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Payday Loans: Additional Alternatives to Payday Loans -- Part 2

January 12, 2011, 8:14 am
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Alternatives to Payday Loans
This is Part Two of "15 Alternatives to Payday Loans When You Need Cash Fast." If you haven't read the first 10 alternatives, read them here.

Now, on to the final five sources of cash you can turn to when you're trying to avoid payday lenders:

11. Earn Cash By Being Neighborly
Most of us are overworked and often overwhelmed -- and that includes the people who live right near you. If you can help out someone who lives nearby, that's not just being a good neighbor, that's also a financially savvy move. Let's say you have great culinary skills. Find out if you can regularly cook or go grocery shopping for a neighbor. Someone elderly, sick or shut-in would welcome this help -- and pay you nicely too.

Maybe you're not an ace in the kitchen, but you're handy around the house. Then why not make some cash helping your neighbors relieve their stress and their workload? Provide an extra set of hands around the house and earn money for any of these tasks:

-Mow a neighbor's lawn/clear debris from their yard ($15 to $20 flat fee)
-Shovel their driveway ($15 to $25 flat fee)
-Wash their cars ($10 to $15 flat fee)
-Clean their house ($20 an hour)
-Walk their dogs ($10 an hour)


By the way, now is not the time to be too proud to do some extra work for a neighbor. First of all, all honest and legal work is good work. And besides, you're broke and you really do need the money, right? Finally, if it were me, frankly I'd be way more embarrassed to have a neighbor see me going into a payday lending store than I would be to offer a neighbor a helping hand.

12. Offer to Babysit or Tutor Someone's Kids
Ask any mother you know -- single moms and married women alike -- if they could use a break now and again from the kids, and you're likely to get a resounding: Yes! As mothers we love our children, of course. But it's a real help when we get a babysitter to take over for a few hours. Regularly-scheduled help is even better.

If you're not cracked up to babysit someone's kids -- and by all means, only offer if you actually like children! -- then maybe you can use a special talent or knowledge you possess to tutor a young person. Kids want and need special help or lessons in all kinds of areas, and many parents are willing to pay for that help.

Tutoring areas in demand include: reading, writing, math, science, sports, playing musical instruments and so on. Helping a child makes you a mentor, and gets you paid in the process. And by the way, you don't have to be a whiz in any of these areas. As long as you're proficient in a given subject or activity, that's usually just fine for elementary or middle school-age children.

13. Sell Stuff
You'd be amazed at how much cash you can raise quickly just by selling stuff you no longer want, need or use. Have a garage sale and unload household goods, furniture, electronics, toys, clothing and anything else someone else is willing to buy. Alternatively, donate items to charity and get a tax deduction.

14. Adjust Your W-4 Tax Withholdings
If you're getting a big income tax refund from the government each year, you are squandering a precious financial opportunity. The IRS reports that the typical tax refund check currently tops $3,000. If you routinely receive tax refunds, instead of giving the government an interest-free loan, get your money now. Go to your HR office at work and adjust your W-4 withholdings so that your employer takes less money out of your paycheck.

After adjusting your W-4 form, you'll get cash -- perhaps as much as $250 a month -- put back into your very next paycheck. Check out IRS publications 505 and 919 at www.irs.gov to learn how to properly adjust your withholdings so that you don't take out too much money and end up owing taxes.

15. Squeeze Money From Your Residence
Whether you rent or own, getting a roommate or housemate is another way to pull in cash -- and it'll be a steady stream of dollars to help you pay the bills.

If you can tolerate having an extra person around, there's probably no shortage of people willing to pay to live in your spare bedroom, attic or basement -- especially anyone who's been through foreclosure and can't rent or buy a new place. If you're a renter, however, before you take in another renter, just make sure you're not violating the terms of your rental contract by letting someone else live with you.

As you can see, there are lots of options available to those in need of quick cash. So no matter how tight things get, if you can avoid it, stay away from payday loans at all costs.


Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'

 

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Technology Specialist Faydra Deon Talks 'Getting Through Giving,' Teaching & Twitter Branding

January 12, 2011, 8:25 am
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What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Faydra Deon Fields, and my day job is as a Computer Applications trainer. I'm also a web designer/developer, and I write several columns for Examiner.com.

What are some of the misconceptions people have about celebrities and their money?
One misconceptions that seems to be prevalent is that all celebrities live extravagant lives. It's true that rich and/or wealthy people can afford to live extravagantly, but celebrities understand that to do so, with abandon, is the very thing that will diminish riches and/or wealth. Many celebrities are very fiscally responsible, even if there are those whose extravagant lifestyles eventually catch up to them.

What surprised you the most about the financial side of your industry?
The thing that surprised me most is the disparity between what we pay teachers/trainers to teach adults a skill and what teachers are paid to teach children an entire range of core curriculum subjects that are the foundation for children's academic and life success.

As a computer applications trainer, I teach adults. Several years ago, I taught eight-grade American Studies in Tulsa, OK. The pay for teaching middle school is modest, even though teaching children is rewarding in the fact that I loved educating and growing with my students.

However, as a teacher of adults, especially teaching adults to use popular software applications and web design/development languages, my salary is almost triple my middle school pay.

How has Twitter helped you in building your brand and running your business?
I started tweeting back in March of 2009. At first, it was just a fun way to connect with people and "chat" in real-time. About four months later, I got the idea from (and asked permission of) another tweeter to start asking a daily question. Most of her questions were about relationships, and I wanted to branch out into other subjects. She was gracious enough to share her idea with me, and I eventually took the whole thing to another level. After about five or six days of my questions and people answering, another tweeter suggested that I start a blog and post the answers to the questions so others could read the whole string of opinions/perspectives/points of view.

I did start the blog, and I continued to interact and engage with the people who follow me, and I built up a positive rapport with them. Based on adding "my 2 cents" to the questions I asked, people began to DM (direct message) me with personal questions, asking for advice about this or that subject, and I gained a reputation for being someone who listens, who cares and who's willing to be of assistance. That, more than anything, has served to help build my brand. I've been able to brand "Faydra Deon" and my avatar, which I use on every website and social media site to which I'm joined. The same avatar of me is even on the cover of a book about Twitter, written by a colleague of mine. It was a great feeling to get a tweet from a lady that said, "I saw your face on the cover of a book in Barnes & Noble."

When I started the 'My Question of the Day' blog in July 2009, I got about 21,000 hits that month. A year later, when I checked my statistics, I was averaging over 300,000 hits per month. This month, I'm slated to reach close to 500,000 hits, and if you search 'question of the day' on Google, you'll see the 'My Question of the Day' blog on the first page. Although I've branched out to other social media sites, Twitter was and is my main source for information sharing. Even when I'm sleeping, I have tweets going out on auto-post so that those who are awake have the opportunity to weigh in on my daily questions and take advantage of the other content on my blog.

It's interesting to me when I receive tweets from people who want to know how much money I make from the links I tweet. None of my links are affiliate links. Not one of my links take you to any content where I, Faydra Deon, am trying to sell you anything. As a matter of fact, my entire blog, except for one tab labeled Support, is free of any advertising whatsoever. When I tweet links to movie trailers, polls, contests and other information on the 'My Question of the Day' blog, the content at the end of that link is totally for the enjoyment of the visitor, not to put money in my pocket. Any ads that may appear there are not mine, but they belong to the supplier of the free content that I embed on my pages. All the prizes I give away, I buy out of my own pocket. I do this to thank those who comment on my daily and other questions, because without their input the blog would be worthless. I don't even mention the blog's Support tab in any of my tweets or on any of the posts and pages on my blog, nor do I participate in sponsored tweets. Nonetheless, Twitter has been lucrative for me.

It's in the giving that I've eventually gotten. Let me explain. As I mentioned before, people ask me questions about personal issues, but they also ask me questions about computer applications and web design/development; many of those web design/development questions being about WordPress, one of the most popular blogging platforms in the Web 2.0 world. I'm happy to answer those questions at no expense to the inquirer, and other people who benefit from someone else's questions will seek me out to partner with them for web design/development projects. Once I do a good job for those clients, they recommend me to others. These new clients recommend me to others, and it has snowballed from there. I currently have about 20 web projects in the works, and I'd have to admit that about 90% of those jobs came from and through connections I made on Twitter.

