The city of New York reached a settlement today on the shooting of Sean Bell by police. The Bell estate will receive $3.5 million and the remainder will go to the families of Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, who were with Bell on the night of the shooting.
Bell was shot on the night before his wedding in 2006.
"The Sean Bell shooting highlighted the complexities our dedicated officers must face each day. The City regrets the loss of life in this tragic case, and we share our deepest condolences with the Bell family," Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo said when the deal was announced.
The settlement frees the city from having to admit any wrongdoing. The money will go to Bell's two children, and his fiancee Nicole Paultre-Bell. Three of the five officers involved in the shooting, where 50 bullets were fired, were tried and acquitted of manslaughter in a 2008 trial. The officers claim that they believed Bell and his friends were armed on the night of the shooting, but it turned out that they were not.
If Barack Obama wants to speak on an issue related to race, he can speak on the Sean Bell incident. The Henry Louis Gates case is not a solid prototype for racial injustice, but the Bell case certainly is. The shooting of Sean Bell is one of the rare cases in which black men who are harassed by police actually find a way to receive justice (even though Bell himself paid the ultimate price). In most cases, justice is not served. Instead, victims are served with long prison sentences and a label of guilt that precludes them from ever being a part of our society again. That is something to think about.
The city of New York reached a settlement today on the shooting of Sean Bell by police. The Bell estate will receive $3.5 million and the remainder will go to the families of Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, who were with Bell on the night of the shooting.
Bell was shot on the night before his wedding in 2006.
"The Sean Bell shooting highlighted the complexities our dedicated officers must face each day. The City regrets the loss of life in this tragic case, and we share our deepest condolences with the Bell family," Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo said when the deal was announced.
The settlement frees the city from having to admit any wrongdoing. The money will go to Bell's two children, and his fiancee Nicole Paultre-Bell. Three of the five officers involved in the shooting, where 50 bullets were fired, were tried and acquitted of manslaughter in a 2008 trial. The officers claim that they believed Bell and his friends were armed on the night of the shooting, but it turned out that they were not.
Nicole Paultre Bell, Sean Bell's widow, said this to Aol. Black Voices:
"No amount of money will provide closure for me. I lost the father of my daughters and my best friend on the day we were to be married."
Prominent black public figures were not at a loss for words when describing their response to the Sean Bell settlement. I reached out to Rev. Al Sharpton, Bennett College President Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Georgetown Professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson to get their takes on the situation. Rev. Al Sharpton had this to say:
The settlement must all provide for their families but this in no way mitigates or repairs the permanent damage done to them and the pain it has caused them forever nor does it diminish the outrage in the community. We will always pursue justice for the family of Sean Bell, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield.
Dr. Malveaux said the following:
He should not have died, and the life in this settlement caution for each of us to take care of all of us and to be cautious and careful about the meaning of life. Both bullets and assumptions killed Sean Bell. Neither assault is acceptable.
Professor Dyson said this:
The Bell murder highlights the need for the end to racial profiling of minorities and police brutality against blacks. While the condition of the settlement precludes admission of wrongdoing, we all know that vicious racist practices often have lethal consequences for minority citizens.
Read each person's statement in its entirety here.
If President Barack Obama wants to speak on an issue related to race, he can speak on the Sean Bell incident. The Henry Louis Gates case is not a solid prototype for racial injustice, but the Bell case certainly is. The shooting of Sean Bell is one of the rare cases in which black men who are harassed by police actually find a way to receive justice (even though Bell himself paid the ultimate price). In most cases, justice is not served. Instead, victims are served with long prison sentences and a label of guilt that precludes them from ever being a part of our society again. That is something to think about.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
Black members of Congress are asking the public - and fellow Democrats - to hear all of the facts in the Charlie Rangel ethics investigation before passing judgment or pushing him to admit wrongdoing.
The warning came from the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Barbara Lee, D-Calif, who said the 40-year Democrat deserves a hearing of the facts:
"Any rush to judgment to short-circuit the ongoing review of Congressman Rangel by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct will do a disservice to the well-established processes of the House of Representatives. Attempts by Republicans and Democrats to presume guilt before the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct completes its review of the facts, which are only known to them and Congressman Rangel, violates the core American principle of the presumption of innocence."
The move probably provides Rangel some cover from Democrats who wanted him to admit to some wrongdoing and settle his case ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, where Democrats are expected to face a tough battle in Congress. Democrats have returned money from Rangel, who, after four decades, had obtained the chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee before being pressured in to stepping down in March.
