Cynthia McKinney’s Open Letter to Syracuse University about Dr. Boyce Watkins

 

Chancellor Cantor:

I write this letter with fond memories of interactions with the wonderful students at Syracuse University.  While on your campus, I found the students to be both thoughtful and welcoming:  perfect for a university campus.

I write to lend my full support for Dr. Boyce Watkins and his tenure application at Syracuse University.  Dr. Watkins has raised the profile of Syracuse University as he informs our national community on money matters as well as matters of the conscience.  And at this particular time in our country’s history, financial literacy must be viewed as an important life skill.  Dr. Boyce is doing for America what he does in Syracuse University classrooms every class meeting period.  So why would Syracuse University not want such a prolific and publicly appealing face as its representative?

Ultimately, Dr. Boyce must be judged by what he does in the classroom and in publications.  Does Dr. Boyce elevate Syracuse University and does he elevate his field?  Dr. Boyce demonstrates "academics in action" and makes scholarship relevant.  Why should Dr. Boyce’s scholarship and activism (which elevates Syracuse University) not be rewarded by a grant of tenure from Syracuse University?

As a former Member of Congress and Green Party candidate for President of the United States, I realize that political complexities can play a role in the decision to grant tenure to faculty on most American campuses. As I have just concluded successful organizing against war that brought together four 2008 Presidential candidates, I am reminded of the clean break that Dr. King had to make with his friends of the civil rights movement when he decided to speak out against the Vietnam War.  But Dr. King intoned that he had been fighting segregation too long to segregate his moral concerns.  Your decision with respect to Dr. Boyce is both political and moral.  And so, I will end with one very famous Dr. King quote and hope that the leadership of Syracuse University will do in this decision what is right:

"Cowardice asks the question – is it safe?
Expediency asks the question – is it politic?
Vanity asks the question – is it popular?
But conscience asks the question – is it right?
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right."

Sincerely,
Cynthia McKinney

–
http://www.livestream.com/dignity
http://dignity.ning.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/runcynthiarun
http://www.twitter.com/cynthiamckinney
http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaMcKinney

The President’s Grade for 2009

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

The other night on the Oprah Winfrey Christmas special, President Barack Obama made an unwise move. When asked what grade he deserves as president, Obama gave himself a B+. Giving himself a grade was not necessarily the best decision, since there are over 300 million Americans who then realized that they should be giving him grades as well.
So, allow me to be the first to provide our president with a grade for his performance. I’ve been giving grades to college students for the last 16 years, and one thing my students will tell you is that I am fair. My other argument is that I never actually GIVE you a grade; I simply report the grade that you’ve earned.
1) Handling of the Economy (B-): President Obama is better than John McCain ever could have been when it comes to managing our economic downturn. The problem is that while the president has spiraled our deficit out of control, our nation has yet to see any concrete evidence that the economy’s fundamental strength has returned. He has made an enemy out of Wall Street by grandstanding around executive pay issues, but he has lost the backing of Main Street because job losses continue to mount. That’s the problem with always reaching across the isle: Sometimes, you don’t have firm support on either side of it. The president’s inability to translate massive spending into real jobs is going to cost him big time.
2) Management of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (B): On one hand, the president must face the stern reality that you can’t just walk out of a war in the middle of it. We all know that Bush got us into these messes, and Obama must get us out. At the same time, Obama pledged to get us out of the wars faster than he is actually doing it, and it is incredibly awkward for a man to accept a Nobel Peace Prize while simultaneously escalating the troop presence in an occupied country. Sure Obama didn’t give himself the Nobel Prize, but he still must be held accountable.

 

Click to read.

Students Voice Their Thoughts on Dr. Boyce’s Tenure Battle

Reported in the SU Student Voice.

The Rev. Al Sharpton has written the chancellor in support of Watkins, right

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and former Rep. Cynthia McKinney have now thrust themselves into the debate over Boyce Watkins’ tenure appeal, The Student Voice has learned.

Three days after the Rev. Al Sharpton sent Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor a letter in support of Whitman professor Boyce Watkins’ pending tenure appeal case, Jackson told Watkins that he wanted to get involved. Watkins sent SV writer Naresh Vissa a text message early this morning saying Jackson wants to speak with Cantor as soon as possible.

Watkins and Cantor are scheduled to meet today to discuss Watkins’ future at the university after he was denied tenure, first reported in The Student Voice.

And McKinney, the Green Party presidential candidate in 2008, wrote what Watkins called “the most astonishing letter in support of my tenure case” to SU administration yesterday. Prominent African-American syndicated columnist Julianne Malveaux has also voiced her support for Watkins.

 

Click to read.

Where Eric Holder Got it Wrong

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Elliot Millner brought it to my attention that Attorney General Eric Holder has been apparently spending a lot of time with Bill Cosby these days. In a recent speech at a black church in Queens, NY, Holder took a page out of the Barack Obama Campaign Catalog and chose to win favors with the black middle class by recklessly bashing away at absentee fathers and returning to the whole "ya’ll just need to grow up and be more responsible" argument that allows any politician to explain away a blatant disregard for meaningful public policy. Rather than talking about things that we can do as a society to take our collective foot off the necks of black men, he chose to say that black men are choosing to put the foot on their own necks.
Elliot Millner, who is also in the legal profession, intelligently said the things that I am sure Eric Holder wanted to say. But unlike Holder, Millner is not constrained by the political shackles that come with being an appointed leader in a society that makes a habit of oppressing, destroying and marginalizing black men.
In his speech, Holder said that, "It should simply be unacceptable for a man to have a child and then not play an integral part in the raising and nurturing of the child."
That quote is a nice way of reflecting on the obvious. It’s sort of like saying, "It should be unacceptable for a black man to become the Attorney General of the United States and not play an integral part in helping other black men overcome the blatantly racist and destructive justice system over which you preside."

Click to read.

Eric Holder Attacks Black Fathers: Was it the Right Thing to Do?

by Elliot Millner, J.D. – Your Black World 

Attorney General Eric Holderrecently spoke at a Black church in Queens, NY, and during his speech he gave Black fathers another talking to, stating that:
"It should simply be unacceptable for a man to have a child and then not play an integral part in the raising and nurturing of the child."
Sounds good on face value. Who doesn’t think that any man who has a child should play a vital role in that child’s growth and development? A.G. Holder is 100% right on that point, and I have no disagreement with him whatsoever.
However lets look beyond the truthfulness of the words. When communicating, there are many other factors to consider other than what is being said. So, let’s consider the question: If a person is truly concerned about promoting the increased participation of Black father’s in their children’s lives, what would that person do? Seemingly, a person sincere about achieving that goal would go speak to the people most in need of that talk, in this case Black fathers who were not being responsible for the children they had helped bring into the world. Although I’m sure it may have been some people in Memorial Presbyterian Church who were being negligent in their parental duties, I doubt that A.G. Holder’s message applied to the majority of them.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce on CNN: Tiger Woods and Race

Dr. Boyce and Don Lemon wonder out loud whether there is a racial dimension to the media slaughter of Tiger Woods.

The “OJ Simpsonization” of Tiger Woods: Could it Possibly Happen?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Tiger Woods is a black athlete. He isn’t "Caublinasian," mixed or any other ethnicity. He is, officially, a black man – especially after being reduced to being an adulterer who sleeps with porn stars. At least that’s what guests on the Joy Behar Show seem to think.

During a recent episode, a guest on the show, Karith Foster, was asked what she thought about Tiger’s recent indiscretions. In response to the question, the comedian said (without cracking a smile) that Tiger is "acting like a black athlete now."

I was shocked to hear these words come out of the mouth of any person, let alone an African-American woman. Dr. Deborah Stroman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first person to bring the comments to my attention. She and I both agreed that the statement was an outrageous, irresponsible choice of words, and the host should have challenged her immediately. But Foster’s comments might be telling, given that she once relegated herself to being the token black sidekick of a man (Don Imus) famous for referring to black women as "nappy headed hoes." Foster was fired not too long after being hired, which reminds us of the complications that come from making deals with the devil just to keep a job in media.

Needless to say, I was disappointed with Ms. Foster’s remarks. I also found it quite ironic that no one went out of their way to compare Woods with other black men when he was the clean cut soldier boy with the billion dollar smile. At that time, he was considered the exception to the rule, something that all of America could easily embrace. Some have decided to associate the "black male" side of Tiger with the seedy character who has emerged over the past two weeks. Such comparisons are insulting to good black men everywhere. At the same time, it should be acknowledged that not every American shares the opinion of Karith Foster.

Let’s be clear, Tiger Woods is not seedy, nor is he perfect. In reality, he is simply human. The problem is that we were all led to believe that he was super human, so the Tiger we are seeing today appears sub-human. Tiger Woods was the original Barack Obama, a man who injected hope into the psyches of sports fans everywhere, as we were all inspired to see a man with a brown face whipping the greatest golfers in history. Even to this day, Tiger is usually the only man of color on the golf course, and he is almost always the most dominant.

It will be interesting to see how the world processes Tiger’s recent mistakes. It is not inconceivable that Tiger could be "OJ Simpsonized" by this incident, especially if additional dirt is leaked to the public. If you recall, OJ was also an athlete who’d been given permission to spend a significant amount of time with white women before the murder took place. After his trial, however, he was considered to be the most morally depleted man in America.

 

Click to read.

Tiger Woods Quitting Golf?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

The British Tabloid, the Sun, is now reporting on it’s website that Tiger Woods, the #1 player in the world, may be quitting golf in order to save his marriage. According to a source, said to be a friend of Tiger’s wife, Elin Nordegren, ""They have agreed to try and rebuild their marriage, but Elin will be the one calling the shots. It will be a long time before he’s traveling the globe playing golf unless Elin’s by his side. Tiger will have to work long and hard to get her to trust him again. Quitting golf shows he is willing to sacrifice something he loves so much to protect his family….."
If Tiger Woods were to quit the game of golf, a long list of people stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. Here’s the short list:

Click to read.

OK, Time to Leave Tiger Alone

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Tiger Woods has changed right before our eyes.  He was once an American hero, and has been since reduced (to many) to be a no good, dirty, lying, cheating dog.  Tiger now comes off to some as a typical oversexed athlete who can’t keep his you-know-what in his pants and makes it his job to break women’s hearts.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  If you hate Tiger Woods, then join the club.  I am disappointed in Tiger Woods too.

But it’s time to move on from that.  Tiger is better than this and so are we.  Yes, Tiger Woods appears to be a man with a “complicated” lifestyle, but he is also a man who found a way to achieve things that no human being in the history of the world has ever been able to accomplish.  He has carried the banner for African American golf on his shoulders and single-handedly beat the living crap out of hundreds of other participants in an historically racist sport.  He was Barack Obama before Barack came along.  Tiger filled us with hope and made us believe that black people could do anything.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce on AOL Black Voices – 12/10/09

• 

  What Has Barack Obama Done for Black Men? Dr. Boyce Analyzes

  I did a recent CNN appearance along with the actor Hill Harper and Dr. Alvin Poussaint at Harvard …

  Read More

• 

  White People Don’t Like President Barack Obama

  In spite of the fact that he is just as much white as he is black, white people just don’t like …

  Read More

• 

  Black Kids Told to Pick Cotton in Front of their White Classmates

  I received a call today from CNN for an appearance on Headline News with the amazing Richelle …

  Read More

• 

  Heather Ellis Wal-Mart Case: Why It’s All About Racism

  Update on 11/19 at 7:43 PM EST: Surveillance video has been released. My mother raised me to …

  Read More

• 

  Heather Ellis Gets Major Support: The Inside Scoop

  I am sitting in my hotel room in Memphis after the exhausting day I spent marching for Heather …

  Read More

• 

  Black Columbia Professor Punches White Colleague: Dr. Boyce Analyzes

  When I heard that black Columbia University professor Lionel McIntyre punched out a white …

  Read More

• 

  Prosecutor Quits Heather Ellis Case: 15 Years for Cutting Line at Wal-Mart?

  If you hadn’t heard about the case of Heather Ellis, a 24-year-old black college student facing 15 …

  Read More

• 

  Dr Boyce and Farai Chideya Discuss Life as an African American

  In the video below, Farai Chideya and I (not pictured above) are on NPR "News and Notes" discussing …

  Read More

• 

  Dr. Boyce: Black Scholars Speak Out on the Sale of Ebony Magazine

  I’ve always felt that the role of black scholars is to speak up and out on issues of relevance to …

  Read More

• 

  Dr. Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton on the Death of Derrion Albert

  I spoke with Rev. Al Sharpton in our weekly meeting on his radio show, which you can listen to …

  Read More

• 

  5 Reasons Obama Could Have Supported David Paterson

  President Obama made a very good political decision last week: He threw another black man under the …

  Read More

• 

  Wendy Williams and Dr. Boyce Talk Hip Hop and Money

  In this video, I was in studio with the great Wendy Williams. I’ve written about Wendy in the past, …

  Read More

• 

  University of Memphis Professor Writes Shocking Letter on Racism

  Professor Larry Moore at The University of Memphis is on a mission. The African American …

  Read More

• 

  Setting Goals and Reaching them Part 2

  A few days ago, I wrote a piece on setting goals and reaching them. Now, I am going to go full …

  Read More

• 

  Dr Boyce: How to Set Goals and Reach Them

  Many of us want something in life. But as the rapper Coolio used to say, "Wishing is for suckers." …

  Read More

SU Students Speak Out on Behalf of Dr. Watkins and his Battle with Syracuse University

Watkins, a finance professor at SU, is ignored by the administration.