Web design/development is where I make my money, and I don't ask for clients on Twitter. I tweet about what I'm teaching my students, I tweet about web work I'm doing and I answer people's WordPress questions. From that, I get paid to do the second thing I love; build/enhance websites and blogs. My first love is teaching.

Twitter has allowed me to earn a supplemental income doing what I teach, and I freely teach what I do when they come to me with questions about the web.

Do you have any financial and professional advice for aspiring Internet celebs out there?
Believe in your abilities, step out on faith, show up and stay consistent.

What upcoming projects do you have in store for us?
I'm working on a journaling series right now. The series will be available in hardcopy, for those who like to write, and it will be available online, for those who'd rather type. I'll also be building an online community around the series. It's called the '30-30' series, but you'll have to "stay tuned" to learn any more about it.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
I'm here to help, and I'm willing to help, in any capacity that I can be of assistance to anyone.

If I could do it all, I would, and when it's out of my areas of expertise, I'll work with you to make every effort to get you to the right person, place or thing.

Check me out at http://faydra.com, and see what I'm all about. Let me know what I can do for you.

 

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As Iverson Hangs Up the Sneakers, Let's Hope He's Not Another Statistic

January 12, 2011, 9:02 am
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I only saw Allen Iverson play in person one time during his storied and remarkable basketball career. It was in New York, where he put a special hurting on the Knicks. Stephen A. Smith was in attendance, and it was also the first time I'd been in the same space as either man.

Of course Iverson was more dazzling in person than he'd ever appeared on TV. You could easily argue that by being equally good at football and basketball as a high school athlete, Iverson was one of the greatest athletes of all time. As a high school player, Iverson led his team to state championships in both sports, and he was also Mr. Football in the state of Virigina. As a professional, he continued to be an athletic machine rarely seen at any level of professional sports.

Allen was supposed to be a statistic. He was abandoned by his dad after being born to a 15-year old single mother. His arrest during a bowling alley brawl in 1994 threatened to derail his chances of playing at the college level. He's also had some peculiar off-the-court incidents during his time as a professional athlete, all of which made his life an interesting thing to observe.

Iverson persevered, peaked and then declined as so many athletes do. All throughout the history of sports, many of us are fooled into thinking that our favorite superstar will never get old. We don't believe he will ever lose his magical ability to win, the pep in his step or his ability to jump out of the gym. Instead, the knees get rusty, the feet start to hurt, the gray hairs begin showing up one by one, and then you realize that your time has come to an end.

Iverson's career decline came abruptly, far sooner than anyone expected. At the age of 35, most of us thought A.I. had four more good years left. After all, Michael Jordan played his best basketball between the ages of 36 and 38. But something happened to Iverson over the past three years, like Superman taking off his cape and putting on a pair of kryptonite shackles. Rather than watching the man who could accomplish anything, it was like observing an old guy who didn't realize that he belonged in the farm league. It became sad to watch Iverson, like Muhammad Ali in his last days as a heavyweight.

Unfortunately, when you start losing, people begin to remember that they once thought you were a jerk. Iverson is known for not exactly being the ideal teammate and causing his coaches more than a few headaches. Similar to the case of former Indiana University coach Bobby Knight, teams had no interest in Iverson when they realized that he could no longer win. Iverson wasn't eligible for the same veteran respect that might be dealt to guys like Tim Duncan, who are nice to you even when they don't have to be.

As Iverson hangs up his Turkish sneakers and comes back to the United States, I worry about him. My greatest concern is that the man who spent his entire life trying not to become a statistic may be on his way to becoming one. Rumors of alcohol and gambling problems plague Iverson, and I'm sure that his recent divorce won't be cheap. Now that the NBA riches are gone, Iverson may, sadly enough, be reduced to yet another black man with no money, numerous financial obligations and a bunch of self-destructive habits. Iverson's story makes me think about Lorenzen Wright, the former NBA player who was murdered while allegedly selling drugs. It reminds me of Antoine Walker, who earned over $100 million during his career and is now bankrupt. I even think about the case of Melvin Turpin, another former player with very little education who left the league and shot himself after working for years as a security guard. I fear that Iverson's story won't have a pretty ending and I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

Let's hope that A.I. finds himself and continues to be the great man in life that he was in sports. The same determination, focus and commitment it took for Iverson to become one of the greatest athletes in history can also be applied to helping him succeed after basketball. You can do it A.I., I have faith in you.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the Athlete Liberation and Academic Reform Movement (ALARM). To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Italian Protestors Say 'No' to Spike Lee as College Lecturer

January 12, 2011, 9:08 am
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Italian Protestors Say 'No' to Spike Lee as College Lecturer

A small group of protesters are up in arms about director Spike Lee's upcoming appearance as a guest speaker at a small Chicago suburban college at their upcoming week-long Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. festivities.


North Central College in Naperville, Illinois is touting the famed filmmaker's appearance as "the first major public event during its Sesquicentennial year." "An Evening with Spike Lee" is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 18 and will be held in Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center with an admission price of $20 per person. Now, the Italic Institute of America (IIA), an advocacy group, wants to put the kabosh on the highly anticipated event.

According to Bill Dal Cerro, president of IIA, said the filmmaker's portrayal of Italian-Americans is distorted and conflicts with the civil rights leader's message of unity. "Having Lee speak at an event honoring Dr. King is akin to having Maury Povich as the guest speaker at a Happy Marriage Convention," he said in a news release.

The organization has, in the past, zeroed in on and launched campaigns against all forms of media and public figures who are guilty of portraying Italians and Italian-Americans in a demeaning light and depicting them in a harmful stereotypical way.

The organization and Lee have butted heads before -- they have publicly criticized the filmmaker for his portrayal of Italian-Americans in "Do the Right Thing," "Summer of Sam" and "Jungle Fever" and they have also bellyached about "Miracle at St. Anna," Lee's World War II drama set in Italy.

Now the group is trying desperately to get North Central College officials to ban Lee from next week's traditional cultural festivities. Will their pressure tactics work?

When AOL Blackspin contacted Ted Slowik, director of Public Relations and Media Relations for the college, he responded to the hoopla by stating:

"Spike Lee is still coming. One of the reasons we invite keynote speakers like Spike Lee is to provide an opportunity for our students to engage in thought and dialogue about issues of race and social activism -- topics that Lee has addressed in his films. North Central College has a long history of building bridges among cultures, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s visit to the campus in 1960 is one of many examples of how the college has provided forums for thought-provoking dialogue throughout its 150-year history."

'Nough said!




 

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Biracial Hair-Care and Styling Tips

January 12, 2011, 10:00 am
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You might remember that episode of 'The Game' where white mom Kelly (played by Brittany Daniels) struggled to style her biracial half-black daughter's hair. Sure, we got a great laugh out of it, but while that scene lasted only seconds, it reflected a splice of real life that many moms (and dads) encounter every day. And not just white moms. Having a hair texture different from your child's can lead to a number of styling mistakes, from overwashing to undermoisturizing -- and worse -- applying unnecessary chemicals.

Finally, help is here! So Blackvoices decided to help all moms who are raising girls with texured ringlets out.

We talked to Miko Branch, the co-CEO, co-founder and creative director of top haircare line Miss Jessie's and celebrity hairstylist Anthony Dickey, the owner of the salon and haircare line Hair Rules, who's also styled the heads of Michelle Obama, Andre 3000 and Alicia Keys. After years of caring for their own hair and the manes of others, Branch and Dickey understand the challenges you face when your daughter doesn't share the same texture.

And with the advice from our top experts, you'll finally be able to style your child's textured hair just as well as your own.

Related Links:Determine which category your child's hair falls

Evaluate your child's hair texture. Is it thin and wavy or thick and tightly coiled? Is it somewhere in between? "Each [progressive] texture is a naturally drier texture," says Dickey, whose products focus on returning moisture to parched hair. Keep in mind that the more texture (read: coarser) you child's hair is, the more time and product you have to use.

WAVY

Celeb Examples: Persia White, Mariah Carey

This consistency may be the easiest type of biracial hair to style, since it might be close to your own texture. "Wavy hair, which is not tightly coiled, should be the least challenging," says Miko.

