielmi said.

 

Click to read.

The Good, the Bad and the Atrocious of the Tavis Smiley Forum on Obama

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Yesterday, I rushed through the snow to do an interview with NPR's "Talk of the Nation" to discuss President Barack Obama's agenda for 2011 and the issues that matter most to black people. At the top of my brain was the old adage, "It's the economy stupid." So, fitting with my role as a Finance Professor, I led the interview off with financial topics, because it is my opinion that the country can benefit from more audible voices that work to portray the depth of black economic suffering.

I also noticed that someone I don't always agree with, Tavis Smiley, said something similar. In a recent interview with NewsOne.com, Smiley went deep on the fact that black economic problems have been rarely addressed by our elected officials and that our community may need to find ways to amplify its voice. Georgetown University Professor Michael Eric Dyson even went as far as giving President Barack Obama a C- on how he deals with black issues. All of this has been interesting to watch, particularly in light of how President Obama's rise to power has created a peculiar divide within pre-existing African American "leadership." The infamous on-air brawl between Rev. Al Sharpton and Tavis Smiley is a perfect case-in-point.

 

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THE GAME: 1ST EPISODE

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The game was good, but ;I'm

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Must Do for Black People – click to listen

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Needs to do For Black People

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Needs to do For Black People

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Dr. Boyce Watkins is on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" discussing President Obama and what he needs to do for the African American community in the year 2011. ;

Auburn University Wins, but at the Expense of the Black Community

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

When I saw the final score of last night’s NCAA championship game where Auburn University defeated the University of Oregon, I sent a tweet to my friends that said, “Congratulations.  Your plantation was the strongest tonight.”

As the southerners who love Auburn football celebrate their championship, they may want to take a second to absorb a couple of sobering realities.  First, the school got $21 million just for winning that one game.  Auburn’s coach, Gene Chizik is due for a multi-million dollar bonus and millions will flow into the pockets of administrators, coaches, commentators, and corporate sponsors, almost none of whom are black.

 

Click to read.

Three Things Obama Can Do for Black People

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I was shaking my head over and over again in preparation for a conversation we are going to have on NPR tomorrow about President Obama. The show is called "Talk of the Nation," and I had the esteemed honor of being the resident black guy, as the other two guests are set to discuss various elements of foreign and domestic policy. I'm just joking about the "black guy" thing, since I'm just happy they didn't choose someone like Juan Williams.

At any rate, my brain started spinning on how President Obama can best use the remainder of his first term as it pertains to people of color. I thought carefully about what he's done, what he's doing, what he's up against and what matters to us. In my course of thought, I came to a few conclusions.

 

click to read.

Mark Anthony Neal Interviews Khalil Muhammad from the Schomburg Center

 Black scholars Mark Anthony Neal and Khalil Muhammad talk about black history, black politics and more

Dr. Boyce: Moving Beyond the Scott Sisters to Broader Prison Reform

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I spent some time this week with NAACP officials analyzing the Georgia Prison Strike that occurred last month.  The fallout has been unbelievable, as some of the inmates were reportedly beaten with hammers for choosing to participate in the work stoppage.  One of the inmates allegedly has brain damage and is in a wheelchair as a result of the beatings.  Perhaps that’s what happens when you simply ask for basic human rights, which we’ve denied prison inmates for far too long.

Seeing what happened to these brothers and sisters after this incident was a cold, stern reminder that there is an infinite amount of work that needs to be done to clean up our criminal justice system.  Most of us think that prison has nothing to do with us, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  One out of every three black boys born this decade is expected to spend time in state prison, federal prison or local jails.  Also, the United States puts more people in prison than any country in the world, and most of us are only God’s grace or one bad situation away from ending up in the big house.  Additionally, there are millions of black folks who’ve seen their fathers, brothers, sisters or cousins negatively impacted and traumatized by this system, even when they were innocent.  The experience of prison is bad enough and only made worse by not being able to get a job for life, losing the right to vote, and not having access to housing or education.

Click to read.

Cornell Prof Referred to His Students as “Black Bitches”?