According to the AP, among the charges Rangel is expected to face are:
-Rangel's use of official stationery to raise money for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York.
-His use of four rent-subsidized apartment units in New York City.
-Rangel's failure to report income as required on his annual financial disclosure forms. The committee had investigated his failure to report income from the lawmaker's rental unit at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic. Rangel also belatedly disclosed hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment assets.
-His failure to pay taxes on all his income from the resort unit.
Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., said that the recent Shirley Sherrod incident, where the USDA employee was fired after a heavily edited video uploaded by a conservative blogger showed her saying she discriminated against a white farmer, but later proved to be misleading, should serve as a warning against a rush to judgment.
"Haven't we learned anything this week about jumping to conclusions? The railroading of Shirley Sherrod at USDA should be a lesson learned about hasty judgment and action based on inadequate, even false, information," Fattah said. "That lesson must be applied to current case of Congressman Charlie Rangel."
Rangel is facing a challenge in the primary this September, but many Harlem residents say they still stand behind him.
"I think it was a minor mistake," lifelong Harlem resident Clarence Rutledge, 43, told DNAinfo.com. "They just want to get rid of him," Rutledge said. "That's all it's about."
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
Your Daily Affirmation for Wednesday, July 28, 2010: God is the creator and the energizing power behind and within every living thing. God is Life itself. Today I honor God and these truths as look beyond my limited perceptions to see the divine design within everyone and everything that lives. Whether I "like" them or not, I now behold each as a sacred creation of the Creator. I bless the creations of God and I too am blessed.
____________________________________________________________________
Barry Johnson is an businessman, motivational speaker and management consultant. He holds a B.S. degree from Yale and an MBA degree from Harvard. You can follow him at twitter.com/thebarryjohnson and email him at bjohnson@risemovement.org
M.I.A.
This year's annual Metropolitan Ball brought out an array of tastemakers from the fashion industry -- not to mention appearances from Vogue magazine's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, Kerry Washington and Oprah Winfrey.
For London rap star M.I.A. the glitzy gala, which took place May 3 at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, left a bitter taste in her mouth when it came to some of the event's attendees.
In an exclusive interview with London's Time Out magazine, the 'Paper Planes' lyricist vented on the treatment she received from producer Pharrell Williams and the almighty Winfrey.
"He was just telling me off like crazy: 'You can't just keep beating people up...,'" she recalled about her interaction with Williams. "I thought he'd seen the 'Born Free' video, so I was actually listening because I thought he must be saying my video's too violent. He was like, 'You know you can't just keep giving people that shit, you have to hand out the sugar.'"
"I was a bit offended because he was talking about the shepherd and the sheep, and I was like, 'I never think I'm making music for sheep, I'm making music for shepherds... people who think like individuals and who want to be their own f---ing leader.'"
Diddy complimented the Grammy Award nominee (legally known as Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) following the N.E.R.D. frontman's offhand comments and insisted he apologize to her.
Williams wasn't the only person who got on M.I.A.'s bad side -- she had choice words about America's Queen of All Media.
"Oprah seemed like she was giving me the cold shoulder," she revealed. "She was with [David Bowie's wife] Iman. Iman was always dancing with me, hugging and kissing me, but Oprah seemed really pissed off with me."
"Also she made this huge speech at the ball praising Lady Gaga and about how she is helping Americans to be the best of themselves. There's millions of other Americans who represent that for me. Is [it] about numbers? About how much you're selling?"
M.I,A, added, "Is it truly about the journey? Because [Gaga's] journey isn't that difficult: to go from the f---king Upper East Side to a f---ing performing arts school and on to a stage at the museum of f---ng wherever. That journey's about four miles.'"
Aside from having issues with rich, famous and successful people, M.I.A. released her third studio album 'Maya' (/\/\/\Y/\) earlier this month and features the singles 'Born Free' and 'XXXO.'
Edi Gathegi, who played Laurent in 'Twilight' and 'New Moon,' has signed on to 'X-Men: First Class.'
The 31 year old Kenya native will play Armando Munoz, also known as Darwin, a mutant who has the power of adaptive evolution. His power automatically gives him various abilities based on his environment.
With Matthew Vaughn directing, 'X-Men: First Class,' following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga.
Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.
Already cast in the film are James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr, Alice Eve as Emma Frost, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Lucas Till as Havok, and Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw.
20th Century Fox will release the film on June 3, 2011.
