Category Archives: Black Scholars
Sheriff Implies that Congresswoman Giffords Shooting Connected to Racism
Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says anger, hatred and bigotry are getting out of hand in this country. If you read between the lines, you can see that the sheriff is trying to say that racism may have been part of the reason that Giffords was shot. Perhaps the Republicans will reconsider their rhetoric, since lives are being put in danger by their consistent commitment to capitalizing off the racial hatred of our country.
Filed under African American Scholars, Black Scholars
Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Christopher Metzler on CNBC: Should the Rich Be Taxed More?

Watch Dr. Boyce Watkins and Christopher Metzler on CNBC – should the rich be taxed more than the poor? Click here to watch
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Woman Eats Her Child’s Brain? Mental Health and Criminal Justice Systems Failed Her

by Dr. Boyce Watkins
This week, a woman in Texas cut off the head of her three week old baby and ate part of his brain. What’s even more shocking about this terrible story is that she won’t get any jail time for it.
Otty Sanchez, a 34-year old, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of her child, Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez. Prosecutors accepted the plea deal after learning that the woman thought that the devil made her kill her child.
The baby was found in a bedroom with three of his toes chewed off, his head severed and his brain ripped out. Police are saying that the child’s mother ate the boy’s toes and a piece of the brain before stabbing herself in the chest and throat. In the 911 call made by her sister, Sanchez can be heard in the background screaming, “I didn’t wanna do it! He told me to!"
Filed under black professors, Black Scholars
Black Female Unemployment Drops Big Time
Black Women Get Good News about Unemployment Again
- Black women have some reason to celebrate amid the dismal employment numbers in our economy. In … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jul 4th 2010 9:41AM | Comments (0)
Press Rewind — Hollywood’s Racial Miscastings, 30 Ways to Sign LeBron + More
- Hollywood has a history of questionable casting choices when it comes to race. The recent … Read More
- By Journey Ade on Jul 3rd 2010 5:30PM | Comments (1)
Dave Chappelle’s Strange Behavior on an Airplane: What’s Up Dave?
- What’s the deal with Dave Chappelle? According to TMZ, Chapelle was reportedly acting strange on a … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jul 3rd 2010 4:18PM | Comments (8)
Rick Ross Responds to Lawsuit Filed by Drug Dealer Ricky Ross
- The rapper Rick Ross has finally decided to respond to the $10 million lawsuit filed by Freeway … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jul 3rd 2010 3:50PM | Comments (3)
Snapshot: Janet Jackson Shows Up & Out At 2010 Essence Music Festival
- Janet Jackson showed her ass at the Louisiana Superdome last night. Literally. The Grammy … Read More
- By Karu F. Daniels on Jul 3rd 2010 12:12PM | Comments (9)
Filed under black professors, Black Scholars, black speakers
Dave Chappelle’s Odd Behavior: How it’s Destroying His Brand

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
What’s the deal with Dave Chappelle? According to TMZ, Chapelle was reportingly acting strange on a private jet, so much so that the jet had to make an emergency landing in Pittsburgh. Their source is stating that the flight was headed from New Jersey to Ohio and that Chappelle "freaked out" refusing to put on his seatbelt.
The source also says that Chappelle repeatedly walked into the cockpit, asking the pilot how much longer the flight would be, and even grabbed the pilot’s arms. That is when it was allegedly determined that Chappelle was a safety risk, and the flight was grounded.
TMZ then claims that after landing, Chappelle checked into a hotel. However, sources at the hotel are claiming that Dave told the employees that he wanted to rent a car to go back to Ohio, but that he didn’t remember where he lived.
I’m not sure what the deal is with Dave Chappelle, one of the most talented and privileged comedians in America. He had the world at his feet, with a hit show and a $50 million contract to do what he does best. It does appear, however, that there is something inside Chappelle that simply can’t handle fame.