Written on the blog Ebonymompolitics

“It has been two months since Cornell University Africana professor Grant Farred called two of his graduate students “Black bitches,” inciting upset among students and faculty of the program over the matter. According to the “Cornell Daily Sun,” Farred invited two female students, who have not been mentioned by name, to join him at a conference on February 5 and 6 at the University or Rochester. Farred’s advisees arrived late to the event. After the panel discussion the professor thanked the grad students for attending the conference. What he said next shocked the women. “When you both walked in, I thought, ‘Who are these Black bitches?’” he told them in a low voice. “  The students were visibly upset when he made the remark and he subsequently apologized. The university has been investigating the matter, but my question is should the professor be fired?

Click to read.

Diamond’s House: Relationships are Complicated

Dr. Boyce and Marc Lamont Hill on CNN’s Joy Behar Show

Click the video to see Dr. Marc Lamont Hill at Columbia University and Dr. Boyce Watkins discuss Mark Twain and the n-word

Sleeping Little Girl Shot in a Drive-By

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Kenyatta Kendrick was just 6-years old and sleeping in her bed when she died. She was the victim of a drive-by shooting. Two teenagers and a 25-year old were charged and may face the death penalty for their offenses.

The three young men being charged are 18-year-old Aaron McDowell, 17-year-old Bernard Nix, and 25-year-old Stalandus Slaughter. The incident occurred in Eclectic County, just 30 miles from Montgomery. Kenyatta was a first grader at Eclectic Elementary School.

"She was asleep in her bed when she was struck by a bullet in her side," Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin told the Associated Press. "Any homicide is bad, but you're dealing with a 6-year-old here."

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Professor Mark Anthony Neal on CNN American Morning

NAACP President Ben Jealous’ Statement on the Scott Sisters Case

An Urgent Movement for Justice

By Benjamin Todd Jealous

(TEWire) - During the past two weeks, in response to successful grassroots campaigns, two governors have released Black Americans who had been railroaded by our nation's criminal justice system.
Together, these cases speak to the urgent need for the work the NAACP and our allies are doing to encourage more governors to use their clemency authority as our nation's founding fathers intended by freeing more deserving people more frequently.
The most recent victory is that of Jamie and Gladys Scott, two Mississippi sisters who have been imprisoned for 16 years on double-life sentences. They were each condemned to this extraordinary sentence as teenagers for a first-time offense in which $11 was stolen and no one was hurt. The Scott sisters were convicted of luring two men to be robbed by three teenage boys. The boys each received eight years and served less than three. Moreover, there are compelling reasons to believe the sisters are innocent.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: The Duchess of Black Scholars

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The role of Super Woman in Black America can be readily applied to a woman who can balance the relentless pursuit of academic achievement, professional success, and outstanding motherhood, all at the same time. Miriam Harris (a.k.a. Duchess) is a textbook example of what we all want our daughters to become. She is a mother of three, and has both a PhD and a law degree. The Ivy League educated supermom is not only "about her business," she is deeply committed to the business of using her vast intellect to make the world a better place for both women and people of color. In other words, she's not just a Black PhD, she is actually a "Ph-Do." AOL Black Voices was able to catch up with Professor Harris for the Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight:
1) What is your name and what do you do for a living?

My name is Duchess Harris and I am an Associate Professor of American Studies at Macalester College.
2) What is your area of expertise and what made you pursue this particular area of study?

 

click to read.

Top NCAA Conferences Earned Over a Billion in Profit

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The 68 teams that played in the top six NCAA conferences earned over $1 billion in profits this year, according to a CNNMoney analysis of the nation's largest conferences. This profit is 11% higher than the profit from last year.
The most profitable team in the country was the University of Texas, which posted a profit of over $68 million. If the players on the team and their families were compensated for the athletes' work on the field, the average player would earn nearly half a million dollars per year. Their coach, Mack Brown, earns over $5 million per year at a time when the rest of the university is facing significant budget cuts.

The profit margin for the leading six conferences is an astonishing 49%, more than nearly any professional sports franchise in the world. Much of this is due to the fact that the NCAA doesn't compensate it's players, which would be a labor rights violation in nearly any other industry.

 

Click to read.

 

 

 

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Black Social Commentary from TheGrio.com – 12/31/10

• 

  Ronda Racha Penrice

  Author of African American History For Dummies

  Chris Brown sabotages comeback with 'homophobic' tweets

  9:20 AM on 12/30/2010

  OPINION - Once again Twitter gets another celebrity in trouble. Chris Brown is the latest high profile name to make the Twitter outburst list...