Gathegi has just finished shooting 'Atlas Shrugged,' a film based on the Ayn Rand novel of the same name. His other film roles include 'Death Sentence,' 'Gone Baby Gone,' and 'My Bloody Valentine 3D.'
Abelino Mazaniego from El Salvador was beaten to death after finishing his shift at a Summit, New Jersey restaurant. He was allegedly beaten by three teenagers who decided to record the beating on a cell phone camera. Mazaniego was a father of four children. He was beaten unconscious and died in the hospital four days later.
Three teens were arrested after the video circulated throughout the community, with other young people passing it to one another through their cell phones. The three teens arrested are aged 17, 18 and 19. There is a fourth teen in the videotape, but authorities are saying that the person they believe to be in the video has not yet been charged.
Mazaniego was described as"a hardworking, punctual, friendly employee," by his manager, Colin Crasto. The restaurant put his picture on the wall, letting patrons know that he was the sole provider in his family and that they can make donations.
"It's a random act of violence, there's not a lot of racial strife in this town," Crasto said. "I'd like to see the parents that produced such monsters."
The defendants are being charged with murder. Khayri Williams-Clark and Nigel Dumas have been identified to the public. There is allegedly a 17-year old involved whose identity has been protected. What was most surprising was that the teens who beat Mazaniego didn't even take the $640 he had in his wallet. That was allegedly taken by the nurse, Stephan Randolph. Family members noticed that the money was missing, and the nurse was later charged with third-degree theft.
This story is obviously shocking and incredibly sad. While none of us knows the victim personally, the mere thought that a random citizen can be beaten to death and then robbed at the hospital is incredibly disturbing. What's also bothersome about the story is that the victim was the sole provider for his family. It reminds all of us that as much as we wish to believe that we are invincible, we must always keep a backup plan. When death comes to us, it doesn't care how many appointments we've made or how inconvenient our passing might be. Death just happens, and can sometimes happen in the blink of an eye.
An additional point is that we've got to think carefully about how we are raising our children. There's a good chance that the teens involved in such reckless, anti-social behavior were likely victims of unconcerned, and possibly irresponsible parents. Most of us know a child in our community who is at risk of becoming a criminal in the future, and it only takes a little intervention to help them to change course. We've all got to be part of the village that raises our youth, especially men.
Y'Anna Crawley is the season two winner BET's hit music competition series 'Sunday Best.'
The Washington, DC native had recorded background vocals for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Glenn Jones, Raheem DeVaughn, Angie Stone and Chrisette Michele before auditioning for 'Sunday Best' and ultimately winning the show last year.
Crawley is now set to release her debut CD, 'The Promise,' on Aug. 22 via a venture between BET and Imago Dei Music Group.
The CD's title track is the project's first single and the album also features Crawley's remake of Anita Baker's 'Sweet Love,' as well as her powerful interpretation of Bill Wither's 'Grandma's Hands'
BV Buzz caught up with the singer and had her take our Buzz Blitz.
*****
What's the greatest lesson you've learned since doing a reality television show?
I've learned now that my life is under a microscope at all times. Honestly, I've learned that being on a televised competition really takes hard work, endurance and dedication to become what it is you set out to be!
If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would you choose?
I would have to choose two people: Michael Jackson, may he rest in peace, and Beyonce. They are the greatest entertainers to me.
Anita Baker, Chaka Khan and Mary J. Blige are performing concerts at the same time and you can only go to one. Which one would you chose and why?
Wow, this is hard because I love each of their voices and have learned different things from each of them. However, if I had to choose one I would choose Mary J. I respect her in a lot of ways! Her heart, passion and music - it's all there. She's going to make me cry, dance and feel good about being who I am as a woman now as well as where I'm headed on my journey.
What's one of your pet peeves?
Phony people! I figure if I keep it real with you, you should reciprocate the same.
If you weren't a singer, what would you do professionally?
I would be working as a make-up artist and a cosmetologist.
If there was a reality television show named after you what would it be called?
'Singing in the Background!' It's a concept that my manager John Hart presented to me. It would consist of artists who have been attempting to break into the industry by working their way through the ranks singing background for other artist. Knowing you're just as good or even better than the artist you work for, but committing to persevere through sleepless nights, learning new material in record time and long hours of rehearsal. Simply working hard in the background for someone else until your opportunity presents itself. This is how I got my start as well as my sister friend Kelly Price and "Uncle" Dave Hollister.
*****
For more information on Y'Anna Crawley and 'The Promise', visit her online atwww.YannaCrawley.net
3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'
Getty Images
3/19/09: The Miracles
Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
3/19/09: Chester Gregory
After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'
Jemal Countess, WireImage
3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr. Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.