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Dr. Boyce discusses the BET Awards
Author and Finance Professor at Syracuse University
Why there should be a black backlash against BET
10:43 AM on 06/28/2010
OPINION – Through the years, the BET Awards have become a staple of unhealthy and counter-productive broken black family fun…
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The Latest from Dr. Boyce – 6/26/10
Obama and Fatherhood: "No Excuses Applies to You Too"
- One of the primary slogans being used by the White House to express President Barack Obama’s most … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 26th 2010 8:13AM | Comments (0)
Mariah Carey Sued for $30,000 in Vet Bills
- Singer Mariah Carey is reportedly being sued for $30,000 in vet bills. The singer, like quite a few … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 26th 2010 8:08AM | Comments (0)
Teen Kicked Out of Jury Duty for Wearing Kanye West T-Shirt
- A teen was kicked off a jury this week for wearing a Kanye West T-shirt that the judge found to … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 26th 2010 7:34AM | Comments (17)
Government Accuses Twitter of Giving Away Your Personal Information
- Twitter recently settled charges with the government that it "deceived customers" and didn’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 25th 2010 11:11AM | Comments (2)
Congressman Contrasts ‘Minorities’ With ‘Good American People’
- Democratic Congressman Paul Kanjorski is getting heat from Republicans for making comments that … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 25th 2010 8:50AM | Comments (63)
Nas Can’t Afford Kelis’ Home: Plans to Sell Soon
- The divorce between the rapper Nas and his wife, Kelis, has been an interesting and fascinating … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 25th 2010 8:28AM | Comments (6)
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Report: Tiger’s Wife About to Sign Those Papers
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
Radaronline is reporting that Tiger Woods’ divorce is about to be signed and finalized. The most shocking part of the report is that there are claims that Woods’ wife is set to get $750 million out of the settlement. There is no clear indication of who might get the kids out of the divorce or whether there is a confidentiality agreement, but the possibility that Elin Nordegren may walk away with $750 million is incredibly shocking.
"When they first started negotiating the divorce, it was very acrimonious," the source told RadarOnline.com. "Elin had a lawyer in California who was very, very aggressive."
Here are some quick thoughts about the Tiger Woods divorce:
1) Do prenuptial agreements not work anymore? Didn’t Tiger’s wife sign a prenup, and would it have been a crime for Elin to walk away with a clean $40 million for five years of "hard work?"
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Dr. Boyce: Rappers Pretending to be Dope Dealers
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
I never bought into the hype that Rick Ross was a fraud. Everyone seemed to feel that because he was found to have been a corrections officer in a previous life, that he somehow violated the oath which says that rappers have to be criminals in order to sell records. I don’t know how true or false the rumors happen to be, but the fact is that I never cared.
However, when I found out that there is reason to believe that the rapper Rick Ross took his name from the notorious drug dealer "Freeway" Ricky Ross, I thought to myself, "This is just stupid. Why can’t the brother just be himself?"
Filed under Black News, black professors, Black Scholars, black speakers
Fat Joe Accused of Sexual Assault
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
The rapper Fat Joe was detained by police Sunday night after he and his entourage were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Madison, Wisconsin. According to TMZ, the woman is 33-years old and claims the assault occurred in a Cadillac Limousine after a concert at the Orpheum Theater.
Fat Joe (a.k.a.Joseph Antonio Cartagena) and his entourage were held for questioning, but he was released and not arrested. The details of the case are still being sorted out in the investigation. Relative to most artists, Fat Joe doesn’t get into very much trouble. The 39-year old married father of two has not, to my knowledge been accused of any sexual assault, so I’d be surprised if he waited this long to get started. He has been arrested in some of the typical rapper non-sense in the past: In 1998, he and the deceased rapper Big Pun were arrested for assaulting a man with a baseball bat and stealing his gold chain. I’m not even going to try to explain that one.
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The Latest from Dr. Boyce on AOL – 6/21/10
Son of Dallas Police Chief Suspected in Killing a Cop
- Investigators are saying that they believe that the 27-year old son of Dallas Police Chief David … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:38PM | Comments (0)
Is Obama’s Mortgage Modification Program Failing?
- More than 1/3 of the 1.24 million borrowers who’ve enrolled in President Obama’s mortgage … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:07PM | Comments (0)
Michael Jackson’s Estate Earned $783 Million Since His Death
- Since his sudden heart attack last year, Michael Jackson has raked in big money. In the last year, … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:50PM | Comments (3)
Will Tiger Woods’ Video Game Sell Like it Did in the Past?