  > MORE

• 

  Sophia A. Nelson

  Political Commentator and Author

  Why Gov. Barbour had to free Scott sisters

  9:14 AM on 12/30/2010

  OPINION - After taking a major media pummeling for his comments and under increasing pressure to do something about the unjust double-life sentencing of two black sisters...

  > MORE

• 

  Coco And Creme

  Urban fashion and beauty news and sister site of Clutch Magazine

  10 natural hair solutions for the new year

  2:05 PM on 12/29/2010

  OPINION - Along with saving money, exercising more, starting a business or finding a new job, many natural hair wearers set hair resolutions as well...

  > MORE

• 

  Dr. Boyce Watkins

  Author and Finance Professor at Syracuse University

  Obama's Vick remarks make sense to African-Americans

  10:32 AM on 12/29/2010

  OPINION - Obama's empathy for Vick speaks volumes on what our president thinks about the state of our corrupt and embarrassing criminal justice system...

  > MORE

• 

  Earl Ofari Hutchinson

  Journalist, author and broadcaster.

  Bad timing for first execution on Obama's watch

  9:07 AM on 12/29/2010

  OPINION - Currently there are nearly five dozen prisoners sitting on federal death row. The majority of the condemned are African-American...

  > MORE

• 

  Adam Howard

  News Editor

  Why 2010 was a bad year for black films

  8:29 AM on 12/29/2010

  OPINION - Is prejudice really behind the paucity of quality black films and roles or are we not spreading the love with our pocketbooks enough to get good work recognized?...

  > MORE

• 

  Kia Miakka Natisse

  Writer

  Can African-Americans claim Kim Kardashian?

  9:00 AM on 12/28/2010

  OPINION - Regardless of her obvious shortcomings, Kim Kardashian's stuck around our collective public perception like a bad STD...

  > MORE

• 

  David A. Love

  Executive Editor, BlackCommentator.com

  Did race force Meeks out of Chicago mayoral campaign?

  8:08 AM on 12/28/2010

  OPINION - Having more than one African-American competitor almost certainly guarantees that Chicago will not have a black mayor this time around...

  > MORE

• 

  Javier E. David

  Writer

  Why Teena Marie was our 'Ivory Queen of Soul'

  9:00 AM on 12/27/2010

  OPINION - Marie's success as a soul singer also has much to teach us as music fans, specifically about the color-blindness of talent...

  > MORE

• 

  Kia Miakka Natisse

  Writer

  Is Tyler Perry the male version of Oprah?

  8:02 AM on 12/27/2010

  OPINION - When you think about it, there are striking parallels between the two moguls...

  > MORE

President Obama’s Statements about Michael Vick: What Do They Really Mean?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University –Scholarship in Action 

Anyone following the worlds of sports and politics heard about President Barack Obama's decision to congratulate the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles for giving the embattled Michael Vick another chance to shine. The president called Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie to tell him that he condemns the crimes for which Vick has been convicted, but believes that those who've paid debts for their crimes deserve a second chance to contribute to society.

The symbolism of this moment can't be missed. Here we have an African American male going out of his way to express support for another black male coming out of the criminal justice system. While none of us knows Obama's true intentions, his public support for Michael Vick reminds us of the intricate connections that exist between many black males from all walks of life (Al Sharpton and I discussed thisvery same issue yesterday with regard to the arrest of the father of NBA star OJ Mayo): educated black politicians/doctors/lawyers who love sports have a great deal in common with athletes, who in turn have something in common with men in the criminal justice system, hip hop, etc. It's all connected at the end of the day (notice the close friendships between men like LeBron James and the rapper Jay-Z and the fact that many artists have friends who deal drugs).

 

Click to read.

 

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CNNSI Writer Says Terrelle Pryor Should Go Pro

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

In an interesting article for CNN/Sports Illustrated, writer Andy Staples lays out some compelling arguments regarding why Ohio State University quarterback Terrelle Pryor should leave behind the chains of the NCAA and find his way to the NFL. He says the same for four other Ohio State players,Boom Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas, who are expected to serve a five game suspension next season for selling some of their gear exchange for a little cash and free tattoos. Staples argues that the NCAA is exploiting these young men by punishing them for making money off their own names and images, even though the NCAA earns money from the very same images.