Try This: Pigtails. After shampooing, conditioning and detangling, apply Hair Rules Wavy Mousse ($10-20, hairrules.com) to wet hair. Comb through and blow dry with a diffuser or allow hair to air-dry. Then, divide hair in half and wrap a ponytail holder, such as Goody Ouchless No Metal Gentle Ponytail Holders ($3; walgreens.com) around each side.

CURLY

Celeb Examples: Alicia Keys, Corrine Bailey Rae

According to Miko, "Curly hair might more time to style, because the texture is a little more intricate, and not as loose and wavy,"

Style Idea: Loose Curls. After shampooing, conditioning and detangling, apply Hair Rules Curly Whip ($10-32, hairrules.com) to soaking wet hair. Comb through, and set wet hair under a portable hood dryer, such as Conair Pro Style Hard Hat Dryer ($32, target.com).


TIGHTLY COILED

Celeb Examples: Rachel True, Barack Obama

"Tightly coiled hair requires a little bit more hairdoing [because] it's very strong in personality and pretty much does what it wants," says Miko.

Style Idea: Two-strand twists. "Two-strand twists or flat twists are great style options for a child with kinky or curly hair simply because for two days, the twists can be worn in a twist style, and for two days, the twist can be unraveled and worn curly. It also gives the parents a break and helps to preserve the hair and keep it from being loose and unkempt for days at a time," Dickey says.

After shampooing, conditioning and detangling, section and saturate soaking wet hair with a moisturizing cream like Hair Rules Kinky Curling Cream ($10-32, hairrules.com). Then, starting at the bottom, divide wet hair and shingle (see below for shingling instructions). After shingling, divide hair into sections with an elastic band, such as Goody hairhints Ouchless Elastic Hair Bands ($4, maxdelivery.com). Tightly twist hair by crossing one section over the other and repeating. Secure the ends with the elastic band. Repeat each section until the entire head is completed, and remember to use the spray bottle when needed to keep the hair wet while styling. Allow hair to air-dry.

Below, check out 5 essential steps for maintaining and styling your child's curly hair.

STEP 1: Moisture is always key.

A moisturizing shampoo and conditioner is a must, no matter what texture. "When hair is dry it can be very fragile," says Miko. "We want to add moisture back in." Try cleansing and conditioning with super-moisturizing products like Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Perfect Curls Duo ($35, carolsdaughter.com). Next, apply a deep conditioner like Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner ($10-50, rickysnyc.com). Afterwards, rinse most, but not all, of the conditioner out. According to Miko, It's good to leave a little deep conditioner in because it makes detangling so much easier.

STEP 2: Save her scalp: detangle while wet so it doesn't hurt.

After deep-conditioning, apply a detangler, such as lightly-scented Miss Jessie's Baby ButterCreme ($9 to $58, missjessies.com) for tots and Mizani D'Tangle Moisturizing Leave-in Milk ($13.50, beautysecretusa.com) for teens. Gently run a wide-toothed comb, such as a Carbon X Wide Tooth Comb ($5.99, rickysnyc.com), through the child's hair.


STEP 3: Sectioning and shingling helps make styling easier.

This step is especially useful to thicker or coarser manes. Divide the hair into sections to make the styling process easier and more organized. To divide, use hair clips, such as such as Slik Stik Big Locks Pro Styling Clips ($9.99, beautyencounter.com) Then, try shingling, a styling method created at Miss Jessie's. "Shingling is applying product and smoothing out the product on your hair using your fingers. It's flattening the hair and stretching it out to its maximum length while the hair is wet," Miko says.

STEP 4: Wetter is better!

Since styling thicker and tightly coiled hair can take more time, sometimes the hair can dry before you're finished styling it. Fill a cheap plastic spray bottle, like this one from Soft'n Style ($1.49, giell.com), with warm water, re-wetting strands when necessary. According to Miko, "That water bottle is going to help keep things hydrated and moisturized and manageable, while you're washing, detangling, conditioning or styling hair."

STEP 5: Finish and preserve.

When you're done, spray a shine mist such as KeraCare Oil Sheen with Humidity Block ($6.43, vivabella.com) to lock in the style WHAT STYLE ARE YOU REFERRING TO? THIS TEXTURE SHOULD BE BRAIDED OR TWISTED AT NIGHT. At night, tie on a satin scarf, such as the Magic Satin Hair Scarf ($6.79, amazon.com) to keep the hair from drying out on your pillow.

Now that the knot-pulling, crying days are over, you've realized how bonding hairstyling can be. As Miko says: "There's also a lot of attention and love when a mom or dad is caring for the kid's hair. That care and love really transcends above styling strategies."

 

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Ted Williams Not Arrested, But Checking Into Rehab

January 12, 2011, 11:01 am
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Ted Williams Arrested: No Fun Watching Ted Williams Suffer, Ted Williams Rehab


If you are the troubled type of person who enjoys the senselessly cruel entertainment provided by bull fighting or dogfights, I suggest you go to YouTube and check out the 'Dr. Phil' appearance by golden voice Ted Williams this week.

Yes, if you enjoy seeing living things suffer, this show is for you.

It's been tough enough watching Williams, homeless until becoming an Internet sensation thanks to his booming voice, bumble his way through interview after interview since fame tapped him on the shoulder.

And don't forget the creepy televised reunion with his mother in which Williams, 53, repeats the words "hi, mommy" like an addled child.

But watching Williams exposed on the 'Dr. Phil' show this week made me turn away.





I understand that to some folks, watching Williams confront his many personal demons with a television quack is like watching a car wreck or going to the freak show at the country fair. Sometimes, the odd, the uncomfortable and the unusual in life can be strangely compelling.

But watching Williams squirm while facing angry questioning from his kids was too much for me to take.

It seems inhumane to put this man on television and expose him to questions about his addictions and other problems that caused him to be homeless for almost 20 years.

I'm sure Dr. Phil didn't put a gun to Williams' head to appear on the show. Williams may, in fact, have even made a boatload of cash on the deal. But I'm here to say that in the long run, it won't be worth it.

With his long past of drug addiction, petty crime and general buffoonery, we know that decision-making is not Williams' strong suit. So if I have one wish for Williams, it is that he get a good advisor to help guide his thinking on future public appearances.

I mean who, in their right mind, suggested to him that going on national television with his bitterly estranged children so soon after achieving international fame was a good idea?

In fact, you can add a financial advisor, accountant and dentist to that list of folks that Williams should see before booking his next television appearance.

The only possible positive I've heard to come out of the "Dr. Phil" appearance is that Williams said he will check himself into a drug-alcohol rehab facility.


I'm sure it's not the first time Williams is trying to sober up. But with some hard work and a real desire for change, it just might work this time. If that happens, the shame and embarrassment Williams suffered on the show might be worthwhile.


 

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Spinderella, Sway Join Forces for McDonald's DJ Flavor Battle

January 12, 2011, 12:08 pm
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It's no secret - McDonald's is one major brand that's committed to the black community. From their Men of McCafe initiative to their annual 365 Black Awards, the fast food chain continuously looks for different ways to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans.

Last December, McDonald's and Complex magazine teamed up to curate a list of 12 talented DJs from across the country. The top three DJs, DJ Jayceeoh, DJ Hella Yella and DJ Steph Floss from the East, West and Mid-West were chosen to compete for a grand prize of $10,000.Last night (Jan.11), McDonald's brought together Def Jam's platinum-selling rapper Fabolous to host their first-ever Flavor Battle DJ Finale Competition at Arena nightclub in New York City. Famed DJ of legendary hip-hop act Salt 'N' Pepa, Spinderella, Miami Heat DJ Irie and Disturbing the Peace producer and former Motown REcords rapper Rich Nice were the celebrity judges for the competition. And, MTV personality Sway was on-hand conducting live Twitter updates from the event on his @realsway handle.

" I commend them for showcasing the world of DJs,"," Spinderella said. "That's my world. For them to put their heart into a DJ battle, it kind of helps to cultivate my art and it gives the newer DJs some shine. It's a really good thing."

The radio personality, who now appears on Dallas R&B station 94.5, said that being a DJ is no joke. "A DJ is the cornerstone of the industry. A good DJ should be able to rock a party and be entertaining, have the best selections and there's the technical aspects of the turntable skill level."

Of course, everywhere Spinderella goes she gets asked about Salt 'N' Pepa reunions.