By Naresh Vissa

In January 2007, college student Heather Ellis and her cousin stood in two lines at Wal-Mart. They agreed that the first to reach a register would combine the items for purchase. When the African-American Ellis gave her cousin the groceries, bystanders behind complained that she had cut. After some verbal exchanges, Ellis walked to her car and found the police waiting to arrest her. She tried her best to resist and suffered numerous cuts and bruises in the process.

Today, Ellis should be in medical school. Instead, she has pled guilty to charges of disturbing the peace and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

The case was covered by CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, Good Morning America, The Today Show and every major black media outlet in America. Even more importantly, Syracuse University is connected to it, but hasn’t issued any statements. As a producer of two radio shows, I myself find it embarrassing that I discovered Ellis through a press release pitch e-mail I received.

At the forefront of all the outrage is Whitman School of Management Finance Professor Dr. Boyce Watkins, but it’s not getting any attention from SU administrators.

“I’ve come to accept the fact that the University is not appreciative of my work,” Watkins said. “It’s part of their tradition when it comes to progressive black scholars. If I’d learned to sit down and shut up, I might be treated better. Quiet Negroes do quite well in academia.”

Click to read.

Tiger Woods’ Women Will Cost Him $100 Million Dollars

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

The last thing I expected to be thinking about after getting off an airplane are Tiger Woods’ women and his indiscretions. I’ve seen married men misbehave before, and I honestly thought we were at the "no big deal, he’ll get over it" stage when it came to Tiger Woods and his corporate brand. The problem is that the list of Tiger Woods women has gotten so long that it’s making him look like a PGA version of Wilt Chamberlain or Charlie Sheen.
Tiger Woods does not have a brand that will be able to withstand long lists of cocktail waitresses and "sex addicted cougars" (according to the New York Post), even if the media is exaggerating in their descriptions. The truth is that as great of a golfer as Tiger Woods might be, it could be the women of Tiger Woods who cost him a substantial piece of his fortune.
I spoke recently about how Saturday Night Live went over the line by making light of the alleged domestic violence between Tiger and his wife, Elin Nordegren. While I stand by that perspective (we would never excuse Tiger for trying to whack his wife in the head with a golf club), the truth is that there are broader implications for the fact that the list of Tiger Woods women just happens to be longer than the Dead Sea Scrolls. Whether Tiger likes it or not, the truth is that there are thousands of women across America who are cheering for Elin’s decision to chase her husband with a deadly weapon. This has huge implications for Tiger’s ability to sell products to American families, where women are the primary decision-makers in household consumption.

 

 

click to read.

What We Can Learn from Shaq’s Alleged Cheating

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

 

It seems that NBA star Shaquille O’neal, like many other athletes, has a personal life that no one knows about. The YBF.com has released exclusive text messages between Shaquille and his mistress, Latosha Lee. I am noticing a trend here: People are starting to find out that athletes are not always one-woman people. But are you actually surprised? In fact, do you ever wonder why anyone would consider marrying an athlete in the first place? But then again, we also know that not every athlete is going to be unfaithful and not every unfaithful man is an athlete. Either way, both Shaquille O’neal and Tiger Woods are in the middle of major marital drama.

In the text messages, Shaq’s personal life is put on blast.

The messages are long and drawn out, with an awkward reading from bottom to top. During the conversation, the two lovers describe their travel arrangements and Latosha’s relationship with NBA baller Damien Wilkins (nephew of Dominique Wilkins). They also have an argument about a purse that Latosha wants from Shaq, but that he is not willing to buy her. If you like drama, then you can find it here.

But above and beyond the drama (remember, I analyze and find teachable moments in everything), there are some other thoughts that went through my mind:

 

click to read.

Dr Boyce Watkins on ABC News: The Impact on Tiger’s brand

 

Click here to watch

The Impact on Tiger Woods’ Brand: Dr Boyce on ABC News

Dr. Boyce talks about Tiger Woods on ABC News show, “Good Money”

Dr. Boyce: Tiger Woods and His Interracial Marriage: The Writing on the Wall

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Today while hanging out with Rev. Al Sharpton in the studio, I found my mind reflecting deeply on the recent drama between Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren. In spite of the fact that I was sitting next to the man who epitomizes race relations in America, no one brought up the fact that Tiger Woods is involved in an inter-racial marriage. It wasn’t because we were afraid to go there, it was just that there were more pressing issues to discuss.

In spite of the fact that Rev. Sharpton and I discussed everything except for the fact that Tiger’s wife is white, one of the callers slammed the issue on the table like a five pound slab of raw chicken. The caller made the old OJ Simpson argument: "Had he been with a sister, none of this would have happened."

While I don’t agree with the caller’s assertion (we know that marital drama knows no racial boundaries), I found it interesting that some of the black women in the studio smirked and looked at the floor, as if to say, "I hear ya girl." These smirks were not built on agreeing with what the woman said, but rather, on the disappointment and resentment that many black women have felt about the fact that Tiger Woods almost never seemed to show any interest in African American females. Unlike guys like myself, who admire Tiger for his achievements, I know a long list of black women who could care less if Tiger were to take his golf clubs and jump off the side of a 10-story building.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce on MSNBC Discussing Tiger Woods

Dr. Boyce speaks on the Tiger Woods controversy on MSNBC.

Prosperity Gospel: Is it Real or Not?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Nearly every African American knows just how important the black church is to our community. We also know about "prosperity gospel," the act of preaching about God within the context of wealth building. I admit that this form of faith is a bit odd to me. I am a Finance Professor and I become confused when my pastor talks about money more than I do. The saddest truth is that it’s hard to tell the difference between a pastor and a pimp: Most pastors aren’t pimps, but any pimp could be a pastor. The same skill set is required in both professions.

My father is a preacher, but he almost never preaches about money. I’ve never heard him asking for money on the pulpit, or mentioning that giving money to him is one of the keys to gaining access to heaven. But I don’t presume that my father is right about all things, and given that I write about money on a regular basis, I have gained an appreciation for what financial resources can do to enhance your life. Also, one must be aware of the pragmatic realities of running a church: You have the building fund, bills to pay every month and any community service initiatives that the church chooses to pursue. The proper use of money can certainly enhance your ability to do God’s work.

 

Click to read.

ABC News – Tiger Woods’ Accident Shakes Advertisers

Word that Tiger Woods was involved in an early morning car accident likely rattled not just fans, but also the broad swath of major corporations that rely on Woods’ star power to sell everything from sports drinks, T-shirts and razors to golf tournament tickets.

Reports say the golf star hit a fire hydrant and a tree near his home.

"I can imagine that the world stopped for Tiger Woods advertisers when they first heard the news and that, literally, their hearts missed a beat," said ABC News sports consultant and USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan.

Woods has earned more than $100 million annually and, according to Forbes, more than $1 billion during his career thus far, thanks, in part, through endorsement deals with companies such as Nike, Gatorade, Electronic Arts, TAG Heuer and Gillette. The companies declined requests for comment from ABC News.

Nike, in particular, has been especially dependent on Woods, said advertising expert Larry Woodard, an ABC News columnist and the CEO of the advertising agency Vigilante.

"Nike wasn’t really into golf before Tiger Woods came," he said. "He helped them take a pre-eminent role in golf."

The PGA Tour also has a lot riding on Woods — he drives ratings for PGA Tour broadcasts like no one else before him, allowing the tour to rake in greater advertising revenues and higher TV ratings.

"Tiger brought a lot of color to the sport both on his skin and his style of play and that’s something that the PGA sorely needs," said Boyce Watkins, a finance professor at Syracuse University.

In the short term, companies tied to Woods likely wouldn’t lose too much cash if Woods couldn’t fulfill his immediate endorsement obligations; corporations take out insurance policies to cover themselves in case of such events.

"I bet you any intelligent corporation that deals with Tiger Woods has conditions in place to protect them in the event that something like this were to happen," Watkins said. "You have to confront the fact that a human being is perishable commodity. It is a commodity that does not come without risk."

 

Click to read.

Inner City Schools Should be Appropriately Funded

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

The following is an excerpt from the book, "Black American Money."
I saw some random "expert" on a "60 Minutes" segment discussing the state of the education system. The man was attempting to argue that more resources won’t make a difference in the quality of our schools. He went on to argue that many of the pathetic schools in the inner city are run by blacks, implying that not only do African-Americans not care about their own youth, they are shiftless buffoons when it comes to money management. I’ve heard similar arguments from members of oppressive groups around the world, as oppressor attitudes are shockingly consistent and universal. A friend of mine from India once explained to me that additional government resources being allocated to create opportunities for "the untouchables" were a waste of time, in large part due to the fact that the people were too lazy to efficiently use these opportunities.Stereotypes against historically oppressed groups are quite common, as the world has been trained to believe that when it comes to managing money, white men are gods and black people are idiots. But when it comes to poor money management, few institutions are worse than the Pentagon which has been known to spend $500 for a toilet seat. They also fail to look to the airline and automobile industries, the ultimate welfare queens of American capitalism. These industries consistently seek government bailouts in the form of tariffs and subsidies. I won’t begin to discuss the Financial Crisis of 2008 – 2009, as we saw our entire global financial system artificially inflated and subsequently destroyed by individuals who are not black. Rather, people are usually quick to point to black administrators in inner city schools and historically black colleges and universities as the most wasteful individuals in American education and industry.

 

Click to read.

Big Ups to Shaquille O’neal

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

NBA star Shaquille O’neal is planning to cover the cost for the funeral of Shaniya Davis, the five-year old who was recently kidnapped and murdered in a story that rocked the nation. The cost of the funeral is expected to be about $4,500. According to media reports, the child was killed by 29-year old Mario McNeill on the same day that she was found to be missing.

The Shaniya Davis case broke all of our hearts. Shaquille O’neal’s intervention was likely welcomed by the family, since funeral costs are usually another problem that families are not prepared to face after the death of a loved one.

Shaniya Davis’ mother, 25-year old Antoinette Davis, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution. Her case is a reminder of the dangers of drugs in America and opens a frightening door into the underworld of child prostitution. In spite of the fact that there are ways to save on the cost of a funeral, it is highly unlikely that Shaniya Davis’ mother had anything in place to pay the cost of her child’s burial. So, I give Shaq major "props" for stepping up to the plate, since we all know that it takes a village to raise and protect a child. It is my hope that the other Shaniya’s in the world get the protection they deserve from all of us before it is too late.

Click to read.

Has Obama Helped Black Men?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I did a recent CNN appearance along with the actor Hill Harper and Dr. Alvin Poussaint at Harvard University. The series was a one-year anniversary segment featuring political issues within the African American community. for the entire week, the primary focus was on the impact that President Barack Obama has had onAfrican American men. Given that I’ve been a black man for quite a while now, I found this conversation topic particularly interesting, so getting to speak to Richelle Carey again wasn’t the only perk of doing the job that day.

It must be made clear that the president should not be expected to save the entire world in one swoop. His job is difficult, and he can’t give everyone what they want all the time. But to the extent that President Obama has been positioned to trump pre-existing black leadership (remember that some say we now live in a post-racial America), one can argue that President Obama’s rantings in black churches come with some degree of accountability from the Oval Office. Obama has spoken at NAACP meetings, telling black men to take responsibility for our families (as if none of us do) and to engage in more personal responsibility (as if we don’t do that already). Such tough talk should be backed by meaningful policy, since structural incentives play a dominant role in the ultimate choice of the individual. For example, when companies get tax incentives to invest in new projects, they almost always do.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce teaches financial liposuction on ABC News

Dr Boyce teaches the art of Financial liposuction on ABC News

Black Kids Told to Pick Cotton in front of white classmates

I received a call the today from CNN for an appearance on Headline News with the amazing Richelle Carey. The story happened a couple of weeks ago, but it took me aback and I thought I would quickly share it with the AOL BV family. During a field trip to a former plantation in Charlotte, NC, the tour guide wanted to show the kids what slavery was like. So, he asked the black children to pick cotton while their white classmates stood around and watched. When the CNN producer (a nice woman named Ebony) told me about the story, I had to do a Gary Coleman imitation: "What choo talking bout Ebony?"
Beyond the obvious, this case is disturbing on a multitude of levels. But CNN has asked me to help make this case into a teachable moment. I love finding life lessons in everything, so here are some quick thoughts:

1) The tour guide who did this clearly wasn’t thinking: If you want the children to empathize with slavery, why not have them ALL pretend to be slaves? If you have the black children pretending to be slaves and the white kids pretending to be their masters, you are only teaching the white kids to be slave masters and the black kids to be their property.
2) Look at this through the mind of a child: I remember a child in elementary school saying to me, "I wish slavery was still around, because I could then tell you what to do." Those were the same words that Walter Currie’s classmate said to him beforespraying him with gasoline and setting him on fire. Those were also the words that one child said to another on the bus ride home from the plantation that day in North Carolina. Do you see a trend here? While we as adults might see the educational value in our remarks, children might see it in an entirely different way.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins on MSNBC – The Heather Ellis case

CNN: Dr Boyce and Richelle Carey Discuss Obama and Black Men

Dr Boyce Watkins and Richelle Carey from CNN discuss Obama’s impact on African American men.

CNN: Black Kids Told to Act Like Slaves in School

Dr Boyce on CNN to discuss an incident in which black kids were told to behave like slaves in school.