- Tiger Woods 2011 has gotten outstanding reviews from critics, who say that the game presents a … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:11PM | Comments (1)
Hallmark Greeting Card Gets Accused of Corporate Racism
- I’ve seen misunderstandings in my day and then I’ve seen mega-misunderstandings. The most recent … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:04PM | Comments (2)
How to Save Your Money: 5 Steps to Getting it Right
- This week, I’ve been busy shooting an MSNBC special on money management. So, because this is on my … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 11:29AM | Comments (2)
Financial Lovemaking: AOL BV Poll Results on Black Women, Dating
- Last week, I had to step back to make sure I wasn’t creating a firestorm with the article I wrote … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 10:04AM | Comments (0)
Black Businesswoman Danielle Douglas and Dr. Boyce Talk Business
- Danielle Douglas is not your typical businesswoman. She has climbed the corporate ladder, with … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 7:06AM | Comments (2)
Tiger Woods Sex Scandals Cost Him $25 Million in Endorsements
- It’s being reported that the company which represents golf superstar Tiger Woods lost $4.6 million … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 10:21PM | Comments (4)
Black Scholar: Black Athletes Exploited Physically, Intellectually by NCAA
- Professor Billy Hawkins of The University of Georgia has released a controversial new book that … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 2:33PM | Comments (17)
Dr. Boyce and Lady Drama Discuss Wendy Williams, Hip-Hop and More
- I have a great deal of respect for Lady Drama, aka Ebony Garris. Lady Drama, in case you don’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 12:10AM | Comments (2)
Foreclosure Epidemic Hits Minority Communities Hardest
- A recent study by the Center for Responsible Lending has confirmed what you probably already … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 4:04PM | Comments (20)
Black Republican: King’s Statement About Obama Favoring Blacks Was Right
- Isaiah McGee, an Iowa-based African American commentator, businessman and politician, is a … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 3:02PM | Comments (27)
The Black Church Keeps Black Women Single and Lonely?
- In my book "Financial Lovemaking 101," one of the topics of discussion is the economic benefit of … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 11:24AM | Comments (140)
Parliament-Funkadelic Guitarist Garry Shider Dies
- Garry Shider, the musical director for Parliament-Funkadelic, was known for having the funkiest … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 10:27AM | Comments (10)
Filed under Black News, black professors, Black Scholars, black speakers
What Black Fathers Must Do Right Now

by Dr. Boyce Watkins – The Institute for Black Public Policy
Father’s Day usually occurs on my birthday, which is both exciting and a little bit sad. With each birthday, I feel like I’m on a slow ship to an unforeseen destination, with each birthday reminding me that I’ve passed another landmark. I keep wondering why birthdays show up around the same time every year, and I’m still hopeful that the trend will discontinue at some point. Wait, let me rephrase that…..if my birthdays stop coming then I’ll be, well….. you know.
At any rate, when my birthday hits, doubled-up with Father’s Day, I am led to evaluate my life and myself. I evaluate my life to see if I am the same man this year that I was last year; the truth is that I should have grown in some meaningful way or achieved something positive. I also evaluate myself as a father to see if I am getting at least a little bit better at making myself the kind of man that my kids need me to be.
Filed under black professors, Black Scholars, black speakers, boyce watkins
News: Black Scholar Says NCAA Legally Exploits Black Men

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World
Professor Billy Hawkins of The University of Georgia has released a controversial new book that describes the experiences of NCAA athletes by comparing them to slaves on a plantation. According to the research of professor Hawkins, black athletes are exploited by the NCAA physically, financially and intellectually.
Hawkins cites the massive revenue earned by the NCAA via March Madness, which includes a 14-year, $10.8 billion contract with CBS sports. In spite of seemingly unlimited revenues to encourage athletes to stay focused academically, Hawkins notes that nearly one-fifth of the 64 teams participating in the NCAA tournament had graduation rates of less than 40 percent. Across the 36 sports monitored by the NCAA, men’s basketball has the lowest graduation rates, where less than two-thirds of the players earn degrees.
The dismal graduation numbers for the NCAA support Dr. Hawkins’ research, in which he argues and shows that black athletes at predominantly white institutions are being exploited while being neglected academically. In his book, "The New Plantation," the well-respected Professor of Sport Management and Policy uses a plantation model to present the black male athletic experience as part of a broader historical context.
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The Latest from Dr. Boyce – 6/15/10
Brought to you by The Great Black Black Speakers Bureau, the #1 Black Speakers Bureau in the world. To join the Your Black World coalition, please visit YourBlackWorld.com.