"We just won an Icon Award with BET and I hadn't spoken to them or talked to them in months before we can get together for that," she said. "Right now, they are doing a tour and I'm not on it, but I wish them well and I'm supportive of them regardless."

"That's my history right there and those are the girls that taught me how to be in this industry," she added. "You never know, the future might have us back together soon. The doors are open."

For Sway, being "Twitter Host" of the festivities and bringing his wealth of hip hop knowledge to the table made for a great partnership with McDonald's. "McDonald's has really made an effort to reach the hip-hop community and they are really doing it in a honest way," Sway, who still maintains presence with his 'Sway and Tech: Wake Up Show' on the hip-hop radio station Power 106 in Los Angeles and KKUU 92.7 in Palm Springs, said.

"People who grew up in hip hop culture have had some product from McDonalds so it is a natural fit," he added. "By having DJ Spinderella and having DJ Irie, and Rich Nice, I think it lends some credibility to it and I'm always on the lookout for new talent."

This year marks Sway's tenth year with MTV. He's also managing rapper Saigon and working on a hip hop canvas project 'When Art Imitates Life' with OkayPlayer and The Roots.

"MTV has been a blessing. I've been there twice as long as Carson Daly was," he noted. "That's a big accomplishment."

"When I came on MTV I wasn't the first African American to work there but I definitely put my ethnicity up front and wanted people to know I identified with them," he added.

DJ Jayceeoh from the East Coast ended up taking home the grand prize.

For more information on McDonald's hip hop initiative, visit www.FlavorBattle.com.

 

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Sarah Palin Accuses the Media of Creating a 'Blood Libel' Against Her

January 12, 2011, 12:08 pm
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Sarah Palin appears to be a little heated these days. The well-known Republican is lashing out at the media in the wake of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was shot by a gunman who also killed six others and injured 14 people this week in Tuscon, Arizona.

After the shooting, critics noted that Palin had created a map with bulls eye cross-hairs to point out the districts of her political enemies. Giffords' district was one of the spots noted on the map. Long before the shooting, Giffords warned that Palin's words could lead to violence against elected officials, and the criticism of Palin's words grew exponentially after Giffords was shot.

In an eight-minute video, Palin lashed back at the media, claiming that they were being unfair by suggesting that she had anything to do with Giffords' shooting. She went on to use the term "blood libel," which has offended many as being an anti-Semitic remark. The term "blood libel" makes reference to those who believed that Jews killed non-Jewish (mostly Christian) children to get blood for the Passover ceremony. The use of the term has led to anti-semitic behavior and the murder of millions of Jews throughout history.

Palin has been known for a series of very disturbing public gaffes that have led even her fellow Republicans to question whether or not she should be president. She didn't know that Africa was a continent. She accidentally stated that North Korea was a US ally. She has also used nasty and divisive language to create the heated political environment which exists in America right now.

Palin's use of the term "blood libel" is merely a continuation of the politician's use of irresponsible and malicious language that hurts and offends. Gabrielle Giffords happens to be Jewish, which only serves to make matters worse. So, in addition to using conservative political language that many say might have played a role in the Giffords shooting, Palin is now being accused of using anti-Semitic language to defend herself against allegations of playing a role in recent events. This is just a bad week for Sarah.

I've mentioned personally that Palin must look in the mirror when assessing whether or not she contributed to what happened to Gabrielle Giffords. Even if her words didn't inspire Giffords' shooter, they certainly influenced the many death threats being received by President Obama and Democrats who've supported him. Palin can scream and yell about the injustice all day, but nothing compares to the suffering being endured by Gabrielle Giffords and the people who were shot this week. Perhaps Sarah Palin needs to sit down and be quiet for a while, it might be time to retreat.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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In Music, Sade Garners Most NAACP Image Awards Nominations

January 12, 2011, 1:09 pm
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Sade has garnered the most music category nominations for this year's 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards.

Led by Nigerian chanteuse Helen Folasade Adu, the Epic Records act was nominated for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Music Video ('Soldier of Love'), Outstanding Song ('Soldier of Love'), and Outstanding Album ('Soldier of Love').

Other artists who snagged nominations include Maxwell, Alicia Keys, Usher, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Willow Smith, and Nicki Minaj.


The 2011 NAACP Image Awards will air March 4 at 8pm EST on FOX. See the full list of Image Award nominees.


Sade, which includes fellow band members Stuart Colin Matthewman (guitar), Paul Spencer Denman (bass), and Andrew Hale (keyboards), has produced such eternally memorable albums as 'Diamond Life', 'Promise', and 'Stronger Than Pride', just to name a few.


Not only a mega talent, she is also one of the most interesting singers to emerge within the last 30 years. Her ability to communicate powerful messages of love and truth in her music in a way that transcends time and space, in addition to her mystique, and of course distinctive voice, have resulted in her legendary status.


Sade, who will celebrate her 52nd birthday this Sunday, returned to the music scene last year after an almost 10-year hiatus with the release of 'Soldier of Love.' In response to her highly anticipated return, Sade's dedicated fans gave the band its first No.1 debut on the Billboard 200, with 502,000 copies of the 'Soldier' album sold in its first week.

2010 saw many public appearances for the singer, who generally avoids the media spotlight. Sade was seen on the 'Wanda Sykes Show,' BET's '106 & Park,' and the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' among other high profile venues.

And speaking of venues, a world tour was recently announced, with the North American leg of the tour kicking off June 16 in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

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Only Black Arizona GOP Official Resigns Because of Threats

January 12, 2011, 3:30 pm
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There's been a lot of talk over the past few day about whether or not the vitriolic rhetoric coming from Republican and Tea Party types contributed to the horrendous shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and murder of six others.

Now, the only black Republican official in the state of Arizona, a district party chairman named Anthony Miller, announced he was resigning in the wake of the shootings because of "constant verbal attacks" including being called a boy and having someone form their hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him.

"I wasn't going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday," Miller said. "I love the Republican Party but I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."

What has Miller done to be concerned about threats you ask? Well, he simply supported Sen. John McCain over the preferred Tea Party candidate.

The Arizona Republic writes:



Miller said when he was a member of McCain's campaign staff last year has been criticized by the more conservative party members who supported Republican opponent J.D. Hayworth. The first and only African-American to hold the party's precinct chairmanship, Miller said he has been called "McCain's boy," and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him.

Miller also said that someone said: "There's Anthony, get a rope," at one event.

In the words of Jay-Z: I thought this was America people.

Why should anyone face death threats because they support a candidate that you don't? The threats that Miller says he faced, including being called a boy and having someone make a threatening gesture with their hands formed into the shape of a gun reminds me of something that would have happened to blacks in the South fighting for the right to vote. Behavior like this strikes at the foundation of our Democratic ideals.

And it's not like John McCain is a liberal. Tea Party members, listening to the gun rhetoric of people like Palin, are heading off the deep edge.

The assassination attempt of Giffords and Miller's concerns should be a wake-up call for the Republican Party, Tea Party, Sarah Palins, Glenn Becks and Rush Limbaughs of this country. Their destructive political rhetoric is endangering people's lives.

Giffords predicted that this over hyped rhetoric would have "consequences" after her office was attacked last year in the wake of the debate of the health care debate.

For Miller, the mass shooting was the final straw. The day of the Arizona shooting massacre, Miller said his wife of 20 years asked if some of the members of his committee would shoot at their home. A few hours later, Miller resigned.

Who can blame him?

 

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What To Watch: Critics Choice Movie Awards, 'The Social Network' DVD, '5 Girls' Documentary

January 13, 2011, 12:45 am
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The 16th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards will air live on VH1 on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 9:00 PM ET/PT from the Hollywood Palladium.

The Darren Aronofsky-directed pic 'Black Swan,' about a ballerina dealing with deep psychological issues earned the biggest noms tally (12) from the 150 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

This year's Critics' Choice Movie Awards will feature an array of presenters including Hank Azaria, Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Jesse Eisenberg, Jon Hamm, Ed Helms, Rob Huebel, the Kardashians (Khloe, Kim & Kourtney), Jimmy Kimmel, Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Joan Rivers, Tim Roth, Paul Scheer, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Spacey, Emma Stone and Sofia Vergara.