Dr. Boyce: Setting the Record Straight on Heather Ellis

 

Jury selection for Heather Ellis continues

Heather Ellis case one in a long line of Missouri’s racial injustices

This Nov. 4, 2009 file photo shows Heather Ellis, left, arm-in-arm with her mother, Hester Ellis, exiting the Stoddard County Justice Center in Bloomfield, Mo. (AP Photo/Corey Noles, Dexter Daily Statesman, File)

This week, for the first time, I had the chance to speak with Heather Ellis.

Heather was not previously allowed to speak, since her attorney told her to remain silent. I can tell you that after speaking with Heather for nearly two hours, she is a fine young woman. She is NOT the kind of person who needed to spend any time in prison, and I am glad she took the plea deal from the prosecution. Let me explain a few facts about the case that you may not know:

1) Heather is not admitting guilt: Anyone familiar with the criminal justice system in America should understand that there are times when you have to plead in order to make something go away. There was no smoking gun implicating Heather Ellis; there was only the risk that the jury (which her high powered attorney, Scott Rosenblum, considered to be the worst jury he’d seen in 26 years of practice) was going to send her to prison or jail.

Like most of us, Heather is not a person who wants to go to jail for any significant period of time. I personally worried that she would be abused if left in the presence of the very officers who’d attacked her on the night of her arrest, not to mention the criminals she would be incarcerated with. If she were my daughter, I would have told her to take the plea.

The good thing was that her fight led the entire nation to talk about issues that we would never have discussed otherwise. Anyone who doesn’t agree with her decision needs to go put their own child on trial with up to 15 possible years in prison and see how much yapping you do then.
2) There is no evidence of an assault on an officer and she was not convicted of these felonies: According to Heather (whom I believe and I’ll tell you why in a second), there was one police officer who was dead set on the idea of pursuing and harassing her. He followed her closely out of the store, referring to her as a b*tch and a ho. He then told her to "go back to the ghetto." That is when Heather turned and asked him why he was harassing her instead of chasing real criminals. That is when he said, "Because I want to harass your stupid a**." That is also the officer who, without warning, tackled Heather and dragged her to the police car.

The reason Heather’s story is credible is because this officer had been fired from another job for sexual harassment and had lied on the witness stand in the past. Her attorney’s research uncovered the officer’s dirty past, and Heather discussed this issue in more detail in our conversation.
3) This was not a jury of her peers: Heather’s father, Pastor Nathaniel Ellis, told me that he had wanted to push the trial to the very end. What changed his mind, he said, was seeing his daughter break down in tears over the idea of going to jail or prison.

 

Click to read.

Klan Holds a Rally at Ole-Miss: Dr Boyce Analyzes

I was intrigued by recent reports that the Ku Klux Klan had a rally on the Ole Miss Campus recently. It might surprise you to know that I am essentially unconcerned by their presence on campus. Don’t get me wrong, Klansmen are incredibly ignorant. Also, we cannot deny their historical reign of terror over people of color in America. But I can also give you a list of reasons that we should stop paying attention to the KKK.

1) They thrive off of attention: The KKK has very little power. They don’t do very much anymore, and even in this rally, it appears that there were only a few members present. The truth is that the klan only has power because we give it attention. They are like a grease fire: The more water you put on it, the more it grows. But if you starve the fire of oxygen, it eventually dies out. The klan must be starved of attention, and then they will go away. They only remain relevant because we want them to be.

 

Click to read.

Dr Boyce on MSNBC: The Heather Ellis Case

Dr Boyce Watkins discusses his national rally for Heather Ellis, the woman facing 15-years in prison for cutting line at a Wal-Mart.

Dr. Boyce on Black Planet – 11/22/09

OPINION: Depression in the Black Community – Why it is a Serious Problem

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 22, 2009 8:27 am

Read more about OPINION: Depression in the Black Community – Why it is a Serious Problem

TAGS: african american doctors, african american news, black doctors, black news, depression in the black community

Edit this post »

OPINION: Heather Ellis Finally Tells Her Story & Why I Believe Her

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 21, 2009 11:20 pm

Read more about OPINION: Heather Ellis Finally Tells Her Story & Why I Believe Her

TAGS: african american news, black news, Heather Ellis, heather ellis case

Edit this post »

OPINION: Heather Ellis Reaches Plea Deal, But I’ve Still Got Questions

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 20, 2009 9:18 pm

Read more about OPINION: Heather Ellis Reaches Plea Deal, But I’ve Still Got Questions

TAGS: heather, Heather Ellis, heather ellis case, heather ellis plea

Edit this post »

OPINION: Jesse Jackson Was Right About Artur Davis … Sort Of

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 20, 2009 12:56 pm

Read more about OPINION: Jesse Jackson Was Right About Artur Davis … Sort Of

TAGS: artur davis, black politics, Congressional Black Caucus, Jesse Jackson

Edit this post »

OPINION: How We Can Work Toward Justice For Heather Ellis

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 13, 2009 5:05 pm

Read more about OPINION: How We Can Work Toward Justice For Heather Ellis

TAGS: justice system, Missouri, Wal-Mart

Edit this post »

OPINION: We Should Mind Our Own Business In Chris Brown Vs. Rihanna

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 8, 2009 11:35 am

Read more about OPINION: We Should Mind Our Own Business In Chris Brown Vs. Rihanna

TAGS: Chris Brown, domestic violence, Rihanna

Edit this post »

OPINION: The Racial Ignorance Of Barack Obama’s Financial “Gurus”

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 5, 2009 10:54 am

Read more about OPINION: The Racial Ignorance Of Barack Obama’s Financial “Gurus”

TAGS: ben bernanke, poverty, wealth

Edit this post »

OPINION: 5 Things President Obama Can Do For Black Men

By Dr. Boyce Watkins November 2, 2009 10:30 am

Read more about OPINION: 5 Things President Obama Can Do For Black Men

TAGS: Barack Obama, black men, education, prisons

Edit this post »

Dr. Boyce Talks Heather Ellis on Anderson Cooper 360

Dr Boyce Watkins and Anderson Cooper discuss the case of Heather Ellis, the woman who faced 15-years in prison after cutting line at Wal-Mart.

Dr. Boyce: Jesse Jackson vs. Artur Davis

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I love speaking with Rev. Jesse Jackson.  He walks and talks like a man who has seen and heard nearly everything.  Our civil rights leaders are social hubs through which many members of our society must travel in order to reach their destinations.   You can’t call yourself a black man and not know the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Jackson took things a step further by stating recently at a Congressional Black Caucus function that,”You can’t vote against health care and call yourself a black man.”

RELATED: Jesse Jackson Says To CBC You Can’t Be Black And Be Against Health Care

This comment was aimed at Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, the only member of theCongressional Black Caucus who does not support health care reform.   What is most interesting about Jackson’s comment is that he is right, but not quite.  You can certainly argue that Davis’ lack of support for the plan implies  that his interests are not in line with the majority of African Americans in this country:  Most of them love Barack Obama and are willing to support anything that he supports.  The other sad truth is that health care reform is so complicated that most Americans don’t have a clue about what’s going on.   In that regard, we can argue that it is difficult for Davis to say that he represents the black community when he votes in a direction that is not correlated with the majority of African Americans in the state of Alabama.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce: I’ve Still Got Questions about Heather Ellis

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I have been actively involved in the fight for Heather Ellis, the 24-year old school teacher now facing up to 15-years in prison for cutting line at a local Wal-Mart.  Although Heather has now reached a plea deal with prosecutors over her arrested, there are still questions that need to be answered.  No, she was not charged with cutting in line, but it was the cashier’s reaction to the alleged line cut which led to the relevant sequence of events.  Had the cashier been more professional and not refused to serve Heather, none of this would have happened (You hear that Walmart? Perhaps that’s why your attorneys are telling you to remain silent).

I have five simple questions about the trial of Heather Ellis:

1) If “no one was seriously injured,” why was she facing up to 15-years in prison?

In the opening statements of the trial, the prosecutor in the case, Morley Swingle (the dandy fellow with the Confederate flag on the cover of his book) stated that “There was no serious injury, but it did hurt,” when referring to the alleged assaults committed by Ms. Ellis.  If no one was seriously injured, does that constitute a Class-C felony?  This statement was quite telling when it comes to understanding the style of justice being administered in the Southeast Missouri area (which is why we are sending our reports to the Justice Department after the trial is over).  Given that Ellis appears to have been the only person to go to the hospital after she allegedly beat down all of these great big men, it would seem to me that perhaps she might be the one who is able to file an assault charge against the officers.  Additionally, the defense attorney on the case, Scott Rosenblum, presented evidence in court of there being blood in Heather Ellis’ jacket pocket from the night of the incident.  This would be consistent with her claim to the doctor the next day that she was assaulted by the police.

Click to read.

Black News: Video Released in Heather Ellis Case

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

When I held the rally for Heather Ellis last week, the woman facing up to 15-years in prison after allegedly cutting line at a Wal-Mart, I was hoping that one day the rest of the world could see what I saw nearly two weeks ago. In spite of the prosecutor’s contention that the video tape would prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt, the truth is that the video is highly inconclusive. Check the video out and see for yourself.
You can click here to watch the video.

Click to read more on the Heather Ellis case.

 

www.TheHeatherEllisCase.com

The Financial Value of Rihanna’s Pain

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I hated what Chris Brown did to Rihanna. I was angered, disappointed and irritated by the fact that many are quick to forgive egregious behavior on the part of celebrities, and a hit song can forgive all sins. At the same time, celebs are just like the rest of us, full of complexities that the world may never come to understand. Rihanna has walked away from Chris and she is now telling the entire world how bad of a man he is, and we’re all taking her side.

The problem for Rihanna, however, is that her actions aren’t making much sense.

Rihanna’s recent whirlwind media tour has included the likes of ABC News, MTV and other major media outlets. Throughout this tour, she has allowed the world to enter into her dark reflection on the relationship she had with Chris Brown, with that reflection seeming to have almost no productive purpose. I am not sure why the he-say/she-say between two 19-year old kids should be the concern of the nation. But then again, I am sitting here writing about it, so I am as guilty as everyone else.

 

Click to read.

Dr Boyce and Armstrong Williams Talk about Obama’s Health Care Plan

Listen to Dr. Boyce Watkins and Armstrong Williams debate Obama’s Health care plan on Power 105.1.

What do the Cleveland Murders Say about Our Respect for Black Women?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Anthony Sowell is a name that most of us would like to forget. Sowell is the 50-year-old man in Cleveland found to have 11 corpses in his home after being arrested on a rape charge. His neighbors noticed the smell, but some blamed it on the sausage factory next door.

Sowell’s case jars the mind, and even the sight of him makes me want to change the channel. But not only is Sowell repulsive, the circumstances under which these women were killed are equally alarming.

All of the women were African-American. All of them were poor, marginalized and ignored by society. Some of their families called police to report them missing and the police refused to thoroughly investigate. Even Sowell was intelligent enough to know that he was taking the lives of women who would not be missed, telling one of the victims that no one would care if she disappeared. In Sowell’s warped mind, many of these women had already disappeared. The truth is that he was absolutely correct.

The Anthony Sowell case is one that requires us to stop and reassess our values. Why are some people considered to be less worthy of police protection than others? I recall hearing a police officer explain to me that he felt that the job of the police was to simply protect the rich from the poor. I was under the false impression that their job was to protect the good from the bad. Apparently, Sowell’s victims were not wealthy enough, blonde or blue-eyed enough to be defined as inherently good. Their disappearances were deemed unworthy of the attention of Nancy Grace or anyone else for that matter.

 

Click to read.

Chris Brown vs. Rihanna: Time to Butt Out

When I heard that Chris Brown hit his ex-girlfriend Rihanna, I was concerned and surprised.  I also found myself irritated by the fact that many women, along with my teenage daughters, were quick to forgive Chris for his actions, primarily because they think he has a great voice and a cute face.  I had little sympathy for Chris Brown, and doing something like that to one of my girls would’ve had him singing a cappella for the rest of his life.

RELATED: Rihanna: Chris Brown “Had No Soul In His Eyes”

But that’s where I have to get off the Chris Brown bashing bus.  In spite of my frustration with Chris’ behavior, I cannot endorse the media’s decision to turn his relationship with Rihanna into a one-sided slugfest, committed by yet another violent black man whose rage consistently overrides his intellect.  I also cannot endorse Rihanna’s decision to bring ABC News into her relationship, portraying herself as the completely innocent victim who was terrorized by the big, scary black man.  Yes, she is the victim, but we all know that love is not that simple.

Let’s be clear: No man should ever put his hands on a woman in a violent way.  We all agree on that.   Not only is it morally wrong, but it’s an easy way for a man to find himself in jail (especially if he’s black).  We should also agree that no woman should put her hands on any man.  The second point might be subject to disagreement, but the truth is that you shouldn’t hit someone if you don’t expect to get hit back.  While that person might end up being punished by the police, you might end up in the morgue.  We can also agree that the disproportionate amount of force that a man is capable of inflicting is a legitimate reason that the man is more to blame than the woman, even if both parties are involved in a physical altercation.

 

Click to read.