Hey peeps,
Rev. Al Sharpton and I are going to be on MSNBC Thursday morning at 10 am – don’t forget that you can also hear us on his radio show every Monday at 1:15 pm EST (SharptonTalk.net). Also, to all the high school graduates out there, I want to encourage you to do the following: 1) Value education more than anything – it’s probably the most important thing you’ll ever have (so get as much of it as you can), 2) Pursue your goals relentless – working consistently toward something for 5 – 10 hours a day will always yield results, 3) Think like bosses, not laborers – get a great job, but eventually work to put yourself in a position to create jobs by owning your own business and financial assets, 4) Remember that life is a journey of love – money and career mean very little compared to how you treated the people you care about. Life is too short to be mediocre – always do your best.
Dr. Boyce
Dr. Boyce Video — What the Hayell? What Is Wrong With T-Pain?
- I don’t dislike T-Pain, but I can say that I dislike his music. At that the same time, I can’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 15th 2010 12:30PM | Comments (0)
Former NBA Star Antoine Walker Faces 12 Years in Prison
- A judge ruled that former NBA star Antoine Walker must stand trial over unpaid gambling debts. … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 11:55PM | Comments (3)
Dr. Boyce Video: Images of the Black Woman in Media and Business
- Today I had the opportunity to speak with four interesting and empowered black women: Michaela … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 6:46PM | Comments (3)
Black Male Sets Trends in Finance: Houston Has More than Rappers
- This week, we’ve heard plenty about Slim Thug, a rapper out of Houston who is making noise with his … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 4:16PM | Comments (2)
Why the Hip-Hop Industry Doesn’t Support Female Artists
- I met spoken-word hip-hop artist Shanelle Walker when I went to give a speech at Kentucky State … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 2:19PM | Comments (5)
Financial Lovemaking: Diddy’s Son Gets $360K Car — Too Much?
- Some of us turned our heads to the side when it was reported that the rapper and businessman Diddy … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 14th 2010 10:34AM | Comments (3)
South African Horns Criticized During World Cup
What do the Vuvuzelas sound like – are they really that bad?
Posted by Staffat 9:32 PM0 comments
Anita Baker Accused of Butchering the National Anthem
What do you think? ;
Posted by Staffat 9:23 PM0 comments
Rapper Vigalantee Raps about Black Women
Check out the new joint by Vigalantee, celebrating the black woman.
Posted by Staffat 9:15 PM0 comments
Did This Officer Just Punch this Black Woman in the Face? Was this Police Brutality or Resisting Arrest?
Slim Thug Attempts to Defend His Comments about Black Women
- Many of you may already know about the "interesting" comments made by the rapper Slim Thug, and … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 13th 2010 12:13PM | Comments (10)
NFL Player Reggie Wayne Sues Mistress for Charging Up Credit Card
- NFL star Reggie Wayne is finding out the hard way that giving your credit card number out to anyone … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 13th 2010 10:01AM | Comments (12)
Dr. Boyce: How the Lakers-Celtics Rivalry Saved the NBA Both 30 Years Ago and Today
The NBA finals are not what you think. You see, you’re watching the finals hoping that either the Lakers or the Celtics win, and wondering whether Kobe Bryant can outscore Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the army of tall brothers that Boston is flying across the country to conquer Los Angeles. That is not, my friends, the first thing on the mind NBA Commissioner David Stern.
First of all, Stern is wondering why LeBron James isn’t here. Most of us expected, to the disdain of every other talented player in the league, that this would be the year that LeBron would take his rightful place on the Post-Jordan throne. The natural and inevitable coronation of King James was part of the NBA marketing strategy, thus allowing Stern and company to make even bigger money in the Chinese market, where the fans want to see their All Stars become champions. As we all know, it didn’t happen.
The second thought on Stern’s very sharp mind is that the finals he got this year, a renewal of the historic rivalry between the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, is just as good, or better than what he would have gotten had King James shown up to play. You see, there’s history here, and most of the relevant history isn’t about wins and losses on the court.