In the picture category, 'Black Swan' will vie against '127 Hours,' 'The Fighter,' 'Inception,' 'The King's Speech,' 'The Social Network,' 'The Town,' 'Toy Story 3,' 'True Grit' and 'Winter's Bone.'

Historically, the Critics' Choice Movie Awards are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations.

Maroon 5 will also be on hand as this year's house band performing during the show as well as the live pre-show.

Winner of several accolades, including Best Picture from various film critics groups, David Fincher's 'The Social Network' is now available on home video.

The film is the stunning tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever. Shot through with emotional brutality and unexpected humor, this superbly crafted film chronicles the formation of Facebook and the battles over ownership that followed upon the website's unfathomable success.

With a complex, incisive screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and a brilliant cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, 'The Social Network' bears witness to the birth of an idea that rewove the fabric of society even as it unraveled the friendship of its creators.

Bonus features on the DVD include audio commentary with David Fincher, audio commentary with writer Aaron Sorkin & the cast, 'How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?: feature length documentary,' and Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and David Fincher on the Score.

For two years, Kartemquin filmmaker Maria Finitzo follows five strong young women between the ages of 13 and 17. Unlike the mainstream media who portray young women as passive, powerless or mean, '5 Girls' explores the ways these girls navigate adolescence. It focuses on the positive ways that girls learn to adapt to challenges in their lives by understanding and exercising choices, by resisting powerful cultural messages and by believing in their strength when others do not.

Watch more free documentaries

 

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

January 13, 2011, 1:46 am
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Obama Speech Tucson

President Barack Obama has done it again.

Like Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals with 10 seconds left on the clock, the president sank the speech that would help shape his presidency for much of 2011.

Utilizing his opportunity to address the nation after the unfortunate shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the Obama speech in Tucson, Ariz., was reflective of the decency that allows our president to transcend the pettiness of his adversaries: He stood his ground without fighting his enemies and reminded the country that "we can all do better."

The president encouraged those listening to communicate "in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." The Obama speech also conceded that there is no way to know who was responsible for the shooting that killed six and injured 13 others.

He did say, though, that our nation's polarized political conversation can be handled in a way that is respectful and productive:

"I believe we can be better," said Obama. "Those who died here, those who saved lives here -- they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."

The president shared personal notes about all of those who died in the shooting. He also stated that it is okay to engage in debates on gun control and the killer's reasons for shooting his victims. At the same time, he explained that the rhetoric need not be malicious in order to be meaningful:

"At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do, it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds."

The president also shocked the crowd by informing the audience that Giffords opened her eyes for the first time during his visit to the hospital.

The Obama speech also struck an emotional chord with the crowd by reflecting on 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, the only child who was killed that day. The president noted that Christina was the only girl on her little league team and wanted to become the first woman to compete in Major League Baseball. He also noted that she was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and that there was a picture of her in a book about 9/11 babies, where she is splashing in a rain puddle.

"I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it," Obama said. "If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today."

One of Obama's greatest political assets is himself.

When he addresses the public, he is able to influence and impress with his smooth rhetorical abilities and extraordinary charisma. While I am not interested in even beginning to compare President Obama with Martin Luther King Jr., he does share a sense of dignity in his presentation that reminds us of the great one. History will surely remember this man forever.

Watch President Obama in one of his greatest moments here:







Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.

 

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

January 13, 2011, 3:27 am
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In a very compelling article, The Economist magazine stepped away from its standard delivery of international political updates to dig deeply into the experience of the African American woman. In the article, economists analyze dating for black women as a market, where men and women enter the market to search for a suitable mate.

The author starts off with a simple example to help make his point. He says "IMAGINE that the world consists of 20 men and 20 women, all of them heterosexual and in search of a mate. Since the numbers are even, everyone can find a partner. But what happens if you take away one man?"

Then, citing the work of Tim Harford, an economist in England, the author says that because one out of the 20 women faces the possibility of never finding a husband, she tries harder to get a man, perhaps by dressing more seductively or doing things the other women might not do. She may even steal a man from someone else. This then affects what other women do to find and keep their own men, and also the behavior of the men themselves.


The example used by Harford describes, to some, the challenges that black women face in the age of mass incarceration. In the United States, one in nine black men between the ages of 20 and 29 is in jail or prison. Not only are currently incarcerated men typically ineligible for women to date, many women avoid dating ex-convicts. In the US, those who've been formerly incarcerated have difficulty finding jobs, and some may have been infected with venereal disease as a result of prison rape or other forms of sexual activity resulting from their time in prison. Scientists have linked the spread of sexually transmitted disease within the black community back to prisons and jails.


The author says that the explosion in incarceration between 1970 and 2007 can be linked to the fact that the proportion of married African American women dropped from 62% to 33% over the same time period. Two scholars cited in the article, Kerwin Kofi Charles and Ming Ching, also argue that prison has played a huge role in the drop in marital rates for black women. Their analysis determined that a one percentage point increase in the incarceration rate resulted in a 2.4 percent decline in the proportion of black women who get married.

According to the analysis, less-educated black women suffer the most in the social asymmetry that has occurred over the last 40 years. As of 2007, the Pew Research Center says that only 11% of black women aged 30 - 44 without a high school diploma had a spouse with a job. But although less-educated women are getting the shortest end of the stick, things are not so easy for educated women either.

"I thought I was a catch," a black female doctor told The Economist. "It's like, what are you going to do extra, to get his attention?"

Nearly everyone has something to say about this imbalance between men and women in the African American community. Even the comedian Steve Harvey encourages women to "think like men" in order to get what they want. I personally don't find Harvey's approach to be appealing, since the last thing I'd want to date is a woman who thinks like a dude. Also, the implication that relationship warfare should be conquered with more warfare just leads to an even greater mess than the one we have today. Love should not be about war, winning or any kind of competition; that's why it's called "love" and not something else.

With that said, a few things can be done to help deal with the breakdown of black families in the age of mass incarceration. First, our own relationships should be analyzed and managed on a micro level. The deep-seated dysfunction of the African American family requires careful reflection on the things that keep us from loving one another properly. Reading books written by certified relationship experts who scientifically study this problem for a living can go a long way in helping all of us to understand the day-to-day decisions and care necessary to make our relationships work. Many black men and women suffer deep psychological scars from their own anger toward a parent who may not have done their job properly. When we bring this anger into our relationships, we can end up destroying one situation after another without even realizing what we're doing. As my friend Terrie Williams, author of 'Black Pain,' likes to say, "Hurt people, hurt people," and black folks are pretty good at hurting one another.

The second thing we must do is address the broader macro-political roots of this problem. The issue of mass incarceration of African American men affects us all, not just black men. These men are our sons, fathers, brothers and (for black women) potential husbands. We must all demand that our political leaders (starting with the Congressional Black Caucus, President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder) find ways to acknowledge this problem and help us to create solutions to the fact that so many men are being sent away for decades without any hope of returning to their families in a healthy way. Even if draconian sentencing is not done away with, prisons can be a place of rehabilitation and opportunities to create a better life for the children you've left behind. Keeping these men out of the job market and making them political non-entities long after they've done their time speaks to a larger, more insidious effort to destroy the African American family either via apathy, racism or devious financial incentives.

This problem must be solved, and we must do whatever it takes to fix it. Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the "Never Going Back" initiative to challenge mass incarceration. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Kem's 'Intimacy' To Be Displayed On New Tour With El Debarge & Ledisi

January 13, 2011, 4:12 am
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Kem's hitting the road again - and this time bringing old-school crooner El DeBarge and vocal powerhouse Ledisi along for the ride.

The Universal Motown artist will kick off his 'Intimacy' tour in support of his latest album Feb.17 at the Hobby Center Sarofim Hall in Houston. Complete tour dates are listed below.

Last summer, the 'Love Calls' singer hit the road on the Budweiser Superfest tour and documented his experience exclusively via his very own 'On The Road Again' blog with BlackVoices.com, something her called "an incredible opportunity."The Detroit native went on to earntwo Grammy Award nominations: Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, for his new single 'Why Would You Stay.' He was also named one of 2011's '8 Great Grammy Nominees' by Entertainment Weekly magazine.

'Intimacy,' which is Kem's third album, topped the iTunes Top R&B Albums chart and also made it to #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart.
According to a rep for Kem, west coast tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks.