Jay Z vs. Beanie Sigal: A Lesson in Corporate Power

 

Consider it a strange dream, but I had some thoughts about the Jay-Z beef with the rapper Beanie Sigal. No, I’m not here to talk about keeping street cred. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Half of the artists in the hip hop industry are not nearly as hard or as real as they claim to be. They’re too smart for that. The guys who are really as hard as most rappers claim to be are either in a jail cell or a casket. That’s the truth.
What got my attention was when Charlamagne Tha God was fired from 100.3, "The Beat" in Philadelphia. I’ve known Charlamagne for years from our work on The Wendy Williams Show, so this made me a little upset. What was even sadder is the allegation that Jay Z may have played a role in getting Charlamagne fired, in large part because Charlamagne conducted an interview with Jay-Z’s new rival, Beanie Sigal. This incident represents more than the standard thuggery that some might see on the surface. Instead, it brings forth a plethora of issues that relate to business, entertainment, money and corporate power. Here are some quick thoughts:

 

Click to read more.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: Michael Baisden Steps to the Plate on the Heather Ellis Case

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Just when you thought black celebrities didn’t care anymore, the "Bad Boy of Radio,"Michael Baisden announced today that he is going to give $5,000 to the legal defense fund of the family of Heather Ellis, a 24-year old black female college student who faces 15-years in prison after cutting in line at a Walmart.

Click to read.

Dr. Wilmer Leon Speaks on the Heather Ellis Case

Dr. Wilmer Leon, Howard University

One of the things that make America unique is its Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights. In its original form, the Constitution did not include a list of basic civil liberties or guarantees to the individual. Many prominent Americans, including Thomas Jefferson insisted that a list of fundamental protections be included to restrain the national government from tampering with the fundamental rights and civil liberties of its citizens. The intent of the framers of the Constitution was to level the playing field. They felt it necessary to restrain the very powerful government, prosecutors, and police from arbitrary and capricious action against the less powerful individual. Over time these protections have been passed down to the state level.

The case of Heather Ellis is a perfect present day example of why individual American citizens need to be protected from over zealous capricious prosecutors and police. For a young woman to be facing up to fifteen years in prison for trespassing, disturbing the peace, and two felony counts of assaulting a police officer, all for allegedly cutting a check-out line at a Wal-Mart is unconscionable.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce: Ben Bernanke’s Racially Ridiculous Comments

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. I feel that he is better than the previous chairman, Alan Greenspan, but the Fed Chairmanship (like the presidency) is almost never given to the right man. Just the fact that it is almost always given to a man is problematic enough, and the truth is that only white men need apply for the job.
Well, when you are limited in your option pool for the top job, bad leadership and flat out ignorance can sometimes be the result. While Fed Chairman Bernanke might know some nuts and bolts about economics, he appears to be shockingly misinformed about economic disparities between blacks and whites. His embarrassing and highly inappropriate statements at Morehouse College serve as a significant case in point.
In a recent interview at Morehouse, the Fed Chairman was asked what he felt to be the reason for the wealth gap between blacks and whites. In response, Bernanke said that the gap was due to a lack of "financial literacy" and "financial education" on the part of African Americans. That’s all he mentioned.

click to read.

The Heather Ellis Case Covered on Anderson Cooper 360

Editor’s Note: Watch Randi Kaye’s full report tonight on Anderson Cooper 360 at 10pm ET.

Randi Kaye| BIO
AC360° Correspondent

Is it a classic case of “he said, she said,” or is it a brutal case of racism? Whatever it is, it may land a Missouri woman, a preacher’s daughter who has never been in trouble with the law before, in jail.

It all apparently started at a Walmart store in Kennett, Missouri where according to police, customer Heather Ellis had cut in line to pay for her items. What followed is at the heart of a court case that may send Heather Ellis to jail for as many as 15 years!

Let me first say Ms. Ellis has pleaded not guilty. But here’s how police tell it: officers say they were called to the store after Ellis caused a “disturbance” at the cash register by “yelling and cursing.” Officers say when they tried to get her to leave the store, she turned and yelled at them, “I ain’t going nowhere until I get my (expletive) change back” but that even after she got her change, she continued to be “belligerent.” The lead officer says they tried to get her to remain calm and leave in a peaceful manner and told her they’d arrest her if she refused. That is when the lead officer says Ellis “issued a threat to assault” and said if the officer put their hands on her “she was going to beat my (expletive).” Well, it turned ugly according to police, who say she became “combative and began fighting.” The officers say Ellis “continued to fight, yell and curse” and was “completely out of control.” They say she “resisted arrest” and “stiffened her body” when they tried to put her in the police car. Read the full police report here.

Click to read.

NCAA May Hire a Black President? Who Cares

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

I am not a fan of the NCAA, a sports league that earns money on the par of the NFL and NBA, but has somehow decided that they don’t have to properly compensate their employees or give them standard rights to negotiation. What’s worse is that the NCAA does tremendous harm to the African American community, sucking up kids with hoop dreams and destroying their futures with inferior educations.

When I recently read that the NCAA may be hiring a black president (Dr. Bernard Franklin), the only thing I could say is “whoopty-damn-doo.” While some of us might be tempted to applaud such an achievement, we must fully understand that the disease of racism is sometimes delivered through the hands of a black overseer.

RELATED: OPINION: Ivy League Can Teach NCAA About Coach Diversity

Dr. Franklin, while running around the country applauding his organization for giving one opportunity to one black person, should probably think of the thousands of African American families being used up by the very system he has been trained to manage. The NCAA is, without question, one of the most exploitative regimes in the history of America, right next to slavery and the prison system. Billions are earned each year off the backs of African American families, while the league has worked together with Congress to create a nexus of regulations that keep the athlete and his/her family from getting a piece of the economic pie.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce on AOL – 10/28/09

The Latest

Mistakes Couples Make When Mixing Love and Money Together

• As I prepare for an appearance on ABC News to talk about money and relationships, I thought I … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Dr. Boyce Money: Do Entrepreneurs Need an MBA? Probably Not

• I am going to say some things that will take money out of the pockets of people like myself. But … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Tyler Perry Is Right and Spike Lee Is Wrong

• When I first heard about Spike Lee’s attacks on Tyler Perry’s films as being on-screen coonery, … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (20)

Dr. Boyce Money: Was Good Hair "Da Bomb" or "A Bomb"?

• I love Chris Rock, a brother and kindred spirit. He’s the kind of guy who can make people laugh … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Judge Herman Thomas Has Sodomy Charges Dropped

• Herman Thomas, an Alabama judge previously accused of sodomizing and paddling inmates, was … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (5)

Is the Swine Flu Reaching a State of Emergency?

• There have been recent reports in media that the Swine Flu situation has risen to a state of … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (3)

Black College Student, KKK, 15 Years in Prison – Why We Will March

• When I recently announced that we were going to march in Kennett, Mo., in response to the Heather … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (3)

Federal Housing Tax Credit: Want $8,000 Dollars from Obama? Just Buy a Home

• Today, I got a call from NPR about the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit being offered by … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Lil Wayne’s Automobiles: Ever Seen What He’s Got at the Crib?

• This is actually footage from 7 years ago, when Lil Wayne was much younger. Yes, he is on his way … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Blackvoices Autos | Comments (8)

Natural Remedies for the Swine Flu That Everyone Must Know

• Most of us are worried about the Swine flu and what it could do to the health of our nation. While … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (2)

Triple Threat – Mother, Wife, Career Woman: What Does it Take?

• An entrepreneur doesn’t think like everyone else. She is willing to take chances, disciplined … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Financial Lovemaking: Man Shoots Boy for Sleeping with His Daughter

• I have daughters and I love them all. They are all at "that age," between 16 and 20, where they … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (7)

Dr. Boyce Money: Rapper Nas in Serious Tax Trouble

• Hip Hop Wired is reporting that the rapper Nas is having some serious financial problems. In … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (20)

Dr Boyce Money: Everything You Need to Know About Credit Scores Pt 1

• Given the growing importance of credit scores in our economy, I thought I would do a Dr. Boyce … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Method Man, Wesley Snipes Arrested for Taxes, but Not Nicolas Cage?

• I’ve met Method Man only one time, and I’ve never met Wesley Snipes or Nicolas Cage. In spite of … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (5)

Dr Boyce: Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry – What Gives?

I woke up this morning to see that Tyler Perry is being forced to defend himself against nasty allegations coming from Spike Lee.  Spike has made it clear that he doesn’t appreciate what he perceives to be “coonery” in Tyler Perry films and TV shows. When I saw Perry flat out say that the accusations “pissed him off,” I thought, “Wow, now that’s an honest brother!”

RELATED: Tyler Perry Responds To Spike Lee’s “Coonery” Criticism

I grew up on Spike Lee and I’ll always love him.  I am also certain that images of black people singing, dancing and eating chicken certainly won Perry instant favor with the not-so-in-touch executives in Hollywood.  But here are three reasons that Spike Lee might be wrong about Tyler Perry:

1)    Tyler Perry is not all about Madea: I went onto BET a few times to talk about Hip Hop.  My hoity-toity friends in academia (many of whom pride themselves on writing research papers for journals that nobody ever reads) criticized me for being “unscholarly” by talking to rappers.  But my response was that hip hop culture has a dramatic influence on the young minds that I am trying to reach with education.  You don’t get a baby to eat healthy by only forcing vegetables down his throat; you sprinkle sugar on the food to get the child’s attention.  It’s not always a matter of forcing people to consume what they NEED – you should also be willing to let them have some of what they WANT.  Every positive black movie doesn’t have to be a PBS special.

 

Click to read.

The Reason We Are Marching for Heather Ellis

• by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

On November 16, 2009, the Your Black World Coalition, NAACP, National Action Network, and Southern Christian Leadership Conference plan to converge on the small town of Kennett, Missouri to fight for justice in the case of Heather Ellis, a 24-year-old college student who faces 15 years in prison for cutting line at a Wal-Mart.

When Justin and Journi, my assistant’s children, brought this case to my attention, I was heartbroken. Their passion about the charges pushed me to action, so I reached out to others to form the "Journey for Justice" to honor the two young children who inspired us to take action in Heather’s case.

I have spoken with the Ellis family extensively, and I’ve also spoken with those who are familiar with the case. It is my opinion that this trial represents one of the greatest travesties of justice imaginable. The greater concern is that Heather’s dilemma is not the root of the problem – it is merely a symptom of broader systemic patterns of civil injustice.

In nearby Poplar Bluff, MO, a 15-year old boy, Walter Currie Jr., was doused with gasoline and set on fire by his classmates, with the perpetrator allegedly yelling racial epithets as he did it. Heather’s case is just the tip of the iceberg when referring to the ultra-conservative Bootheel area, less than 100 miles away from the town where Rush Limbaugh was born.

Here are the 5 reasons why we will march on Kennett and why we are not going to stop:

Click to read.

Dr Boyce to Rally in Kennett, MO

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

From Dr Boyce Watkins

www.BoyceWatkins.com

To the Your Black World family:

When the children of my assistant Shauntay (Justin and Journi) brought the case of Heather Ellis to me, I was in disbelief.  I was shocked that in 2009, a young college student, with no criminal record, could face 15 years in prison for cutting line at Walmart.  I was even more appalled by the threats from the KKK and allegations by local leaders that the town went as far as blacking out the local news coverage during the minutes that the family held a press conference in support of their daughter.  We sent information about the case to CNN and other media outlets, and they covered it (along with BET, Essence, ABC News and others), but I don’t feel this is enough.  We’ve decided that we aren’t going to take this sitting down, and we hope you won’t either

In honor of Justin and Journi, the two young visionaries who convinced me to take on this issue, we’ve created the "Journey for Justice," set to take place in Kennett, Missouri on Monday, November 16 at 11 am.  On that day, we are going to meet at the Walmart where the incident took place (1500 1st St., Kennett, MO) and march to the steps of the courthouse(Square 200 Slicer St.).  You can find out more information about the case and rally on the site www.TheHeatherEllisCase.com.  Given that the prosecutor in the case (Stephen Sokoloff) has asked for a change of venue (to Bloomfield, MO – a town with less than 20 black people), some of the details of the rally might change (I have no doubt that they are scheming to make this as difficult as possible).  But I can guarantee you this: On November 16, we are heading down there to fight against the madness occurring in this county, no matter what the cost.

Click to read.

Your Black News: Media Matters Discusses the Heather Ellis Case

Racial injustice rears its ugly head again, this time in rural Missouri, where heavy-handed prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff is threatening to impose a lengthy prison sentence on a woman after an altercation at a local Wal-Mart almost three years ago.

In January 2007, 20-year-old Heather Ellis, then a student at Xavier University, and her cousin David went to a Wal-Mart in Kennett, Missouri, near the Tennessee border, in an area commonly known as the Missouri Bootheel.  Kennett, in rural and conservative Dunklin County, which boasts that it seceded from the Union during the Civil War, is overwhelmingly white.

At the check-out line, the pair split up in order to find the shortest line.  When Ellis left her line to join her cousin at a shorter line, customers complained and a store employee accused her of cutting, at which point an argument ensued and a manager notified a security guard, an off-duty Kennett Police officer.  The situation escalated from there:

In the Ellis version, she was shoved by another customer, had her items pushed aside by the clerk and then was short-changed when she finally was checked out. The police affidavit contends, at numerous times, Ellis became belligerent, loud, abusive and cursing when she was told to leave by the store’s assistant manager. Summoned by a frantic phone call from her son, as the pair walked out to the parking lot, [Ellis' aunt] Blackmon says she arrived in time to witness her niece being brutalized by police during attempts to place her in a squad car.

[...]

Ellis was charged with disturbing the peace, trespassing, resisting arrest and two counts of assaulting a police officer. Yet, curiously after being described in the police affidavit as "completely out of control" during her arrest, she was released to the custody of her parents to receive medical attention only 45 minutes after being jailed. However, her arrest triggered a whole series of problems. Although she returned to school in Louisiana, two months later, an attorney hired by the family tried to talk Heather into taking a plea deal offered by powerful Dunklin County Prosecutor, Stephen Sokoloff.

 

Click to read.