"Go pro. Do it immediately after the Sugar Bowl. Play the game, take a shower, and sign with the agent of your choice. Then go drink a Hand Grenade at Tropical Isle to celebrate," Staples said. "You can go to the NFL or the CFL or the UFL, where you'll be paid when someone profits from your name or likeness. You'll be fairly compensated for your contribution to your team's gross revenue. Should you benefit from your notoriety, you won't be punished."

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Video: Black Economic Empowerment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Zachary Rinkins is serious about money. He's been running a very popular financial blog for the past several years, and has positioned himself as one of the most respected financial bloggers in the black community. I love what Zachary is doing because he reflects a generation of young people who are interested in seeing themselves empowered through economic success.

 

Click to read.

 

 

 

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Ivy League Student Busted with $150K Worth of Heroin

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Keri Blakinger, a senior at Cornell University, was arrested this week with $150,000 worth of heroin in her possession. The arrest represents the second largest drug bust in the history of the Ithaca, NY police department. Blakinger was carrying the drugs in a tupperware bowl and immediately admitted that the drugs belonged to her.

According to her Facebook page, Blakinger was an English major. There is no word on what sentence could be, but given the magnitude of New York drug laws, she may be in prison for a very long time.
The Blakinger case at Cornell is a telling reminder that drug abuse occurs on quite a few campuses across the country and not just in urban communities. This is not the first Ivy League drug ring to be brought to light. Others have been found at Harvard, Columbia and other well-regarded campuses. But while bad behavior knows few boundaries, there is a stark disparity in the way that drug possession and use is prosecuted, and much of that variation runs along racial lines.

Click to read.

 

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Ohio State Players Suspended for Improper Benefits

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Terrelle Pryor, the star quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, is set to be suspended for four games next season as a result of receiving improper benefits. He wasn't the only Buckeye kicked out for 1/3 of next season: Four other players were also suspended: Daniel Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas are among the guilty and condemned.
Adams is being asked to repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten Championship ring and Heron was busted for selling his jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000. Also among the list of offenses being investigated was that the players received free tattoos in exchange for autographs.
When I read this story, I thought, "Here we go again, the NCAA participating in their typical sanctimonious and hypocritical behavior."

 

Click to read.

Still Seeking Out the Women in Hip Hop – an Interview with Madam Prezident

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why there are no women in hip hop. I've asked this question of some of my friends in the game, but none of them seem to have a good answer. So, I figured that I would do the same thing I did with my mother when I was a child: Keep asking the question until the answer starts to make sense.
There is a plethora of talented artists in hip hop, but most of them are men. We know that women possess the talent to be successful, and we simply have to give them the opportunity. Well, this is the topic that I am going to discuss today with Madam Prezident, aka Shanelle Walker. She is an amazing spoken word and hip hop artist and represents one of the most talented artists in the world today.

 

Click to read

 

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Duchess Harris: The State of Black Women Under President Obama

by Duchess Harris 

History was made in November 2008. Record breaking numbers of voters lined up to vote the first African-American President into office, with Barack Obama handily beating Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, winning 52% of the electoral vote, a clear mandate for change.[1] African-Americans made up 13% of the electorate, a two percent increase from the 2006 elections,[2] and approximately 95% of black voters cast their ballots in favor of Obama.[3] Within that 13%, black women had the highest voter turnout rate among all racial, gender, and ethnic groups.[4]

As the election results were posted, the media and the President-elect himself made grand proclamations about the significance of the election, as well as what it portended for the country's future. New York Times writer Adam Nagourney described voters' election of Obama as "sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics," continuing with a quote from Obama's victory speech in Grant Park, Chicago:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.... It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.[5]

 

Click to read.

 

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How the Prison Industrial Complex Works: America’s Practice of Slavery

The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population, but we incarcerate 25% of all the prisoners in the world. We leave China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and all the other nations we like to look down our noses at far in the dust. We not only lockup more of our citizens than all totalitarian nations, we even lockup more people than China which has more than 4 times the number of Americans, and India which has almost 4 times the number of Americans, and Iran COMBINED. The US not only leads in the numbers of prisoners but far outpace China when measured per capita. We rank 1st among all nations with 715 prisoners per 100,000 people. China, ranks 71st with 119 prisoners per 100,000 people.