Kem 'Intimacy' Complete Tour Dates:

Feb.17 Hobby Ctr. Sarofim Hall Houston, TX
Feb.18 Verizon Theatre Dallas/Grand Prairie, TX
Feb.19 UNO Lakefront Arena New Orleans, LA
Feb.20 BJCC Concert Hall Birmingham, AL
Feb. 24 Theater at MSG (no Ledisi) New York City, NY
Feb.25 Tower Theatre Philadelphia, PA
Feb.26 Venue TBD Atlantic City, NJ
Feb.27 Landmark Theater Richmond, VA
March 3 Schuster PAC: Mead TH. Dayton, OH
March 4 TPAC Nashville, TN
March 5 FOX Theatre St. Louis, MO
March 6 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN
March 10 Moran Theatre Charleston, SC
March 11 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
March 12 Township Theatre Columbia, SC
March 13 PAC Theatre Charleston, SC
March 17 State Theatre Cleveland, OH
March 18 Constitution Hall Washington, D.C.
March 19 Constitution Hall Washington, D.C.
March 20 Meyerhoff Sym. Hall (no El) Baltimore, MD
March 24 Dow Events Theater Saginaw, MI
March 25 Fox Theatre Detroit, MI
March 26 Auditorium Theatre Chicago, IL
March 27 Palace Theatre Louisville, KY
March 31 Chrysler Hall Norfolk, VA
April 1 Ovens Auditorium Charlotte, NC
April 2 Bell Auditorium Augusta, GA
April 3 Festival C.A.A. Tampa/St. Pete



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Black Music Notes June 2

6/2/10: Ryan Leslie
Singer-songwriter Ryan Leslie is set to make a special appearance at New York's Bowery Ballroom on June 22 and 23. Leslie, who recently wrapped up his international tour with Ne-Yo, will also give fans a preview of select songs from his third solo project 'Les Is More.' Doors open at 7 pm.

Black Music Notes June 2

6/2/10: Dr. Dre
Hip Hop's favorite music physician, Dr. Dre will be honored with the ASCAP Founders Award at this year's Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. The 23rd annual event, which is set to take place June 25 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, will honor Dre for his musical legacy and influence. "Dre is one of the most important voices in modern music," said ASCAP president Paul Williams. "He created a unique, recognizable sound that dominated rap music in the early '90s...and continues to inspire artists and producers across all genres with his musical techniques."

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Kanye West
Despite shying away from the media since his 2009 MTV Video Music Award tirade, Kanye West is slowing making his way back into the spotlight. Last weekend in Manhattan, West made a special appearance at club CV and it turned into a mini album listening party of his forthcoming opus. "Kanye leaned over and said, 'Play track three,'" DJ Scram Jones told MTV News. "They all went nuts, Kid Cudi was dancing on the table, and then we cut it off at about a minute-and-a-half ... By the end of the process, we played four records."

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Robert Cray
Five-time Grammy Award-winner Robert Cray is set to release his new live album entitled 'Cookin' In Mobile' on July 27. The 13-song project , which features a bonus DVD with behind the scenes footage, was recorded earlier this year at the Saenger Theater in Mobile, AL. Longtime Cray fans can expect to hear classic hits such as 'Right Next Door' and 'Smoking Gun,' in addition to recent hits such as 'I Can't Fail' and 'That's What Keeps Me Rockin'.'

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Lil Kim
While many people are making comparisons between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim, the Queen Bee has reportedly inked a new deal with a fellow Brooklyn mogul. According to various reports, Kim is the latest signee of Jay-Z's record label, Roc Nation. Although details regarding the deal have yet to surface or confirmed, a rep for Kim and Jay's camp was unavailable for comment at press time.

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Miles Davis
Miles Davis' landmark album 'Bitches Brew' drew critical acclaim throughout the music world during the early 1970s. In honor of the timeless classic, Columbia/Legacy will reissue the album as a super-deluxe Collector's Edition on Aug. 31. The all new collector's edition will find four bonus tracks from alternate versions of 'Spanish Key' and 'John McLaughlin.'

Black Music Notes June 2

5/20/10: Lionel Richie
As Memorial Day steadily approaches, Lionel Richie and PBS are set to celebrate the holiday with the annual broadcast of the National Memorial Day concert. The May 30 event, which takes place on the West Lawn of the US Capital, will feature an array of performers including Richie, Yolanda Adams, and others paying homage to our fallen U.S. troops. This year's concert will also recognize the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

Black Music Notes June 2

5/20/10: Kelly Rowland
Following her departure from longtime manager, Matthew Knowles last year, Kelly Rowland has inked a deal with Universal Motown Records. For label president, Sylvia Rhone, signing the former Destiny's Child member was inspirational. "I think Kelly is an immensely talented, gracious, and beautiful woman, and I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with her on what's turning out to be an amazing album," she explained. "For an artist whose career began as a member of a landmark group like Destiny's Child, Kelly has truly come into her own and I am deeply inspired by her incredible energy." Rowland's as-yet-untitled album features collaborations from Stargate, Salaam Remi, Ne-Yo, Rico Love, and Esther Dean. No release date was set at press time.

Black Music Notes June 2

5/20/10: Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne has proven once again that he is "music" with his recent contraband jail incident. In fact, the Grammy Award-winning MC called his personal DJ, Scoob Doo to give him the details on what exactly happened, which surfaced online via YouTube. "Ain't too much, I got in a little trouble and whatnot, you feel me," Wayne explained about being caught with headphones and a MP3 charger. "Yeah, they tried to bang me with that. ... But I can't live without my music, Scoob. You know how it is, man. I needed my music. It's all good. I had to take my little slip up. I ain't trippin'. Players f--- up."

Black Music Notes June 2

5/14/10: Eminem/ Jay-Z
Following collaborating on the popular music video game DJ Hero, hip hop heavyweights Eminem and Jay-Z are teaming up once again for yet another business venture. According to published reports, the rap kingpins will be apart of a two part Live Nation produced concert event to be held at each of their hometown's baseball stadiums. "These shows are like a dream come true," Hov said. "I've always hoped that hip-hop could play any stadium like other genres of music. How perfect is it that Eminem and I get to play our hometowns and show how far the live rap experience has come?" Eminem will headline a concert Sept. 2 at Comerica Park in Detroit, while Jay-Z will perform at Yankee Stadium Sept. 13.

Black Music Notes June 2

 

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

January 13, 2011, 5:35 am
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I never joined a fraternity during college. My sister and brother pledged, but I was too broke to afford the expense of joining any organization other than the "Broke Negroes of America" club. Also, I was concerned that spending six weeks being mistreated, awakened in the middle of the night and yelled at would cause two unfortunate outcomes: 1) My GPA would drop, and 2) I'd end up going to jail for issuing a couple of beat downs.

But even though I chose not to pledge during college, I gained a degree of respect for many of those who decided to do so. Quite a few members of the African American community are proud of the black greek tradition and find it to be one of the cornerstones of cultural, economic and political power within our society. While the college students get a bad rap for using their greek identity as an excuse to wear matching clothes and have more parties, there are more mature members who see their involvement as an avenue for political and social engagement.


Black America is in consistent need of organizations designed to pursue our collective purposes. Our community lacks the economic and political infrastructure necessary to lift us from the bottom of America's racial caste system. Delta Sigma Theta is part of that tradition, as are other African American sororities and fraternities.

One thing that many sororities do quite well is pull together money. According to the most recent financial reports I could find online, the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta saw over $11 million in income during 2008, and carries over $38 million in assets on its books. Roughly half the sorority's revenue comes from membership dues, and much of the remainder comes from "government fees and contracts" (I'm not quite sure what those contracts entail).

Delta Sigma Theta's Group return actually states that the organization received over $25 million in income in 2008, which compares quite favorably with the $31 million hauled in by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority during the same year. The media hasn't reported on any serious financial problems for the Deltas similar to those experienced by the AKAs, but almost no organizational house is going to be perfect.

Black greek organizations, with their significance and power, may be well-advised to continue pursuing avenues to best utilize that power. As it pertains to problems such as mass incarceration and educational inequality, black greek organizations can become meaningful political players in a country that oppresses the citizens whom these organizations profess to represent. Although a great deal of work has already been done, it's never too late to discuss new paradigms of engagement and activism. The late, great Dorothy Height is a perfect case-in-point. She fought for justice until she died at 98.