15 Years in Prison for Cutting Line – Pretrial Has Begun

Click to Play

Heather Ellis is a college student facing15 years in prison for cutting line at Walmart – visit www.SaveHeatherEllis.com for more details on the national protest to be held in Kennett, MO on November 14.

According to the family, the prosecutor in the case, Stephen Sokoloff, has asked for the trial to be moved to Bloomfield, MO, a town with less than 20 African Americans in it.

Dr Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton are planning a march in Kennett to support Heather Ellis.

Dr Boyce: the Meghan Williams Story is Unbelievable

• Megan Williams, left, and her mother Carmen Williams stand outside of the Logan County Courthouse Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Logan, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

Megan Williams, an African-American woman who was allegedly raped, tortured and kidnapped by a group of seven white men in West Virginia two years ago at the age of twenty is now claiming that she was playing with our minds. It is a shock to hear that Williams is now saying that the story is a lie, a complete fabrication. She is set to recant her story in a press conference today.

The stomach-turning story that involved drinking urine and eating human feces while being raped repeatedly and subjected to racial slurs was something she apparently made up for fun. If Williams were playing with our heads, I only wish she’d come up with a less disgusting way to do it. The problem is that the prosecutor, Brian Abraham, isn’t buying Williams’ new story, and neither am I.

The prosecutor’s position is that he did not convict the defendants based solely on Williams’ testimony. Abraham has stated in published reports that he learned early on that Williams tends to exaggerate and embellish details, perhaps due to the fact that Williams has been described as being "mentally slow."

Abraham also claims that he did what any good prosecutor should do: achieve a conviction based on physical evidence and the defendants’ statements. If there is evidence that a sexual assault occurred and proof that Williams endured kidnapping and torture, such evidence should certainly outweigh the significance of any statements made by Williams. There are also other possibilities in this case, such as the chance that Williams may be receiving threats that have pressured her to change her testimony.

Click to read.

A Man Shoots the Boy who Sleeps with His Daughter

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

I have daughters and I love them all. They are all at "that age," between 16 and 20, where they tend to love the boys that you want to beat down the most. Every time I hear them express their undying love for Lil Wayne, I can only think about him having 3 women pregnant at the same time. When I see a Chris Brown poster in their room, I remind them that Chris was accused of having boxing practice on Rihanna’s face.

But as a father, you can’t protect your daughters from themselves. Some things they have to learn on their own. And if sleeping with a pants-saggin, "purple stuff dranking," gold grill wearing, 10,000 tattoo having buffoon is the way they need to learn their lessons, you just kinda have to deal with it.I empathize with Wade Edwards, the man accused of shooting a boy for sleeping with his step daughter. Wade shot the boy four times, aiming for the "relevant zone" with each bullet. But while I can understand Wade’s anger, I do not, for one second, condone his actions.

Click to read more.

If the link above doesn’t work, click here.

Rapper Nas Has Tax Trouble

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Hip Hop Wired is reporting that the rapper Nas is having some serious financial problems. In addition to owing his wife Kelis $44,000 per month in child support, it turns out that the artist also owes the federal government another $2.5 million in taxes. Here are quick thoughts about Nas, love and money:

1) Nas has a complicated life. His decision to marry the "love of his life" is going to cost him for the rest of his life. The rapper’s tax situation could be due to irresponsibility (as appears to be the case with Method Man and Nicolas Cage), or it could simply be a matter of using write-offs that were not allowed by the IRS. We can’t assume that Nas’ tax trouble automatically makes him into a horrible citizen.

Click to read.

Protestors Planned to Fight Black Student’s Arrest and Trial

Kennett, MO. – Heather Ellis, a young college student out of Kennett, MO is now facing 15 years in prison if she is sentenced after being accused of cutting line at a local Walmart. Her case has gotten the attention of the nation, and has been the subject of extensive online protests.

Heather was in a Walmart store 3 years ago with her cousin. The two split up to find the shortest line. Since her cousin was in the shorter line, Heather joined him. That’s when the clerk accused Heather of cutting in front of the other customers. An argument ensued, leading to the manager and security guard being called, and finally the police.

The incident left Ellis, an honor student on her way to medical school, charged with disturbing the peace, trespassing and two counts of assaulting a police officer. After Heather refused to sign a plea agreement, Stephen Sokoloff, the town’s prosecutor, filed felony charges against Heather.

 

Click to read.

Serena Williams: Powerful, Nude and Possibly Banned

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Serena Williams has been listed as a headliner for this year’s Australian Open. The problem is that it’s not clear whether she’ll be allowed to play.

Because of a recent outburst in which she threatened a line judge, Williams may be banned from at least one Grand Slam tournament. According to published reports, Williams told the judge, "You don’t know me. You better be right. I swear to God I’m going to take this ball and shove it down your throat."Given that a ball going down your throat might actually kill you, the judge felt that Serena had threatened her life. Then again, Serena’s from Compton, a town that has become famous for finding creative ways to kill people. Serena does not, however, need to take "the hood" with her all the way to Australia.

To make matters more interesting, Serena recently got naked for the cover of ESPN magazine, certifying her status as an iconic and thought-provoking figure for the early 21st century. These two events, plus the fact that she just happens to be one of the most dominant female tennis players in history, makes her the kind of woman we’ll all be talking about for the next 100 years. Our great-grandkids won’t be talking much about the boring apolitical figure called Michael Jordan. We’ll congratulate Tiger Woods for being the first incredibly rich black man to consistently beat the crap out of the arrogant guys at the country club. Serena Williams’ name, though, will come up in classes on feminist theory, history and sociology. Like Muhammad Ali, Serena is becoming bigger than her sport, and my greatest hope is that her ability to transcend tennis is guided by a desire to serve all humanity, and not just herself. Her nude body on the cover of ESPN is her way of yelling to the world that she is more than a tennis player. I agree that she is.

Click to read more.

 

If the link doesn’t work, click here.

Method Man Arrested for Tax Evasion – Why Not Nicolas Cage?

Method Man was arrested for not paying $33,000 in taxes, but Nicolas Cage owes 6 million and hasn’t gotten arrested – what gives?

Dr. Boyce: KKK, Walmart, 15 Years in Prison – The Heather Ellis Story

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices 

I mentioned the story before about Heather Ellis, the young woman who was threatened by the KKK after protesting about her arrest that took place in a Walmart store. The story was quite interesting in that Ellis now faces 15 years in prison for effectively cutting line at a Walmart. The unfortunate events occurred when Ellis was shopping with a cousin in Kennett, Missouri.

Heather and her cousin went to separate lines and when her cousin found the shorter line, Heather joined him. Ellis was then accused of cutting line by the person checking out customers, which led to an altercation. When Ellis was asked to leave the store, she argued with the managers, which led to the police being called. Ellis was eventually charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Click to read.

If that link doesn’t work, please click here.

The Dispute between Martin Luther King’s Kids

Dr Boyce Watkins discusses the legal dispute between the children of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK’s Angry Children

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

Martin Luther King is rolling in his grave. Yes, I said it. So sue me.

Well, you might actually do that if you were one of Martin Luther King’s children. In fact, yesterday Martin Luther King III and Rev. Bernice King – who were suing their brother Dexter for mismanaging the funds in their parents’ estates – avoided a jury trial and settled their longstanding feud. The three children had been the only shareholders in King Inc, the corporation created to control their father’s valuable legacy. Dexter is still the president and CEO of the estate, and had been, until late last night, its administrator.

Martin and Bernice had accused Dexter of wrongfully taking money from the family, alleging that he took "substantial funds" out of their mother’s estate and "wrongfully appropriated" money from their father’s. I am not sure what the difference between "wrongfully appropriating" money and good old fashioned stealing is, assuming that there is one, but perhaps I am not wealthy enough to know the distinction. Of course Dexter denied the accusations.

Click to read on MSNBC’s TheGrio.com

The Latest from Dr Boyce on AOL – 10/12/09

 

Dr Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss Couples, Money and Michael Vick

• This week on "Keeping it Real with Rev. Al Sharpton," the good reverend and I discussed some issues … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

What Happens if Your Car Hits a Deer?

• Should we treat health insurance the same way we treat auto insurance? : Some are arguing that we … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Auto Insurance | Comments (0)

Health Insurance Companies Causing Pain for Patients

• Health Insurance Companies causing pain for patients: Are insurance companies limiting the options … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (1)

Pregnant 12-Year-Old Found: Father Accused of Incest

• A few weeks ago, we reported on the story of two sisters, one of them a pregnant 12-year-old, who … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (25)

Eddie Griffin: Going for Broke – and Getting There

• I had a lot of fun watching the new Vh-1 show, "Going for Broke," starring comedian Eddie Griffin. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (22)

Dr. Boyce and Keith Murphy Discuss Economic Empowerment

• In this interview below with the great radio legend Keith Murphy, we discuss the power of high … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

What Do Obama’s Death Threats Say About America?

• What do you make of the chaotic environment surrounding President Barack Obama? In the CNN … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (9)

Dr. Boyce Money: Lost Your Job? Senators Might Help You

• The Senate has been mingling with the idea of extending jobless benefits for those who’ve lost … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Is the Swine Flu Scare Nothing But Hype?

• Swine flu season is coming and the world is ducking for cover. Media coverage of this phenomenon … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce Money: Five Ways to Know You are a Credit Card Crackhead

• Sometimes your finances can get so out of whack that you can only laugh in order to keep from … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

DC Budget Cuts Can’t Overcome a Mother’s Love

• My mother gave birth to me when she was 17-years old. As a teen mother who didn’t have a lot of … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Judge on Trial for Allegedly Sodomizing, Spanking Inmates

• Alabama Judge Herman Thomas has a problem. The Mobile County Circuit Judge was accused of checking … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (30)

Dr. Boyce Money: Is a Lack of Sex Grounds for Divorce?

• I live in New York, so I get the chance to meet a lot of interesting cab drivers. I love listening … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (14)

Think Nike’s Done With Michael Vick? Think Again

• I was excited to hear that Nike signed Michael Vick again after his dogfighting ordeal. You can … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (7)

Are Prescription Drugs America’s New Addiction?

• Most of us think that drugs which come out of a legal manufacturer are going to be safer than those … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (6)

Joe Louis, Jack Johnson, Barack Obama and Financial Independence

In this web chat, Dr Boyce Watkins talks about the legacy of Jack Johnson and how this translates to present day America, enslavement of the black man.

Eddie Griffin – Going for Broke

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I had a lot of fun watching the new Vh-1 show, "Going for Broke," starring comedian Eddie Griffin. Griffin is one of the funniest comics in America, the comedian that Chris Tucker could have been (if he would simply stop disappearing between Jackie Chan movies).

On the show, Griffin gives insight into his personal life, which is both intriguing and disturbing. The show is called "Going for Broke" for a reason, because Eddie just might actually get there.
Here are some reasons that Eddie Griffin might actually become the broke celebrity that he is trying to become:

1) He spends like a damn fool. One of the easiest traps for an entertainer to fall into is the "infinite money trap." That’s when the person thinks that they’ve got an endless supply of cash, giving them ability to spend whatever they want on whatever they want. Apparently Eddie may have fallen into this trap, since his Bentley was being repossessed in an early episode of the show. Eddie’s conversation with his accountant was also revealing, as the words "all the accounts are empty" seemed to strike him hard. With all the success that Eddie Griffin has had, it is difficult to imagine that he would be completely broke. But the truth is that this kind of thing happens all the time.

Click to read.

If the link above doesn’t work, click here.

Obama Wins the Nobel Prize – Dr. Boyce Chat

Dr Boyce does a web chat about President Obama’s Nobel Prize Win.

Dr. Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss Michael Vick, Couples and Money

In this episode of “Keeping it real with Rev. Al Sharpton,” Dr Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al discuss Michael Vick’s deal with Nike and how couples ruin their relationships over money.

Dr Boyce Talks Economic Power on XM Satellite

Dr Boyce Watkins appears on the Urban Journal with Keith Murphy on Sirius/XM Satellite to discuss the role of economic empowerment and his new book, “Black American Money.”

Nike Isn’t Done with Vick

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Dick’s Sporting Goods recently made a decision that is bad for business. Taking one of the boldest, and perhaps silliest, stands of any corporation in recent memory, Dick’s decided not to sell Michael Vick jerseys in any of their stores.

Perhaps they earned a few dog-loving customers, but they lost the support of any shareholder who cares about making money. It’s one thing for lynch mobs to embrace vigilantism, but another for a corporation to engage in the same irrational behavior. Vick paid his debt to society; it’s time to move on with our lives.

The top brass at the Nike Corporation are smarter than the management at Dick’s Sporting Goods, but they too understand the need to stay away from Michael Vick, at least for right now. When asked to respond to rumors that Vick had signed a deal with Nike, the company gave an immediate and resounding "no." After the Nike denial, Michael Vick’s agent, Joel Segal, had to backpedal faster than an NFL defensive back to kill any indication that his client has re-signed with the "big swoosh." However, the confidence with which the signing was announced indicates that the relationship might be deeper than we think.

The truth is that I don’t believe a single word of the Nike dismissal. Like the big egos in Beyonce’s song, Nike’s swoosh is " too big, too wide, too strong" for them to sit idly by as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL makes his return to the game. Nike executives have seen Vick grace the cover of Xbox games and sports magazines and often refer to him as the man who "revolutionized the quarterback position." They know that Vick is not washed up, and that some of his best years may still be ahead of him.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce and Min Louis Farrakhan on Kiss FM in NYC

Dr Boyce Watkins and Louis Farrakhan discuss the death threats surrounding President Barack Obama

Dr Boyce discusses Obama Death Threats on CNN

Dr Boyce Watkins and Jamal Simmons a former DNC Communications Advisor, discuss the death threats on President Obama’s life and whether or not these threats are related to race.

