Accuser Jamal Parris Speaks To The Bishop Eddie Longs Sex Accusations
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jamal Parris: The Latest and Most Public Eddie Long Accuser
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Black Leaders Quiet about Bishop Eddie Long
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Dr. Boyce on MSNBC – What to make of the Black Church and Homosexuality – 9/24/10
What do we do about gays in the church? Are there other pastors who spend their time engaging in questionable sexual activity? Dr. Boyce discusses these issues on MSNBC.
Please click here to watch.
Bishop Eddie Long to Step Down After Sunday
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
Letter from Sheri Mitchell about Accused Racist Sheriff Candidate, Joe Price
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.
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.
Lawrence Summers Leaves Obama’s Cabinet…Finally
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Black Woman Says She’s Exhausted of Defending Obama
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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)
Black Celebrities Can Learn a lot from Lada Gaga
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
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.
Monday, September 20, 2010
CNN’s Black in America Gets it Wrong on Black/White Wealth Gap
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
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.
HBCU TV Network to Launch This Fall
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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."
Dr. Boyce Video – 9/20/10
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Dr. Boyce Video -- 'Raised by The Mistress,' A New Look at Black Love, Part 1
One of the most interesting things about black people is that we are able to build love in some of ...
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Dr. Boyce Video: What's Wrong With Hip Hop?
What's Wrong With Hip Hop? Click below and discuss this issue along with my esteemed guests in ...
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Dr. Boyce Video: Black Relationships Don't Seem To Work, Why?
PRODUCTION PLAYER! DO NOT DELETE. ...
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Dr. Boyce Video: Meet Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam
PRODUCTION PLAYER! DO NOT DELETE. ...
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Dr. Boyce Video: Would You Be OK with a Part-Time Man?
PRODUCTION PLAYER! DO NOT DELETE. I have a theory that I've wondered would hold ...
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Dr. Boyce Video -- S. Tia Brown and I Talk Financial Lovemaking
S. Tia Brown is a sassy, intelligent woman with a lot of interesting opinions. We also tend to ...
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Dr. Boyce Video -- Madam Prezident - The Dopest Black Poet in America
If you want to know who my favorite spoken word artist happens to be, its Madam Prezident out of ...
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Dr. Boyce Video -- Black Filmmakers Dorian Chandler and Keisha Dutes
I had a chance to sit down with award-winning filmmaker Dorian Chandler and radio show host Keisha ...
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Dr. Boyce Video -- Black Female Athletes Excel in the Ivy League
As most of you know from my book 'Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College,' I am a strong ...
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Dr. Boyce Video: Raqiyah Mays, Demetria Lucas on Love, Relationships
I have recently had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with two women who really have it going ...
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Dr. Boyce Video -- Sherri Shepherd Stops by for a Conversation
I like Sherri Shepherd very much. No, really I do. Unlike some of the less desirable creatures I've ...
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Dr. Boyce Video - On Immigration With Prof. Lewis and Prof. Aja
The topic of illegal immigration is a hot-button issue these days. African Americans are being ...
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Dr. Boyce Video - The NAACP's Controversial Deal With Wells Fargo
Faye Anderson is not just a Stanford-educated attorney; she is also a social activist who has the ...
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Dr. Boyce, Marc Lamont Hill, Lola Adesioye Fight About Black America
One of my very best friends in the world is Dr. Marc Lamont Hill at Columbia University. I truly ...
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Black Single Mothers and Dating: What's It Really Like?
In this episode of 'Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices,' we discuss black single mothers ...
Today Show Guest References “Spook Music”?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Steve Sarkisian: Coach Says Reggie Bush was Acting Like an Idiot
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Black 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.
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.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Bethany Storro: Police Confirm that Woman Did Throw Acid On Her Own Face
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship 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.
14-Year Old Chicago Boy Killed in a Drive-By Shooting
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14-Year Old Boy Murdered in Drive-By Shooting
3:07 PMSep 16
Source: BV Black Spin
Boys as young as 14-years old should not have to worry about being shot in the street. Unfortunately, this is exactly what young men and their parents have to worry about in the city of Chicago. A 14-year old boy was murdered this Tuesday in a ... Read More
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Did Elle Magazine Lighten Gabby Sidibe's Skin?