Happy Founders Day to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. This is a day worth celebrating.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Swizz Beatz: The Latest Black Celebrity in Financial Trouble

January 13, 2011, 5:54 am
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It's been a great year for producer/sometimes rapper Swizz Beatz. He (somehow) managed to bag Alicia Keys. He keeps on makin' hits. He just welcomed a healthy new child into the world. If you didn't know any better, you'd swear everything was peachy keen.

Of course, as with everything in the world of entertainment, there's more than meets the eye. Turns on Swizzy's got some serious IRS problems:

A giant tax bill makes a pretty poor baby shower gift, but that's what the IRS and New York gave singer Alicia Keys' husband, record-producer Swizz Beatz, who owes more than $2.6 million in delinquent taxes, records show.

Beatz, 32, and Keys welcomed a baby son in mid-October. Days later, the state of New York slapped yet another tax lien on Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean. Not to be outdone, the IRS sent its regards this week.

The IRS filed a $283,562 lien against Swizz Beatz on Monday with the New York City Register.

The state of New York filed a $134,738 tax warrant against him and his ex-wife, R&B singer Mashonda on Oct. 23. The warrant is filed with the New York County Clerk.

The IRS filed a $652,727 lien against Swizz Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean, on June 3 with the Rockland County (N.Y.) Clerk. According to the lien, which you can see here, he owes income taxes from 2008.

The state of New York filed a $162,300 tax warrant against Dean and his ex-wife Feb. 4, 2009, with the New York County Clerk.

The IRS filed a $556,986 lien against Dean and his ex-wife on Aug. 18, 2008, in Rockland County. They owe 2007 income taxes, according to this public record.

The IRS filed an $842,645 lien against Dean and his ex-wife March 4, 2008, with the Somerset County (N.J.) Clerk. According to this lien, they owe income taxes from 2006.


A poor working stiff like me can't even fathom how to make $2.6 million during the course of my lifetime, let alone getting $2.6 million behind on my taxes. And at the core of every lien seems to be an unwillingness or inability to correctly assess income taxes. Of course, Swizz Beats isn't the only entertainer to find himself in trouble with the IRS. That list is lengthy.

Still, just how difficult is it to just hire a good accountant to manage your earnings and file on your behalf each year? For most entertainers, it's a bit more complicated than for those of us get an W-2 in the mail each January. Many entertainers are self-employed, which means keeping an accurate accounting of all variations of income, whether in the form of cash, check, goods or services rendered. For someone like Swizz Beats, this would mean keeping up with mechanical royalties, concert and personal appearance fees, promotional expenses, free travel receipts and a million other things most of us never have to consider. And of course he's still got to find time in the midst of all this to make hits (and paintings?), which are ultimately his livelihood. I'm obviously not making an excuse for him, but perhaps we should all cut this guy a break, all things considered.

Too bad the IRS is not so forgiving.

Question:
-Tax season is just around the corner. Are you ready?

 

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John Boehner Snubs Obama Invite To Arizona Memorial, Hosts RNC Cocktail Party Instead

January 13, 2011, 7:38 am
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John Boehner is taking heat from some Democrats after skipping out on Wednesday's memorial service for the shooting victims in Arizona and instead hosting a cocktail party for the Republican National Committee.
The Ohio Republican turned down President Obama's invitation to travel on Air Force One to Tucson, Politico reported.

"It is disrespectful for Speaker Boehner to skip joining the President's and bipartisan congressional delegation to the Tucson Memorial so he could host a Washington D.C. cocktail party for RNC members," a Democratic leadership aide told the political website.

Boehner held a 7 p.m. cocktail reception for 168 RNC members who are in Washington for an annual meeting. The event, which took place at a Maryland resort, was sponsored by the Ohio Republican's political action committee

The cocktail party coincided with the 8 p.m. EST memorial ceremony at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where a lone gunman killed six people and injured more than a dozen, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday.

The memorial was attended by a number of figureheads, including President Obama, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Republican Gov. Jan Brewer.

Boehner is backing Maria Cino, one of four candidates hoping to unseat Chairman Michael Steele, in the election for RNC chairman on Friday.

But the reception was billed as a chance for the Boehner to meet with RNC delegates in his new role as House leader.

"Yesterday, Rep. Giffords' colleagues on both sides of the aisle honored her and mourned those who were lost," Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner told the Daily News. "The Speaker felt his place was here in the House, with them,"

Source: NY Daily News


Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.

 

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'Unsung' Gets First NAACP Image Award Nomination; New Season Scoop

January 13, 2011, 8:04 am
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After four seasons, TV One's celebrated documentary series 'Unsung' has earned a NAACP Image Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Information Series or Special.

The one-hour documentaries celebrate the lives and careers of notable music acts, who have been under-appreciated over the years. The show's co-Executive producer Mark Rowland of A. Smith & Co. Productions, the production house behind 'Hell's Kitchen' and BET's 'American Gangster,' to name a few, said he couldn't be happier that their original series is finally getting its due.

"We've been crossing out fingers for a few years [and] after the second year we were hoping we would get nominated and when we didn't we said, 'It's ok,' but this last year we had the most number of shows and the biggest range [of artists] and I think it's been our best overall," told BlackVoices.com in an interview shortly after hearing about their nomination yesterday.Last year's nine 'Unsung' episodes, which showcased Teddy Pendergrass, Tammi Terrell, Heatwave, Musical Youth, George Clinton, The Fat Boys, Angela Winbush, Miki Howard and The O'Jays, wrapped on Nov.8.

Profiles on Shalamar, Phyllis Hyman, Minnie Riperton and DeBarge were previously featured.

"The show has managed to take a place of pride and honor in the community. There is a real sense of responsibility to keep it to that standard for us and to exceed it. We take our jobs very seriously. These are wonderful musical artists so there is fun involved, but we are excited to tell this ongoing story. It's creating an archival legacy," he continued. "I feel that the NAACP feels that way as well to include us with several other stellar pieces of programming."

Working on the 2009 episode of 'Unsung' with Teena Marie was one of Rowland's highlights thus far.

"Teena Marie passed away. We had done a story with her and with her support and blessing and she was extremely happy with the show and the results," he shared. "We were brokenhearted she died suddenly and some of us were at the memorial, but there is gratitude that she did that show and that that will live on," he reflected.

TV One announced at last week's Television Critics Association winter preview that 'Unsung' would be getting a new season.

BlackVoices has learned exclusively that some of the artists that will have 'Unsung' specials include Alexander O'Neil and Cherelle, The Spinners, Denise Williams, Evelyn Champagne King, Big Daddy Kane and The Ohio Players. There will be twelve episodes this season - three additional ordered compared to last season's nine.

There are no plans for a DVD set right now, but discussions are ongoing regarding a home video package. Ultimately, TV One will decide whether to release 'Unsung' on DVD. They also are the final authority on who to feature on episodes, although producers seriously consider fan input via the the network's website.

Rowland, who has been working on 'Unsung' from the start, regards their partnership with TV One as "the most harmonious and gratifying of his career."

"Maybe we are lucky and just see eye to eye but their input is smart, sharp and elevating and it's been an absolute joy to work," he said.

Tune in to see if 'Unsung' takes home an award when the 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards airs live on March 4 at 8 pm EST on Fox.

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Black Music Notes June 2

6/2/10: Ryan Leslie
Singer-songwriter Ryan Leslie is set to make a special appearance at New York's Bowery Ballroom on June 22 and 23. Leslie, who recently wrapped up his international tour with Ne-Yo, will also give fans a preview of select songs from his third solo project 'Les Is More.' Doors open at 7 pm.

Black Music Notes June 2

6/2/10: Dr. Dre
Hip Hop's favorite music physician, Dr. Dre will be honored with the ASCAP Founders Award at this year's Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. The 23rd annual event, which is set to take place June 25 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, will honor Dre for his musical legacy and influence. "Dre is one of the most important voices in modern music," said ASCAP president Paul Williams. "He created a unique, recognizable sound that dominated rap music in the early '90s...and continues to inspire artists and producers across all genres with his musical techniques."