Dr. Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices – 10/2/09

 

Dr Boyce: Think Nike’s Done with Michael Vick? Think Again

• I was excited to hear that Nike signed Michael Vick again after his dog fighting ordeal. You can … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Financial Lovemaking: Managing "Baby Mama Drama"

• Most of us know about "baby mama drama," since some of that drama may occur within your own home. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce and Farai Chideya Discuss Life as an African American

• In the video below, Farai Chideya and I are on NPR "News and Notes" discussing the economy of the … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Dr. Boyce: Black Scholars Speak Out on the Sale of Ebony Magazine

• I’ve always felt that the role of black scholars is to speak up and out on issues of relevance to … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Senate Finance Rejects the Public Option on Health Insurance

• Liberal Democrats chose not to inject the widely debated Public Option into the healthcare … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce Money: Learning Entrepreneurship from Madam CJ Walker

• The other day, I caught up with Fenorris Pearson, CEO of Global Consumer Innovations. Fenorris is … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

The Cheapest Car in the World, but you can’t buy it in the US

• At $2500, the Tato Nano is the cheapest car in the world. But you can’t buy it in the US and some … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Auto Insurance | Comments (0)

Financial Lovemaking: Who Keeps the Ring if the Engagement is Called Off?

• This video below answers an important question that many of us may end up confronting at some … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Dr. Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton on the Death of Derrion Albert

• I spoke with Rev. Al Sharpton in our weekly meeting on his radio show, which you can listen to … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (13)

Company Makes Money from Deadly Urban Trend: "Sipping Syrup"

• You’ve probably heard the phrase "sippin syrup," used in reference to the act of mixing cough … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

What you MUST Know About Your Property Insurance

• Nippets of insurance news you can use: Things your property insurance doesn’t cover: In our last … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (1)

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian Get Married: Questions I’d Like to Ask

• Today, we are going to use an interesting story in black celebrity news to teach a short lesson … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (30)

Dr. Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss Barack Obama, Black Politics, David Paterson

• This week, Rev. Al Sharpton and I discussed President Barack Obama’s racialized fight with the … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (2)

President Obama Talks Health Care at Congressional Black Caucus Conference

• In an appropriate show of respect, President Barack Obama addressed the Congressional Black Caucus … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (9)

Don’t Let Your Spouse Control All of Your Finances

• Financial News Blast for the week of September 26, 2009 – Click on the link for the title to read … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Dr Boyce on CNN: The Facebook Death Poll on Obama

 

Transcript from CNN.com

This morning the Secret Service and the FBI are investigating a threatening poll that was posted on Facebook. It posed the question, should Obama be killed? Hundreds of people responded before the social networking site took it down.

Joining us to talk more about what may be behind it, from Syracuse, New York, Boyce Watkins — he’s a Syracuse professor and resident scholar for AOL black voices — and from Washington, Jamal Simmons, former DNC communications adviser now with the Raben Group, a communication consulting firm.

Let’s take a look, gentleman, first of all, at what the poll said posted on Facebook. And again, it was only for a few hours. It said, "Should Obama be killed?" The responses, yes, maybe, if he cuts my health care, and no.

It was put up by a third party application. More than 700 people responded before it was taken down. Boyce, what did you think when you saw that?

BOYCE WATKINS, PROFESSOR, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: Well, obviously, I was sickened by it.

What’s interesting, though, is that this poll in itself is really more of a symptom of a bigger problem that exists in our country. We know this president gets more death threats than pretty much any president in recent history.

And so if we really just focus on this issue and don’t focus on the broader problem, we’ll really miss the point, because we have to realize that America is a country that’s sick with the disease of racism.

And the disease of racism has its greatest impact on those who think who think they’ve been cured. So I’m not so angry about this incident as much I am about the environment that’s been created around our president.

Click to read.

Obama’s Facebook Threats: Dr Boyce and Warren Ballentine 092909

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Warren Ballentine get on national radio to discuss the Facebook threats of President Barack Obama.

Dr Boyce and Rev. Al Discuss Murder of Chicago Teen Derrion Albert

In this episode of “Keeping it Real with Rev. Al Sharpton,” Rev Al and Dr. Boyce discuss the murder of Chicago Teen Derrion Albert, as well as the pending bankruptcy of Ebony Magazine.

Dr Boyce: Company Makes Money Off Illegal Drug

You’ve probably heard the phrase "sippin syrup," used in reference to the act of mixing cough syrup, codeine, and soda together to create a relaxed feeling within the person who consumes the beverage. The "drank" has become quite popular, particularly in the south, as rappers have done their jobs of giving free promotion to an illegal product that has managed to make teenagers even less productive than many of them already are.
It was only a matter of time before corporate America stepped in to make money off the trend. Meet the new drink on store shelves: Sippin Syrup. The drink doesn’t use any illegal products, but produces the same "lean" effect that many young people seek from the cough syrup product on the street. Harmless enough, right? Not so fast.
Officers in the Houston area are concerned that the product sold on store shelves is nothing more than a gateway to an incredibly dangerous and addictive drug. The snazzy ad campaign fully leverages the power of the brand of "purple stuff" being sold on the streets already. Teenagers who can’t get the real stuff would likely be enticed by the substitute until the door is open for the actual product.

Click to read more.

 

If the above link does not work, please click here to see Dr Boyce articles on AOL Black Voices

What’s Wrong with Ebony Magazine?

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

 

The black journalism students here at Syracuse often come to me to find out how the industry works. They sometimes instinctively wonder if their professors’ stories about being in a CBS newsroom in 1982 are going to help them survive in a world run by Twitter, Myspace and Facebook. The answer is a resounding "probably not."

While respecting the journalism professors teaching their classes, I simply use examples like Ebony Magazine to help them realize that black media is changing, and sites like theGrio.com, BlackVoices.com, and TheRoot.com, are examples of how black media has evolved. In fact, a journalist who doesn’t understand technology and business models is in danger of starting his/her career as a dinosaur.

When it comes to recent reports about Ebony Magazine being offered for sale, I admit that I was saddened, but not surprised. The Ebony Fashion Fair has become one of the most celebrated events in black America, and the magazine has been nothing less than a tremendous source of national pride since its creation in 1945. But in the age of the web, oversized bureaucracies can be crushed under the weight of their own arrogance. Bloated payrolls, pompous corporate functions and a sense of entitlement make them easy prey for quick, hungry and rapidly evolving competition.

In spite of the tremendous love we have for Ebony/Jet, the truth must be confronted when realizing that it is what radio was to TV or what the train was to the airplane. Like radios and trains, there is still a place for print media, but that role is no longer dominant. The current economic climate only accelerated the inevitable, since advertisers were eventually going to stop spending $50,000 for magazine ads when they can buy the same number of eyeballs for $5,000 or less.

I present the following 5 questions I’d like to ask out loud about both Ebony Magazine and the state of African American media:

Click to read.

Dr Boyce on AOL – 9/26/09

 

The Latest from Dr. Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices – visit www.BoyceWatkins.com for more information

President Obama Talks Health Care at Congressional Black Caucus Conference

• In an appropriate show of respect, President Barack Obama addressed the Congressional Black Caucus … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (4)

Don’t Let Your Spouse Control All of Your Finances

• Financial News Blast for the week of September 26, 2009 – Click on the link for the title to read … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Five Reasons Obama Could Have Supported David Paterson

• President Obama made a very good political decision last week: He threw another black man under the … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (6)

BET’s ‘Skank Robbers’: Did They Step Over The Line with Black Women?

• During the BET Awards, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx did a skit called "Skank Robbers," which you … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (5)

Dr. Boyce Money: No Property Insurance Can Destroy You Financially

• Most of us know very little about the ins and outs of property insurance. Christopher Chestnut … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce and Kevin Powell on CNN: Does America Hate Black Athletes?

• I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kevin Powell. Kevin is one of those guys who’s had a … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (5)

Money Blast: What You Should Know about Credit Scores

• Financial News You need to know: What you need to know about credit scores: Get educated on what … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Why You Might Not Want to take the Swine Flu Vaccine

• Everyone is reeling over the H1N1 Virus, otherwise known as "The Swine Flu." The concern is … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (2)

Black Spin News Blast: Why Can’t Barack Obama Talk About Race?

• Why Can’t President Obama Talk about Race? : In this article, we discuss the catch-22 that the … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (2)

ACORN Responds to Allegations from FOX News

• Beyond threatening FOX News with a lawsuit, ACORN, the organization that has been under fire for … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (1)

Dr. Boyce Money: Don’t Throw Tavis Smiley Under the Wells Fargo Bus

• When I read about the predatory lending allegations against Tavis Smiley and Wells Fargo, I wasn’t … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (11)

Yale Student Murder Symptomatic of Growing Workplace Violence

• The murder of Yale University Lab Technician Annie Le was sad, particularly because her body was … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (20)

Wendy Williams and Dr. Boyce Talk Hip Hop and Money

• In this video, I was in studio with the great Wendy Williams. I’ve written about Wendy in the past, … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (5)

Rev Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Discuss Serena Williams, Kanye West

• Were there any racial implications to the recent outbursts by Serena Williams and Kanye West? Yes, … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (7)

Financial Lovemaking: Couple Divorces to Save Money

• Imagine that you are deeply in love with your soul mate, entering your twilight years together. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (2)

Dr. Boyce: Obama Talks Healthcare at the CBC Convention

In an appropriate show of respect, President Barack Obama addressed theCongressional Black Caucus Foundation Conference this weekend. His speech focused primarily on healthcare, which has become the latest battleground for our challenged new leader. In the eyes of the public, Obama is no longer the cool, hip politician he was a few months ago. He is now the guy considered to be too moderate to be liberal, too socialist to be conservative, too black to be white and too white to be "down." Obama can’t quite be anything to anyone, which is the price he must now pay for trying to be everything to everyone.
Michelle Obama, as lovely as she is, arrived to the event with the president by her side. The couple, when appearing together, present an inspiring portrait of successful black love. Every black woman in America looks at Michelle and dreams of having her own political Mandingo accompanying her and her children to important social events.

Click to read more at AOL Black Voices

If the link doesn’t work, click here to find Dr. Watkins’ articles on AOL

Dr Boyce: G20 Needs Our Attention

Uncle Ben from Spiderman made the most prophetic statement of the entire film series in his dying days (I almost cried, but don’t tell anybody): "With great power comes great responsibility." Most of us understood what Uncle Ben was trying to say, and that includes Barack Obama.

Uncle Ben should have been the keynote speaker at the latest G-20 Summit, taking place this week in Pittsburgh,PA. The G-20 Summit is a gathering of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the world’s 19 wealthiest countries, plus the European Union. These countries encompass 85 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, so they would probably meet Uncle Ben’s qualification for "great power," at least when it comes to money.

The G-20 Summit’s primary objective is to achieve broad cooperation on the preservation of international financial stability. The motivations of the group, created in 1999, are seemingly noble and make perfect sense in light of the fact that the global economy has reached an unprecedented level of integration. If large nations do not work together, the world’s financial system will be subject to alarming amounts of volatility.

Not everyone can see the vision behind G-20 ambitions. Usually, the gatherings of the G-20 are as out of control as a frat party, as protesters have made a game out of disrupting the meetings as much as they possibly can. To prepare for this year’s economic fiesta, the city of Pittsburgh has brought in 4,000 police, 2,000 National Guard troops and 11 Coast Guard vessels.

Police, in an overwhelming show of force, declared Thursday’s march illegal almost as soon as it began, firing rubber bullets and canisters of pepper spray and smoke after small bands of anarchists responded to calls to disperse by rolling huge metal trash bins, throwing rocks and breaking windows. As of Friday morning, reports said nearly 70 people had been arrested and police were bracing for scattered protests around downtown.

President Obama, being the conflicted capitalist/black man/ex-community organizer that he is, made some telling comments about the demonstrators.

Click to read more on MSNBC’s TheGrio.com.

BET’s Skank Robbers: An Insult to Black Women?

During the BET Awards, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx did a skit called "Skank Robbers," which you can watch below. Some have argued that the video goes over the top, producing stereotypical images of black women to the point of being offensive. Referring to them as "skanks" was enough to draw the ire of many African Americans, but there was also a point in the video in which the narrator says, "From the producers of ‘Planet of the Apes’."

This video leads to the following questions as it pertains to BET:1) Who’s making the decisions? I’d love to see what thought process goes into deciding to make R. Kelly your keynote performer right after he is accused of creating child pornography, or having Lil Wayne sing about wanting to have sex with every girl in the world while underage girls are dancing on stage. I don’t hate BET, and I’ve done a great deal of work with them in the past, but I would like very much for them to explain to the public exactly how they operate.

 

Click to read more.

If this link doesn’t work, then please click here.

Dr Boyce on MSNBC’s TheGrio – 9/24/09

Race is Obama’s Catch-22

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

5:47 AM on 09/22/2009

OPINION – If you think anti-Obama outbursts have nothing to do with Obama being black, you need to open a history book…

> MORE

U of Michigan’s "optional" practices highlight need for reform

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

10:00 AM on 09/18/2009

OPINION — The University of Michigan football team has a storied tradition when it comes to winning. The program is equally storied when it comes to making money by putting athletes…

> MORE

Stop hating on black female athletes

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

7:44 AM on 09/15/2009

OPINION – We need to stop putting black women in a box. They don’t all belong in the socially dirty box, and they don’t belong in the pure, sweet and innocent box.