According to a report released by the Bureau of Prison Statistics, one out of every 32 adults in the United States was in prison, in jail, on probation, or on parole at the end of 2005.

US leaders love to point out China as a violator of human rights and their penchant for slave and prison labor. While it’s principled to point out abuses by the Chinese, Americans should also recognize that slavery is not only legal in the US, it’s also practiced. The 13th Amendment authorizes it, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” The key word here is “except” and being convicted of a crime in the United States is that exception.

In today’s America, drug laws have become the new Jim Crow laws, the prison/industrial complex has become the new plantation, and the warden has become the new overseer. America’s newest slaves aren’t picking cotton. They’re assembling computers, making women’s lingerie, booking airline flights over the phone, telemarketing for major corporations, and doing all kinds of tasks that free Americans used to be employed at doing. What appeared to be a normal plant closing by U.S. Technologies when it sold its electronics plant in Austin, was actually the company relocating its operations to a nearby Austin prison. One hundred and fifty “free” employees lost their jobs to the new slaves.

If you book a flight on TWA over the phone, a prisoner may be taking your order. If you buy yourself or your loved one something from Victoria Secret, it may have come from a prison in South Carolina. Corporations like Chevron, Boeing, IBM, Motorola, Honda, Toys R Us, Compaq, Dell, Texas Instruments, Honeywell, Hewett-Packard, Microsoft, Nordstrom’s, Revlon, Macy's, Pierre Cardin, Target Stores, and AT&T are a few of the ever-growing list of companies that are, or have at one time, used this kind of slave labor. Federal prisons operate under the trade name Unicor and use their prisoners to make everything from lawn furniture to congressional desks. Federal safety and health standards do not protect prison labor, nor do the National Labor Relations Board policies nor does the minimum wage apply. Corporations that use slave labor don’t pay overtime, sick days, pensions, and don’t have to deal with unions for this work. Prison/slaves are paid about 25 cents an hour.

Who are these new slaves?

 

 

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Tiger's Brother Says He Cut off the Family

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Tiger's Brother says that Tiger thinks his family "doesn't measure up." ;

Bishop Eddie Long Break-in: Video Says It Was About Evidence, not Money

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Bishop Eddie Long's accusers explain why they broke into his house. ;

Hip Hop Artists Speak Up on Georgia Prison Strike

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The rapper Vigalantee speaks up out on the Georgia prison strike and human rights for inmates around the country. ;

Kwame Kilpatrick Gets Hit with a New Indictment

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was indicted this week on even more corruption charges. These charges also implicated his father, Bernard Kilpatrick. Federal prosecutors argue that Kwame and his father engaged in a "pattern of extortion, bribery and fraud," leading to the 38-count indictment.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade is at the forefront of the investigation. "This indictment alleges an audacious and far-reaching abuse of the public trust by a group of high-level city officials and their close associates," McQuade said during a press conference.
McQuade even refers to the conspiracy as the "Kilpatrick Enterprise," claiming that the goal of the enterprise was to enrich Kwame Kilpatrick and his family members. They argue that Kilpatrick and his family used their positions of influence to coerce others into helping them achieve their objectives. Kilpatrick served as Mayor of Detroit from 2005 until 2008. He was removed from office upon pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. He is currently serving a prison term that relates to violating the conditions of his probation.

 

Click to read. 

 

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Why We Should All Support the Georgia Prison Strike

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

You may have heard about the prison strike occurring in Georgia right now.  Inmates in four facilities have come together in an amazing show of solidarity to demand that they be treated like (gasp) human beings, not slaves or animals.  Rather than continuing to fall for the game of divide and conquer that has kept them apart for so long, the whites, blacks, Muslims, Mexicans, and other groups have mobilized forces to fight for something worthwhile.

The guards and wardens of these prisons are nervous.  For the longest time, they were able to convince the inmates to take their aggression out on each other.  Now that the intellectual and spiritual guns are pointed at their overseers, the inmates are gaining access to the liberation that has been denied to them for so very long.  The Georgia prison strike is not just a one-time event; it is a model for success in organizing that can be replicated around the country.