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NJ Officer Taped Spraying Pepper Spray in Detained Black Man’s Face
- I am not quite sure what to make of the ruffled YouTube video that is now scouring the web out of … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 12th 2010 8:40PM | Comments (63)
Brian McKnight Ruled to Have Fathered 14-Yr Old: Owes $341,640: All About Black Daddies
- It appears that the singer Brian McKnight is now a not-so-proud father. Well, the child isn’t … Read More
- By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 12th 2010 12:53PM | Comments (14)
What does Barack Obama Have in Common with 50 Cent?
Check out Barack & Curtis, a new documentary by Byron Hurt
Posted by Staffat 12:38 PM0 comments
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2010
Paterson NJ Cop Videotaped While Macing a Black Man
This video is storming the web – a cop in Paterson, NJ is caught on tape macing a black man on the ground. ;
The Age of the Hoochie Mama is Over: It’s Time for Hip Hop to Grow Up

Lil Wayne disrespects women because he’s allowed to.
In 2004, the women at Spelman College told the rapper Nelly to take a hike for sliding a credit card through a woman’s backside. The women told Nelly to take his music elsewhere, and his concert was cancelled. I thought that after this incident, women across America would slide their own credit card in the other direction, away from the record stores and websites used to purchase music from artists who make it their mission in life to disrespect black women. I have to admit that I was wrong.
What has always amazed me is the fact that we have trained young people to endure and embrace consistent disrespect from rappers like Slim Thug, who recently stated that white women are a far better choice for relationships, and Lil Wayne, who has done everything in his power to show just how little regard he has for African American females. Wayne even has a song called Alphabet B*tches, which isn’t exactly like the ABCs you learned in preschool. For some reason, we all keep dancing to the beat and showing up for concerts, reminding the artist that freedom of speech is in full effect, no matter how harmful that speech may be.
This message was sent from Dr. Boyce Watkins: Your Black World to bwatkins@twcny.rr.com. It was sent from: Dr. Boyce Watkins, 23F Queens Way, Camillus, ny 13031. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.
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Why Are Women Excluded from Hip Hop?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
I met spoken-word hip hop artist Shanelle Walker when I went to give a speech atKentucky State University. Shanelle sent me a video of a rhyme she recited in honor of President Barack Obama. I was instantly floored by the performance, since I found her to be an incredibly powerful artist.
But Shanelle’s performance led me to consider broader concerns, such as why there are so few women in the hip-hop industry. I remain confused that women are not given a chance to shine in a field dominated by men. While hip-hop has historically been the channel designed to give a voice to urban America, women have been effectively left out. While I’ve certainly spoken my piece on how hip hop needs to change, here are some reasons I believe women are missing:
1) The hypermasculinity of hip-hop: By becoming so masculine and sexualized, the music doesn’t give women opportunities that don’t involve a G-string. I look forward to the day when the culture is not driven by who gets shot the most and who does the best job of proving that he’s a goon. That might actually lead to better music, since right now, many hip-hop artists come off like World Wrestling Entertainment characters. It’s O.K. for an artist to also be a human-being.
Filed under black professors, Black Scholars, black speakers, Black Women, boyce watkins
Officer Taped Spraying Black Man in the Face

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
I am not quite sure what to make of the ruffled YouTube video that is now scouring the web out of Paterson, New Jersey. In the video, the woman filming, who mentions that her mother works in the sheriff’s office, is taping a New Jersey police officer holding a black man to the ground. The man clearly has his hands behind his back and appears to be restrained.
As the woman videos the incident from a distance, the officer inexplicably grabs the man, turns him around and puts pepper spray into his eyes. He appears to do it twice.
Filed under black professors, Black Scholars, black speakers
Brian McKnight and Child Support: What Can We All Learn?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
It appears that the singer Brian McKnight is now a not-so-proud father. Well, the child isn’t exactly a baby either. According to TMZ, the child is a 14-year old that Brian hasn’t exactly claimed to be his own. Well, whether McKnight chooses to address the child as his own or not, a Florida judge has ruled that Brian must now take financial responsibility for the child. The amount owed? $341,640, which comes out to just over $2,000 per month for every month since the child was born.
The mother of the child, Miriam Lee, took Brian McKnight to court to establish paternity last year. Why she waited so long to do so is not clear. From this point on, the singer is responsible for making child support payments in the amount of $11,388 per month. The ruling was a default judgment, since McKnight was not in court and didn’t respond to the woman’s claim of paternity.
Filed under Black News, black professors, Black Scholars