> MORE

Race was never a factor in track star’s gender query

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

6:20 PM on 09/10/2009

OPINION – Recent reports by the Daily Mail of London and the Sydney Morning Herald of Australia state that the test has revealed that Semenya "is a hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries." Some have argued that Semenya was the target of the investigation because she is black…

> MORE

It’s clutch time and Obama needs to be like Mike

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

9:24 AM on 09/09/2009

OPINION – As President Obama prepares to put on a full-court press for health care reform in a speech to Congress tonight, he needs only to look back at one performance from "His Airness" to gain inspiration.

> MORE

Is College Worth the Cost?

from the Daily Orange – Syracuse University

No Easy Decision: Higher Education Requires High Contemplation
With the economy just now taking steps to recover from a recession that caused millions of jobs to be lost, the four words, "was it worth it?" have likely been uttered by thousands of debt-ridden college graduates.

According to collegeboard.com, the average yearly cost of tuition and fees at a four-year public college for the 2008-09 year was $6,585, while private schools cost an average of $25,143. The Syracuse University Web site lists its tuition for 2009-10 as $33,630, with its total cost of attendance reaching an estimated $50,100.

Four years later, does this $200,000 expense, whether the financial resources come from family, 40-hour workweeks or loans, guarantee a high-paying job?
As a student with hopes of getting a job whose success I can parlay into a long and happy career, I find college to be extremely important and value the opportunities it has given me. However, I strongly disagree with the notion that college is right for everyone.

 

Click to read.

Dr Boyce: Don’t Throw Tavis Smiley Under the Bus

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

When I read about the predatory lending allegations against Tavis Smiley and Wells Fargo, I wasn’t surprised. Not because I feel that Tavis is some kind of crook, but because economic downturns are usually when everyone’s dirty laundry gets aired out. The high flying 2000s were a decade of extravagance, overspending, easy money and troubled relationships. The party was bound to end. Smiley’s party has ended with Wells Fargo, as the company has been accused of using Tavis Smiley and financial expert Kelvin Boston to convince African Americans to sign on to loans that turned out to be predatory. Neither Boston nor Smiley is willing to disclose the amount they were paid for the service, but I’m sure it wasn’t chump change.
I’ve been open and honest in my critiques of Tavis Smiley in the past, but I give credit where it’s due. I’ve always felt that Tavis Smiley is a man who works out of a sincere respect and appreciation for the black community. He is not out to hoodwink, swindle or hurt us, at least not deliberately. At worst, Smiley is guilty of being caught in a situation that he may not have fully understood.
Although I agree with the black community’s decision to hold Tavis Smiley accountable for his actions, I want us to be cautious of going overboard in our judgments. Here are 5 things I want to say about Tavis Smiley:

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce on AOL Black Voices – 9/22/09

Black Spin News Blast: Why Can’t Barack Obama Talk About Race?

• Why Can’t President Obama Talk about Race? : In this article, we discuss the catch-22 that the … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

ACORN Responds to Allegations from FOX News

• Beyond threatening FOX News with a lawsuit, ACORN, the organization that has been under fire for … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (1)

Dr. Boyce Money: Don’t Throw Tavis Smiley Under the Wells Fargo Bus

• When I read about the predatory lending allegations against Tavis Smiley and Wells Fargo, I wasn’t … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Yale Student Murder Symptomatic of Growing Workplace Violence

• The murder of Yale University Lab Technician Annie Le was sad, particularly because her body was … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (5)

Wendy Williams and Dr. Boyce Talk Hip Hop and Money

• In this video, I was in studio with the great Wendy Williams. I’ve written about Wendy in the past, … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (2)

Rev Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Discuss Serena Williams, Kanye West

• Were there any racial implications to the recent outbursts by Serena Williams and Kanye West? Yes, … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (6)

Financial Lovemaking: Couple Divorces to Save Money

• Imagine that you are deeply in love with your soul mate, entering your twilight years together. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (2)

Dr. Wilmer Leon and Dr. Danny Boston Discuss the State of the Economy

• In this audio interview, Dr. Wilmer Leon and Dr. Danny Boston discuss the state of the economy. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Michael Baisden and Dr. Elaina George Explain Health Care Reform

• Although many Americans have seen and heard the insane debate over health care, almost no one … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

Dr. Boyce Money: What’s The Difference Between a Credit Union and a Bank?

• In the fundamentals of black wealth building, we must start by making fundamental choices, such as … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Shocking Video: 5-Year-Olds Being Taught to ‘Bump and Grind’?

• 1) 5-year old children being taught seductive dancing: Is this appropriate? 2) Serena Williams … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (6)

Dr. Boyce Money: President Obama’s Slam to Wall Street

• The president recently gave an interesting address to Wall Street on the anniversary of the start … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (4)

Obama’s Racial Catch-22

Demonstrators protest on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, during a taxpayer rally. The Washington Monument is in the background. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

A few years ago, Dr. Cornel West wrote an outstanding book called "Race Matters." In the book, he explains why a post-racial America is not yet a reality. Race certainly matters in our nation, and we don’t need to look any further than the anti-Obama lynch mobs to find evidence of this fact.

What is most interesting is that the people who hate Obama for being black don’t even realize that this is the reason they hate him. That’s how the social sickness called "racism" sneaks into the very fabric of the social infrastructure on which our country operates.

President Obama’s recent experience is yet another reminder that the disease of racism has its greatest impact on those who think they’ve been cured. In spite of his continuous efforts to "just get along" with those on the right wing, they have insisted upon engaging in some of the most pathetic, thug-like behavior imaginable, creating a climate unlike anything our country has seen in the last 30 years.

If you think this has nothing to do with Obama being black, you need to open a history book. Lynch mobs rarely attacked a black man just for being black. They attacked him for being black and doing something that white people found to be unacceptable.

Click to read on MSNBC’s TheGrio.com.

U. Michigan and the “Optional” Practices

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

The University of Michigan football team has a storied tradition when it comes to winning. The program is equally storied when it comes to making money by putting athletes on the field no matter what. This football factory rivals the other bastion of athletic exploitation down the road: my alma mater, The Ohio State University.

It was recently unearthed that The University of Michigan has been using "optional" practices as a way to push athletes against their will. Players and their families have reported that any athlete who doesn’t attend the "optional" practices has a strong likelihood of being punished by the team.

I have just one question: why is anyone surprised? The only thing surprising to me about the University of Michigan case is that someone is actually willing to testify against the university. I am simply stunned that the players are bold enough to stand up for their rights in light of the fact that there are extreme penalties for athletes who have the audacity to think for themselves.

For college athletes, loyalty to the NCAA is not a choice. The officials who run college sports serve as the judge, jury and executioner in all cases related to athletic conduct. Like Michael Vick’s pit bulls, athletes within the NCAAsystem are domesticated, indoctrinated and brainwashed from the minute they set foot on a college campus.

The same way that many major retailers look the other way when five year olds are employed in third-world factories, the NCAA doesn’t do a very good job of enforcing the standards within its very own rulebooks. The only standards that seem to be applied strictly are those that keep the athletes and their families away from the multi-billion dollar revenue-generating machine that pays for the massive salaries of college football coaches. This is nothing less than a slap in the face to the players and their families, who give so much on the field.

 

Click to read.

Rev. Al and Dr. Boyce Discuss Serena, Kanye and Race

Were there any racial implications to the recent outbursts by Serena Williams and Kanye West? Yes, there were. In my latest conversation with Rev. Al Sharpton, we break down these interesting events, all of which occurred during the past week. We can agree, however, that there are certainly things more important than worrying about Serena Williams and Kanye West. But these situations, in light of the backdrop of Obama’s comments about Kanye, might provide true teachable moments regarding America’s tattered racial history.As I’ve written before, Serena and Kanye have a lot in common, but nothing in common, all at the same time. Serena’s actions were justifiable, given the intensity of the situation and the fact that the line judge made the wrong call. At the same time, most of us can agree that Serena went over the line by threatening to "shove the ball down the f**ing throat" of the line judge because of her mistake. Yes, Serena, you are from the hood. But you don’t need to take it back to the hood to make your point to a U.S. Open line judge.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce Speaks on Serena Williams

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

MSNBC’s TheGrio.com 

Black women are too aggressive. They are vicious, nasty, neck-swinging, over-sexed, amazons who utilize every available opportunity to tell off anyone in their path. They hate black men and they even manage to find creative ways to hate one another. We’ve now come up with a one-dimensional way of describing an incredibly diverse group around the world. That is what the world does to black women, and it is the same thing they do with black men. Personally, I’m getting sick of it.

In our natural aversion to such blatantly biased characterizations like the one presented in the first paragraph, we then go to the other extreme: Black women are all perfect, beautiful, loving, enlightened creatures who can do no wrong. All the problems of the black family belong solely to those "trifling brothers who just can’t get it together," and even when black women appear to be wrong, it’s just because the rest of us "are too weak to handle strong and intelligent sistuhs." Sorry my friends, stereotyping is wrong, even when it works in your favor.

Serena Williams’ tirade during the US Open on Saturday was offensive and sad to watch. She embarrassed herself and her family by threatening to "shove the ball down the f***ing throat" of a line judge during an internationally televised event. At the same time, Serena was in an extremely tense situation, the judge made a horrible call, and this was one of the biggest matches of her career. The judge had no business making that kind of call at that time, especially one that was ultimately incorrect. Serena simply said exactly what I certainly would have been thinking myself.

Click to read.

Dr Boyce on AOL – 9/14/09

The Latest

Kanye West and Serena Williams: Big Egos Cost Big Money

• When Kanye West stood on NBC four years ago and said "George Bush doesn’t care about black … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

The Odd Relationship Between Insurance Companies and Doctors

• One of the things missing from the healthcare debate in the black community is how insurance … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

Financial Lovemaking: Is Kelis Being Greedy with Nas?

• In this episode of Financial Lovemaking, we dig deep into the situation with Nas and Kelis. As you … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (9)

Dr Boyce: Black Athlete Punches White Player, Loses Career

• When I saw the video of the punch out by LeGarrette Blount of The University of Oregon, I was … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (18)

Dr Boyce: What’s Wrong with Howard University?

• Today, I got with my co-host on Financial Lovemaking, Ms. S. Tia Brown, to talk about the situation … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Barack Obama Got Gangsta with His Critics: Good for Him

• The other day, I mentioned that it was time for President Obama to get tough with his critics. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (8)

Dr. Boyce: The 5 Lowest Paying Majors in College

• According to the "College Majors Handbook," the 5 lowest paying college majors are Social Work, … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

How to Avoid Catching the Swine Flu

• The H1N1 virus is making headlines this year, as the world is finding out that the Swine flu can … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

6 Things Insurance Companies do to Keep You from Getting Paid

• As we learn how the insurance industry works, I thought I’d reach out to prominent Atlanta … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (1)

Barack Obama Might Have to Get ‘Gangsta’ — You, Too

• I once saw a documentary by filmmaker Byron Hurt, called ‘Barack and Curtis,’ comparing President … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (10)

Howard University Student Controversy Over Financial Aid Problems

• Howard University has a problem. Apparently, the school’s students have taken lessons on freedom of … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (25)

If You Ever Win the Lottery: 5 Risks You Don’t Want to Take

• Some of us saw the story about the woman who won the lottery as a teenager and blew her money on … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (28)

Black News in Black America

• … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Man Arrested for Slapping Another Person’s Child in Public

• Have you ever been in the grocery store and fantasized about "whooping" somebody else’s screaming … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (121)

Dr. Boyce Talks Money and Sex on ABC News

• I recently appeared on ABC News to talk about Financial Lovemaking, and the link between sex and … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Kanye, Serena and the Cost of Getting Ugly

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

When Kanye West stood on NBC four years ago and said "George Bush doesn’t care about black people," I applauded. When he acted a fool on stage after not receiving some award he deserved, I laughed. When he came out with that really weird CD after dealing with personal crises involving the loss of his mother and break up with his fiance, I sincerely felt for him (but never bought the album).
But after Kanye’s stunt last night on the MTV Video Music Awards, I wanted to slap him. Damn brother, that was just pathetic. When Beyonce told you she liked men with big egos, you surely put that theory to the test.

Kanye West’s decision to bum rush the stage and yank the mike out of the hand of Taylor Swift, a 19-year old woman winning her first award has finally certified him as the jackass that everyone thought he might be. I have been a big supporter of West, and I still support him to a point. He brings some degree of intelligence to hip hopthat the industry has needed for a long time. But the truth is that his actions last night were rooted in extreme selfishness and horribly arrogant behavior. Not good for Kanye, nor anyone else.
This must have been "The weekend the black folks went wild," because Serena Williams had an equally problematic outburst at the US Open. After a very bad call by one of the judges, Serena felt the need to offer to shove the ball down the "f*cking throat" of the woman for making her mistake. OK sistuh-girl, does the judge really need to have the ball shoved down her throat?

 

Click to read.

Black Athlete Punches White Player – Loses His Entire Career

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

When I saw the video of the punch out by LeGarrette Blount of The University of Oregon, I was shocked and disappointed. This knock out blow that the athlete laid on Byron Hout of Boise State certainly has no place in the game of football – at least after the clock has struck zero. The University of Oregon acted immediately, suspending Blount for the entire season, effectively ending his career with the team. This incident is also going to likely hurt his chances of having an NFL career.

Here are some reasons that Oregon State was dead wrong in their decision.