2:17 PMSep 16
Source: BV on Style
Gabourey Sidibe: rising star, Oscar nominee, magazine cover girl and... airbrush victim? One of four cover models for Elle's 25th anniversary October issue, Sidibe appears on the front of the fashion magazine with what appears to be lighter skin. ... Read More
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Oscar Nominees Terrence Howard & Taraji P. Henson Return to Host 'Soul Train' Awards
2:02 PMSep 16
Source: BV Newswire
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's why producers have decided to have Academy Award nominated actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson return to host Centric's 2nd Annual Soul Train Awards this November. Last year the duo, who have ... Read More
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Poverty Rate Rose Sharply in 2009, Says Census Bureau
1:46 PMSep 16
Source: BV on Money
From The New York Times: Forty-four million people in the United States, or one in seven residents, lived in poverty in 2009, an increase of 4 million from the year before, the Census Bureau reported on Thursday. The poverty rate climbed to 14.3 ... Read More
Black Athletes Under Siege: NFL Lockout May be Coming This Year
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.
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.
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.
What’s Wrong with Hip Hop?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I'm a huge fan of hip hop music. In fact, I didn't even start to like music until hip hop came along. I will continue to be a fan of hip hop music, but as a black scholar, I feel that part of my job is to ask questions that we may need to answer as a society.
The question for today is, "What's wrong with hip hop music?" Perhaps the question I've asked is presumptuous, since many of us don't see a problem at all. I've sat in the car for hours with my teenage daughters, listening to one song after another, each of them returning to basically the same themes: Money, sex, weapons or drugs.
Varnette Honeywood, Cosby Show Artist, Dies at 59
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Varnette Honeywood was the artist who gave life to The Cosby Show. Her paintings covered the walls of the Huxtable home, adding flare to those colorful sweaters Cliff seemed to love. While not everyone is in agreement on their love for Cliff's sweaters, there's no denying that Honeywood's art was anything less than "tha bomb."
Sadly, Honeywood's life has ended at the young age of 59 years old. She'd been battling cancer for the last two years, finally succumbing to the disease. Now, the world is just a little less colorful than it was before.
Reggie Bush Gives Back the Heisman: Good for Him
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
I am not sure if Reggie Bush has ever read a word I've written. But after I mentioned last week that I felt Bush should give the Heisman trophy back, I was proud to see that he gave it away. Again, I am not one to say that he gives a you-know-what about anything I might say in public, but I can certainly say that I am proud.
Bush gave the Heisman trophy back this week after rampant speculation regarding whether or not he received inappropriate benefits during his time at USC. The speculation was bothersome to me, primarily because Reggie Bush was a human highlight film who earned millions for the NCAA and the university. The idea that they would even consider taking his Heisman Trophy after he'd given the NCAA so much was nothing short of offensive. If a man earns millions of dollars for you and you get angry because he took a few thousand to give his mother a place to live, then you've clearly got a problem with your value system.
Bush's statement about giving the Heisman back is below:
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Christopher Metzler Discuss "Keeping The Bush Tax Cuts" on CNBC
Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Christopher Metzler Discuss "Keeping The Bush Tax Cuts" on CNBC
Why are Black Relationships Breaking Down?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
One consistent topic of conversation within the African American community is the state of our relationships. We see scores of people choosing to get together, but they don't always want to stay together. Many of our children don't have mothers and fathers, but are granted a pile of baby's mamas and baby daddies. Some of the men aren't paying child support, and some of the women aren't making good choices when deciding who to sleep with. What's the problem?
Civil Rights Photographer Found to be an FBI Informant
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
If you don't know the name Ernest Withers, I can guarantee that you know of his work. Remember the famous and horrible picture of Emmett Till? Withers took that one. Think about nearly every well-known picture of Dr. King you think of. Well, Withers probably took that one too.
Ernest Withers had access to Civil Rights leaders like no other. He was also found to have been an informant for the FBI.
The Commercial Appeal in Memphis conducted a two-year investigation into the life of Withers, who died in 2007. The investigation found that Withers allegedly worked with two F.B.I. agents to keep an eye on the Civil Rights Movement. Withers was known to have been very close to Dr. King and to have had his trust.
"It is an amazing betrayal," said Athan Theoharis, an historian, told the New York Times. "It really speaks to the degree that the F.B.I. was able to engage individuals within the civil rights movement. This man was so well trusted."
Monday, September 13, 2010
Open Letter to President Obama: Black Unemployment Must Be Addressed
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Dear Mr. President,
I write this letter with all due respect to yourself, as well as the office of the presidency. Your historic rise up the political ladder has been nothing short of inspirational, and your extraordinary vision has positioned you as one of the most celebrated leaders in the history of the United States. As a fellow scholar and African American male, I applaud your achievements. I am especially excited about how you, Michelle, and your beautiful daughters present such a magnificent image of the African American family.
While the black community remains inspired by your achievements and overwhelmingly sympathetic to your challenges from conservatives, there are concerns that the economic plight of black Americans has not been a priority for the Obama Administration. To be sure, opinions on this matter are far from unanimous. But the numbers tell a story that needs to be heard.
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