Evening Standard / Getty Images
3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Santiago Llanquin / AP
3/19/09: Kim Burrell
Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.
Zomba
3/19/09: Mike Jones
Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.
Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic
3/19/09: Prince
With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'
Forget about lying, sexual incompatibility or infidelity. The real threat to your relationship may be your (or your partner's) tendency to splurge on things that are outside your budget. As I often explain on Facebook, Twitter and in my financial seminars, the consequences of rampant over-spending -- especially when using credit -- are enormous. Not only are credit card delinquencies, bankruptcies and foreclosures on the rise, debt is even a huge factor in families being split apart.
Studies show that seven out of 10 couples who divorce say that financial strife played a big part in the breakup. If you're married, be honest with yourself for a minute. Have your partner's spending habits or financial patterns ever driven you crazy? Or perhaps you actually need to look in the mirror. Does your way of handling money - maybe buying things that the two of you can't afford - cause friction in the relationship?
It seems like a cruel joke of the universe that so many couples are financial mismatches, with one person being a care-free spender and the other a staunch saver. Perhaps that's why, in a study of 50,000 couples who went through its marriage preparation course, Life Innovations found that 72% of the 100,000 individuals polled said they wished their partners were more careful about spending. Also, 56% said major debts were a problem in the relationship.
So, I don't care how romantic things get between you and your honey in the bedroom. It's what happens at the kitchen table, when you're going over the monthly bills, that can more accurately forecast the success or failure of your relationship. Do you communicate well about money issues? If so, chances are you can talk freely about other things, too. Are you overly critical or unfairly judgmental about how your partner handles money? Then you're probably equally judgmental about non-financial topics.
Trust The Money Coach on this one: If you don't take the time to straighten out money issues, no matter how large or small they may be, these conflicts will continually surface, and they'll haunt you for the duration of your relationship.
I know you might have vowed "until death do us part" after you walked down that aisle. But if you're not careful, that once-happy marriage can unravel over money battles. Don't let your relationship turn into a case of "until debt do us part."
Need to get out of debt? Check out my book, Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom. My husband, Earl, and I don't agree 100% on all money matters. But on this we do agree: It's our goal to constantly strive for a debt-free lifestyle, and not let money issues -- or anything else -- ever tear us apart.
Have debt or money matters ever come between you and a loved one? Sound off on this topic below. You can also follow me on Twitter, @themoneycoach.
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.'
The National Urban League Centennial Conference (NUL) begins this week in Washington, D.C., from July 28th to July 31st and follows the theme Empowerment Time: Past, Present, Future.
The conference will feature such speakers as President Barack Obama (who also spoke at the NUL conference as the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, pictured above), Maya Angelou, Sheila Jackson Lee, Benjamin Jealous, Vernon E. JordanJr., Soledad O' Brien, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Andrew Young.
Headed by former New Orleans mayor Marc H. Morial (pictured below), the NUL celebrates 100 years of service to underserved communities, particularly black communities across the United States. With more than 100 local affiliates in 36 U.S. states, NUL prides itself as a "historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities."
This Tuesday's kick-off reception, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C., featured the likes of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Senator Roland Burris, Cornel West, the National Director of Strategic Alliances and Corporate Relations for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Monica Newman McCluney, Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter, the Executive Director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and HistorySylvia Cyrus, President of the Emmett Till Legacy FoundationDebra Watts and the Executive Director of the National Association of Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Arturo Vargas.
All introduced themselves and their organizations with the statement, "I am empowered," which was a crowd pleaser. The statement not only served to inspire the crowd but also served as an official social mobilization slogan of the NUL, which asks "citizens across the country" to join in a pledge to achieve empowerment goals in the areas of education, jobs, housing and health care by the year 2025.
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members Danny Davis and Roland Buress presented H.R. 1157 on behalf of the U.S. Congress to the Urban League and congratulated them on 100 years of service to the United States, expressing their gratitude for the hard work put forth by men and women in the league to improve the lives of Americans.
The only African-American member of the U.S. Senate, Burris spoke briefly about his work with NUL in Chicago and enthusiastically called for 100 more years of success and improvement in communities.
The centennial celebration features a three-day conference filled with events addressing such pertinent issues in black communities as housing, jobs, education, and personal and economic empowerment.
President Barack Obama is the conference's featured speaker and will deliver a speech on education reform as well as discuss his signature program Race to the Top, a $4-billion incentive program to "encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform" on Thursday.