1) The the university has no right to be judge and jury on this case. Where’s the union for college athletes? Oh yeah, they don’t have one. This incident is a reminder and sick reflection of the fact that college student athletes should have the same labor rights as the rest of us. Instead, they are subject to the harsh decisions of universities who care more about their revenues and reputations than the athletes themselves. Before you destroy a young man’s career, there should be hearings and a full investigation by a trustworthy panel of individuals who consider his well-being as part of the process. The idea that someone moved so quickly without knowing all the facts is absolutely ridiculous.

2) He is young. Since when can’t one 22-year old football player punch out another one and not pay for it for the rest of his life? Does it really make sense that the university feels that this man’s years of hard work are so disposable that they can simply throw them in the trash without consequence? Coaches are arrested for DWIs, commit crimes and do all kinds of egregious things, and are simply expected to go find another job. Blount, because of NCAA restrictions, can’t simply join the team at another university. His career is over.

Click to read.

Race Not a Factor in Track Athlete’s Gender Testing

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

6:20 PM on 09/10/2009

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

The world is now talking about Caster Semenya, the South African athlete who has been subjected to gender testing after dominating the field in the 800-meter run at the 2009 World Championships. Recent reports by the Daily Mail of London and the Sydney Morning Herald of Australia state that the test has revealed that Semenya "is a hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries." Some have argued that Semenya was the target of the investigation because she is black, but I am not sure if I am on board with that presumption.

If the reports are true, I am not surprised. Race issues to the side, I too found myself wondering if I was seeing things, as I watched Semenya thump her chest in victory and speak with a voice that could bring Barry White back from the grave. I was disturbed, but open-minded, for I considered Semenya’s case to be an opportunity to explore cultural variations in gender perception.
Another use of the word "race" applies when analyzing Semenya’s time in her race of choice, the 800-meter run. Not only did this 18-year old come out of nowhere to run a time which instantly dominates the world’s most highly trained 800 meter runners (1:55.45), but her time was nowhere near the world record (1:53.28), set by Jarmila Kratochvilova of Czechoslovakia in 1983. Like Semenya, Kratochvilova could easily be mistaken for a man.

Click to read more.

Good Job, Mr President

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

The other day, I mentioned that it was time for President Obama to get tough with his critics. Their below-the-belt attacks on the Beltway were getting to the point of embarrassing our great nation. We were reverting to 1920s lynch mobs and watching behavior that fell short of the threshold of human decency.
Well, when you’re confronted with a monster, you sometimes have to become one. And last night, the president was a monster.I applaud his firm approach when dealing with his critics. President Obama stood tall and strong, showing the vision of a great president. He also confronted Republican lies and misinformation directly. From a political standpoint, the speech was a mobilizer, which is called for when the opposition refuses to work with you and consistently pushes to dismantle your agenda. The right wing does not like this president, and they are using dirty tools of American racism and distrust of black men to win their fight with Obama.

The battle was further energized by the ridiculous outburst by South Carolina Republican Jim Wilson, who shouted "You lie!" in the middle of the President’s speech. Sorry Joe, bad move. Sometimes your enemies can be your greatest allies, and in this case, Obama needs to send Wilson a Thank You card. His actions were yet another spread of icing on the cake of energy that the president created with his stellar performance before Congress.

Click to read.

5 Lowest Paying Majors in College

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

According to the "College Majors Handbook," the 5 lowest paying college majors are Social Work, Special Education, Elementary Education, Home Economics and Music/Dance. As a college professor for the past 16 years, I was only surprised that other "interesting" majors were not on the list, such as Philosophy or Anthropology. In a recent NPR interview, I spoke on the value of going to college and whether or not it’s worth the expense. The answer to this question is very simple: It depends.

Here are some things to remember when choosing a major for yourself or your children in college:

1) Know what you are getting. Don’t major in a low paying major expecting to make the same money as business school students. It’s simply not going to happen. Pick a major with the salary expectations that make you comfortable. Money doesn’t have to be important to you, just make sure you’re honest with yourself about how important money actually is.

2) Make sure that your major can help you repay your student loans. Most young people who went to college are going to die in debt. Don’t let yourself become one of those people.

Click to read.

Barack Obama Needs to Be Like Mike

By Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

MSNBC’s TheGrio.com.

• Related News

Obama prepares for pivotal health care speech

Michael Vick warns students about the dangers of peer pressure

Welcome to the age of "No Child Left Un-Politicized"

 

This week, Michael Jordan will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He will always be remembered for his many accomplishments and record-breaking achievements in the sport. However, as President Obama prepares to put on a full-court press for health care reform in a speech to Congress tonight, he needs only to look back at one performance from "His Airness" to gain inspiration.

Twelve years ago, in the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan was going to lose. Sick with the flu, he could barely walk, and his aura of invincibility had been shattered in the eyes of the American public. Mike was going to finally relinquish one of his many titles and Karl Malone was going to get the championship that we all now know he never received.

But Mike was Mike, and Karl wasn’t. Mike found a way to win and Karl Malone found a way to become "posterized" as yet another footnote in the astonishing legacy of the great Michael Jordan. Every great man or woman has an opportunity to build his or her legend, and it comes during the most trying of times. It is how we respond to these moments that make the difference between becoming Michael Jordan or just another Charles Barkley.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: Black Scholars, Black Outrage: What We Need to Do

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

Professor Larry Moore at The University of Memphis is on a mission. The African American professor has decided to take on his campus for not being diverse enough. Dr. Moore has done what black professors and students across America are doing, which is holding their campuses accountable for their lack of desire to recruit, promote, and reward faculty of color. This issue affects everyone, since most black college students never have the chance to be taught by an African American without taking courses in the African American Studies Department.

In an open letter written to state legislators, Dr. Moore has made his issue clear to the American public and put his university "on blast" for problematic recruitment and retention procedures. As a fellow business school professor myself, I say to Dr. Moore, "Way to go brother."

Click to read more.

Black Professor Open Letter to Univ. of Memphis on Racism

An Open Letter to the Shelby County Legislative Delegation
With Regards to the 1960’s Style of Black Tokenism
Practiced at the University of   Memphis Under
Joyce Raines and Ralph Faudree

To the Legislative Delegation:

This letter is addressed to you as representatives of the taxpayers of the state of Tennessee who contribute a substantial portion of the operating budget of the University of Memphis,  as trustees of state businesses who donate substantial funds to the University, and as  guardians of our students who pay tuition to the University. This letter  concerns  the operation of the University under the current President Shirley Raines and Provost Ralph Faudree, particularly with regards to none foreign born black faculty and graduate students at the University of Memphis.

While most major universities are aggressively trying to recruit, retain,  and promote qualified black faculty and graduate students, the University of Memphis,  under this  current administration, appears to operate under a 1960s form of tokenism, of marginalization, and of benign neglect of  those black  faculty members who have not been hand-picked by the administration for success, positions,  promotion, and salary, as well as an apparent lack of interest in black Phd candidates.

Click to read more.

Dr Boyce Watkins on MSNBC’s TheGrio – 8/26/09

about Dr. Boyce Watkins

• 
  

  Teddy was a lion for civil rights

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  8:30 AM on 08/26/2009

  OPINION – In a multitude of areas including housing, income, and civil rights for African-Americans and all minorities, Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts has been on the front lines.

  > more

• 
  

  Cocktail of unethical behavior and incompetence killed MJ

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  8:15 AM on 08/25/2009

  OPINION – It was Dr. Conrad Murray’s cocktail of unethical behavior and extreme incompetence which ultimately killed the most well known entertainer in history…

  > more

• 
  

  Felix the Cat flap signals era of racial paranoia

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  8:30 AM on 08/20/2009

  In an article for the Financial Times, Ferguson compared President Barack Obama to Felix the Cat, stating that Obama, like the cat, is "black and lucky."

  > more

• 
  

  The return of the prodigal quarterback

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  6:40 AM on 08/14/2009

  OPINION — I was as shocked as the rest of America to hear that Michael Vick has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. Although I’ve always supported Vick’s human right to fairness…

  > more

• 
  

  NCAA treating black athletes like second-class citizens

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  8:50 AM on 08/11/2009

  The revolution has been televised. I always knew it would be, since African American athletes have always been center stage in the NCAA’s multi-billion dollar money machine…

  > more

Dr Boyce on the cover of MSNBC.com

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University  – MSNBC’s TheGrio.com

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, FILE)

Many of us once joked that Bill Clinton was the "first black president" (which he wasn’t). We had it wrong. If such a title were to be given to any white man, that should have to be the late Senator Ted Kennedy. He was never president of the United States, but he was certainly one of the kings of his generation.

As a member of the Senate since 1962, Senator Kennedy had a long career fighting for those forced to live in the underbelly of a capitalist society. Over the last 47 years, he has done it better than nearly any politician in American history. African-Americans were among the many beneficiaries of his passionate life’s work, and for that, we will always be appreciative.

In a multitude of areas including housing, income, civil liberties, and equality, Ted Kennedy has been on the front lines. His brother John introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964, considered to be one of the most impactful pieces of legislation ever produced by our government. After John’s death, Ted and his brother Robert were instrumental in seeing that the bill was passed.

Senator Ted Kennedy then went on to help pass one law after another to support the rights of the elderly, the sick, the poor and the incarcerated. He introduced the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Civil Rights Act of 1991, The Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act, among others. He also helped to amend the Fair Housing Act, and has fought relentlessly for those who’ve never known the comfort of attending an Ivy League University.

Senator Kennedy’s political compassion, as well as his complicated coping mechanisms, may be linked to the tragedy he experienced during his life. As a young child, he watched his sister Rosemary endure a failed lobotomy, saw his brother Joseph die in World War II and then witnessed his older sister Kathleen’s death in a plane crash. This tragedy was compounded by the assassinations of his two brothers, Robert and John during the 1960s. This kind of pain doesn’t heal easily, and few families endure such an amazing amount of personal tragedy. It is quite possible that the weight of his psychological pain gave Senator Kennedy the ability to empathize with the struggles of others, as well as the strength to fight through hurdles presented by his adversaries.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce in Hip Hop Wired Magazine

by DANIELLE CANADA August 25, 2009, 13:09pm

HipHopWired contributor and headstrong Black intellect, Dr. Boyce Watkins had a meeting of the minds August 19th with the honorable Reverend Al Sharpton over several topics. The Black figureheads engaged listeners on Sharpton’s radio show on 1380 WAOK particularly touching on President Obama’s health care reform plan, the president’s reaction to the Henry Louis Gates Jr. Case, and the reinstatement of NFL quarterback, Michael Vick. The Reverend posed a question to the intellect asking his opinion on the president’s consideration to remove “public option” out of the reform bill. He poses the question saying:

“If public option is out, does that kill reform as a real reform?”

To which Dr. Watkins responds:

“I don’t think it kills the ability of it to be real reform, I think it’s a compromise that I didn’t necessarily want to see happen. If you look at what’s happened with the president and his ability to do the impossible. I don’t know what’s more impossible. Him being elected the first Black president or trying to reform a system that is incredibly flawed and filled with so many individual interests. You can’t imagine somebody being able to do that, a lot of people’s careers have been ruined for trying to take on this system. So I applaud the president for doing that. I think that at this point we have to stick to the guns, keep our eye on the prize and that is that there are millions and millions of Americans who can’t get insurance. People who are limited by preexisting conditions that are uninsurable, millions of Americans go bankrupt because of medical bills. So my big question with health insurance has always been, what are the hospitals going to contribute to this? What are the pharmaceutical companies going to contribute this? That’s the most profitable industry in America or at one of the top three and it’s because they charge a lot of money for drugs that shouldn’t cost as much as they actually do cost."

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce on AOL Black Voices – 8/25/09

The Latest

Michael Jackson: Murder, Money, Medicine and Mayhem

• I was as shocked as anyone to see that Michael Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide by the … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Dr. Boyce Money: Fox News, Glenn Beck Lose Advertisers

• Glenn Beck of Fox News is under major fire for calling President Barack Obama a racist. As a … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Protecting Yourself When Dealing with Insurance Companies

• One thing missing from the healthcare debate coming out of the White House is a call for … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

John Calipari Doesn’t Care about Black People?

• After reading about Kentucky Coach John Calipari being found guilty of cheating by the NCAA, I … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (3)

Are Doctors to Blame for the High Cost of Healthcare? Not Quite

• Dr. Elaina George, a prominent otolaryngologist in Atlanta, has a bone to pick with President … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (2)

Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Talk Barack Obama, Michael Vick

• I was a recent guest on "Keeping it Real with Al Sharpton" (audio is below). I like Rev. Al, and … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (13)

Black Boy Kidnapped in Oakland: Some Questions I’d Love to Ask

• When I read about the recent kidnapping of 5-year-old Hasanni Campbell, my heart skipped a beat. … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (38)

Costco Responds to the ‘Lil Monkey’ Black Doll Controversy

• We recently discussed the situation with Costco and its "interesting" decision to put "Lil Monkey" … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (22)

BV on Money: Is the Economy Really Recovering?

• The economic downturn has hurt us all. Black unemployment has been nearly 70% higher than that for … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Financial Lovemaking: 2 More Links Between Sex and Money

• As part of my series on comparisons between sex and money, we will continue with parts 3 and 4 … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Financial Lovemaking: What Sex and Money Have in Common

• Some people think that money and sex have nothing in common. Actually, they have everything in … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Dr. Boyce: Sgt. James Crowley Comes Back in the Public Eye

• Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department is now a hero among his peers. In light of … Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (4)