I stand with these men as they fight for what they deserve, while fully understanding that they must pay a debt to society.  They are not asking for anything dramatic, just the basics of what any human being might expect:  an escape from involuntary servitude, adequate healthcare, educational opportunities, the ability to see their families without exorbitant expense and just parole decisions.  They are not asking to be treated like royalty or to even be released without good cause.  They are simply demanding that they be allowed to repay their debt to America and simultaneously create sustainable paths toward contributing to the society in which they live.  These men and women are not garbage to be thrown out and destroyed, but are actually individuals with tremendous productive capacity that remains untapped in a system structured to ruin both good people and bad.

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73 Year Old Black Woman in Amazing Physical Shape

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Check out this 73-year old woman - it will amaze you. ;

Doctors Believe that Stem Cells May Have Cured Man’s HIV

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

A shocking medical breakthrough has gotten the attention of the world. Scientists strongly believe that a patient being treated for HIV infection may have been cured through the use of adult stem cells. Timothy Ray Brown, a man known as "the Berlin Patient," received an adult stem cell transplant for a case of leukemia he'd developed. But after extensive testing, doctors claim that his HIV has been cured. The results of the study were reported in the journal "Blood." The transplant took place in 2007.
After seeing the success of Brown's case, doctors are confident that they can possibly construct a cure for HIV by using genetically-engineered stem cells. In addition to the Brown case, doctors also found that healthy patients who take antiretrovirals, which are typically prescribed to HIV patients, can reduce their chances of infection by 73 percent.

 

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Elaine Brown discusses GA Prison Strike

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Prisoners are on strike in GA - Elaine Brown speaks on it. ;

Gunman Opens Fire at a School Board Meeting

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After finding out that his wife had been fired, this man decided to take the law into his own hands. ;

HS Basketball Player Attacks Ref for Calling Foul

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Watch this high school basketball player fight the referee after he called a foul on him. ;

10 HBCUs Renew Accreditation: Fisk and Tenn State Have Problems

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Ten Historically Black Colleges in the south had their accreditation renewed last week by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Two HBCUs, Fisk University and Tennessee State, were placed on "warning" status, with their accreditation pending their commitment to resolving some issues brought up by the evaluation committee. The warning status is one step away from probation, which can lead to the loss of accreditation.

The universities approved for accreditation included Alabama State, Bethune Cookman, Grambling, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View, South Carolina State, Southern University-Baton Rouge, Xavier of New Orleans, Virginia Union and Winston Salem State University in North Carolina.

Universities must seek out accreditation once every 10 years. There are over 80 different standards that campuses must meet to be reaffirmed. Accreditation is important for every university, with some HBCUs struggling to make the mark. The struggle can be linked directly to a lack of resources, leading to many HBCUs hiring professors from other countries to fulfill research requirements. In fact, in business and the sciences, many HBCUs don't have more than one or two African American professors, which seems to defeat the purpose of attending an HBCU in the first place.

 

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Major Protests in Six Georgia Prisons: Inmates Demand Human Rights

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Six major prisons in the state of Georgia have begun a strong peaceful protest against inhumane conditions in the facilities in which they live. The protest is unique because it represents a coalition of black, brown and white inmates, jumping the line of racial segregation so prominent in prisons across America.
While the wardens at the prisons are not speaking to the public, the public is certainly speaking to the system. Across the nation, supporters of the movement are making calls to various officials to request that they help with the problem (you can see who to call by clicking here).
Thousands of inmates stayed in their cells Thursday, leading to strong and swift retaliation by the prison guards. According to those familiar with recent events, inmates have been beaten and had their personal items destroyed. Inmates also say that the authorities have cut off their hot water and shut off the heat when outside temperatures were in their 30s.

 

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Cam Newton Wins Heisman In the Middle of Controversy

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton became the 76th winner of the Heisman Trophy, considered to be the most prestigious award in all of college football. Newton won the award this week, making him the third player in Auburn University history to win the trophy. His stellar play on the field led to Auburn having a 13-0 record and playing for the BCS Championship.

Quite simply, Newton is an absolute beast. He led the SEC in rushing with 1,409 yards. He was simultaneously the nation's top-rated passer with 2,589 yards passing and 28 touchdown tosses. He also scored another 21 touchdowns rushing.

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