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Kanye West
Despite shying away from the media since his 2009 MTV Video Music Award tirade, Kanye West is slowing making his way back into the spotlight. Last weekend in Manhattan, West made a special appearance at club CV and it turned into a mini album listening party of his forthcoming opus. "Kanye leaned over and said, 'Play track three,'" DJ Scram Jones told MTV News. "They all went nuts, Kid Cudi was dancing on the table, and then we cut it off at about a minute-and-a-half ... By the end of the process, we played four records."

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Robert Cray
Five-time Grammy Award-winner Robert Cray is set to release his new live album entitled 'Cookin' In Mobile' on July 27. The 13-song project , which features a bonus DVD with behind the scenes footage, was recorded earlier this year at the Saenger Theater in Mobile, AL. Longtime Cray fans can expect to hear classic hits such as 'Right Next Door' and 'Smoking Gun,' in addition to recent hits such as 'I Can't Fail' and 'That's What Keeps Me Rockin'.'

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Lil Kim
While many people are making comparisons between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim, the Queen Bee has reportedly inked a new deal with a fellow Brooklyn mogul. According to various reports, Kim is the latest signee of Jay-Z's record label, Roc Nation. Although details regarding the deal have yet to surface or confirmed, a rep for Kim and Jay's camp was unavailable for comment at press time.

Black Music Notes June 2

5/28/10: Miles Davis
Miles Davis' landmark album 'Bitches Brew' drew critical acclaim throughout the music world during the early 1970s. In honor of the timeless classic, Columbia/Legacy will reissue the album as a super-deluxe Collector's Edition on Aug. 31. The all new collector's edition will find four bonus tracks from alternate versions of 'Spanish Key' and 'John McLaughlin.'

Black Music Notes June 2

5/20/10: Lionel Richie
As Memorial Day steadily approaches, Lionel Richie and PBS are set to celebrate the holiday with the annual broadcast of the National Memorial Day concert. The May 30 event, which takes place on the West Lawn of the US Capital, will feature an array of performers including Richie, Yolanda Adams, and others paying homage to our fallen U.S. troops. This year's concert will also recognize the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

Black Music Notes June 2

5/20/10: Kelly Rowland
Following her departure from longtime manager, Matthew Knowles last year, Kelly Rowland has inked a deal with Universal Motown Records. For label president, Sylvia Rhone, signing the former Destiny's Child member was inspirational. "I think Kelly is an immensely talented, gracious, and beautiful woman, and I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with her on what's turning out to be an amazing album," she explained. "For an artist whose career began as a member of a landmark group like Destiny's Child, Kelly has truly come into her own and I am deeply inspired by her incredible energy." Rowland's as-yet-untitled album features collaborations from Stargate, Salaam Remi, Ne-Yo, Rico Love, and Esther Dean. No release date was set at press time.

Black Music Notes June 2

5/20/10: Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne has proven once again that he is "music" with his recent contraband jail incident. In fact, the Grammy Award-winning MC called his personal DJ, Scoob Doo to give him the details on what exactly happened, which surfaced online via YouTube. "Ain't too much, I got in a little trouble and whatnot, you feel me," Wayne explained about being caught with headphones and a MP3 charger. "Yeah, they tried to bang me with that. ... But I can't live without my music, Scoob. You know how it is, man. I needed my music. It's all good. I had to take my little slip up. I ain't trippin'. Players f--- up."

Black Music Notes June 2

5/14/10: Eminem/ Jay-Z
Following collaborating on the popular music video game DJ Hero, hip hop heavyweights Eminem and Jay-Z are teaming up once again for yet another business venture. According to published reports, the rap kingpins will be apart of a two part Live Nation produced concert event to be held at each of their hometown's baseball stadiums. "These shows are like a dream come true," Hov said. "I've always hoped that hip-hop could play any stadium like other genres of music. How perfect is it that Eminem and I get to play our hometowns and show how far the live rap experience has come?" Eminem will headline a concert Sept. 2 at Comerica Park in Detroit, while Jay-Z will perform at Yankee Stadium Sept. 13.

Black Music Notes June 2

 

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Carter Offers Hope for Fair Sudan Vote

January 13, 2011, 8:18 am
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Sudan Vote


It's only an early forecast from an election observer, but the words of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the historic vote of Sudan is offering hope that the election will be fair and violence could be minimal.

Carter, an influential observer of the week-long election, told reporters he believes the vote will meet international standards of fairness and freedom of participants in the vote.

Observers of the Sudan election have been concerned that the vote would be corrupted by Islamic government forces based in Khartoum in the northern part of the country.

The vote being held in the non-Muslim southern part of the country could result in the split of the country along northern and southern borders if a majority of voters choose separation.

The South, home to large oil reserves, is expected to vote for independence. Results are expected in early February.

A thumbs-up from Carter on the fairness of the election would carry great weight in the international community, since the former president has blasted Sudan President Omar al-Bashir as a war criminal.

In addition, the Carter Center non-profit organization has trained 3,000 local election observers.

The vote came as part of the 2005 peace deal that ended nearly 20 years of civil war between the north and the south.

A lot could go wrong between now and when the election results are certified.

Al-Bashir has shown little inclination to let the oil-rich South take its resources and start a new nation.

But if Carter is correct and the government is allowing a free and fair election to take place, the new era of peace and cooperation could finally be on the way for Sudan.



 

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Kanye West Copies Usher By Buying Watch That Costs Almost $200K

January 13, 2011, 8:18 am
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Kanye West is known for showy displays through his fashion choices, as a rapper-producer and through the public expression of his intense opinions. To further express himself in a way that truly says "KANYE!" Mr. West has just purchased a personalized, one-of-a-kind watch that costs $180,000 and features a portrait of his face poised behind his iconic sunglasses -- drawn in diamonds:

Not one to usually humble himself by following someone else's lead, Kanye West seems to have actually been inspired to make this investment in accessories by fellow pop star Usher. Usher was the first to create a self-portrait in diamonds that he can also wear on his wrist, but his was a whopping $250K:

You can read the details about Kanye West's $180,000 watch, and Usher's $250,000 watch on the Luxist blog. Let's keep the discussion of these two flabbergasting displays of ostentation and self-love here on BV.


Kanye West and Usher are both talented and charismatic men who have brought happiness to millions by sharing their artistic gifts. They have also made millions of dollars, and considering that this is a free country, they can spend it on anything they want. Contrary to what many liberals believe (and I am a liberal), it could be argued that a star spending $200K on a diamond-encrusted image of his face is actually a sign of the overall health of our economy. Sure, it reeks of waste and selfishness, but look at the countries in which being self-centered and desiring riches will get you nowhere. Most people from those places have been trying to come here for decades.

From Communist China to the former U.S.S.R., when these nations prohibited all capitalistic practices and denounced the value of the individual, they were not able to provide their citizens with comforts and opportunities equivalent to America's average standard of living. There is something about the open and active desire for wealth that creates greater access to it for more people in a group. The overall standard of living in capitalist countries is just higher and that is the reason. Ugly old greed.

Where we lose is on wealth distribution and access to wealth creators such as connections and quality education. Recently released numbers show that the United States now has the widest gap between the rich and the poor that our nation has ever had in its history. Countless stories depict the fall of millions from the ranks of the comfortable middle class into the land of the impoverished. As Americans struggle to find jobs, the idea of Kanye West spending the equivalent of three good salaries on a bedazzled picture of his mug is a little sickening. And yet it is his right, and moreover it's that right that is the prime mover behind all the businesses that have given Americans jobs, and will give the jobless new jobs in the future.

So, in a way, Kanye West's $180,000 watch is what makes America great. The motivation behind Usher commissioning a $250,000 precious-stoned, time-telling, portable picture of himself is the motivation that will create the small businesses that get millions back to work. It's because of these kind of wealth displays that America has any wealth to show. Hopefully, we will get better at sharing it. Doling it out fairly, through taxes and charity, will keep our society equal in terms of opportunity (as long as the Republicans are kept in check).

You have heard all the "rich black people buy stupid stuff" complaints before, so there is no need to go into that here. For once, let's move past that. We have to keep looking at the motivating power of luxury displays, and think long term, or else these financial choices made by two rich, prominent African Americans will look eerily as silly as Souljah Boy wearing a Lamborghini-shaped necklace made of diamonds. And in 2011, we've got to do better.

 

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