As the NUL moves forward in to the next 100 years, its relevancy will depend on how effectively it meets the needs and desires of the communities it represents and strategically addresses the changing tide in America, particularly in terms of the changing economy.
For the schedule of the conference, click here. In the meantime, watch Morial discuss the state of black america here:
President of Haiti René Garcia Préval's position will be up for grabs this year and Wyclef Jean might be interested in placing his bid.
Is the singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and Haitian humanitarian extraordinaire suggesting that he is seriously mulling over running for president of his homeland? The Haitian presidential elections are scheduled for November 28th of this year. If Jean wants to get his presidential bid registered, he must do so by August 7th.
In order to be considered a viable candidate, Jean must prove that he has lived in the country for at least five years straight. He also cannot be a resident of any other country. The entertainer was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, a small town on the outskirts of the city's capital Port-au-Prince, but was raised in Brooklyn.
The former R&B/hip-hop music group Fugees member has dedicated himself to all causes related to Haiti and has become the country's Superhero. Way before the devastating earthquake shook the nation earlier this year and left it in shambles, Jean was an active and passionate philanthropist working diligently to help rebuild his country.
One major way that the 37-year-old Grammy Award winner managed to contribute so much to his country is through the grassroots organization, Yéle Haiti, he founded. He created the charitable foundation in order to inspire change in Haiti through programs in education, sports, the arts and the environment. He has also used the organization to help spread the word about earthquake disaster awareness and to raise funds to aid earthquake survivors.
A few days ago, Jean tweeted a response to the rumor mill surrounding his possible run for the presidency, saying:
Meanwhile the Haitian warrior's camp released the following statement this week, regarding Jean's bid for the highest office in Haiti:
"Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless, and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward. At this time, Wyclef Jean has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president. If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately."
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
Any Southern Christian Leadership Conference(SCLC) supporters waiting for leader-in-waiting Rev. Bernice King to pull the struggling civil rights group from the abyss will have to wait a little longer.
King announced she will not take over the SCLC next month as previously scheduled.
It appears King is waiting out the court decision to see which of the two factions will win the legal fight. The factions both believe that they are the rightful owners of the organization and are scheduled to hold two separate conventions in Atlanta, where the group is headquartered.
While some hold out hope that the SCLC will reclaim its role of civil rights champion for blacks, King's delay in taking control of the group was anticipated by most observers and makes sense.
Though elected in October, King has stayed silent amid the court fighting.
The latest twist in the sad SCLC saga has done nothing to change my view that the group has lived out its usefulness.
I have no doubt King wants to breathe new life in to the group co-founded by her father Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., but fighting the civil rights battles facing black people today will take strategic planning, visionary leadership and a solid and engaged core of national support.
Little indicates that the SCLC has any of those essential qualities needed to help black America.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
Blogs are abuzz with the news that African American women's magazine, Essence, recently hired a non-black fashion director.
Essence editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray told Black Voices in a written statement that Ellianna Placas, a former fashion editor at O: Home and Us Weekly, is just part of Essence's growing fashion team.
"I understand that this issue has struck an emotional chord with our audience," said Burt-Murray, "however I selected Ellianna, who has been contributing to the magazine on a freelance basis for the last six months, because of her creativity, vision, the positive reader response to her work and her enthusiasm and respect for the audience and our brand.We remain committed to celebrating the unique beauty and style of African-American women in Essence magazine and online at Essence.com."
Essence's mission is to "inspire black women to lead bold, fulfilling lives, " and several readers and former employees, most specifically former fashion editor Michaela Angela Davis, are outwardly upset with with Essence's newest staff choice.
Michaela revealed on her Facebook wall, "It's with a heavy heart I've learned Essence Magazine has engaged a white Fashion Director. I love Essence and I love fashion. I hate this news and this feeling. It hurts, literally. The fashion industry has historically been so hostile to black people -- especially women. The 1 seat reserved for black women once held by Susan Taylor, Ionia Dunn-Lee, Harriette Cole(+ me) is now-I can't. It's a dark day for me. "
While many of her friends agreed with her thoughts, saying, "It's a sad day for young black women everywhere," others found no problem with the new hire saying, "Who's to say she won't do a phenomenal job at paying incredible homage to Black female beauty? I wouldn't write this person off based on race, alone. I *would* be curious to hear more about context - background, past work, and upbringing, even. But based on that single thread of data, I am not upset."
Michaela maintained, "If there were balance in the industry, if we didn't have a history of being ignored and disrespected...if more mainstream fashion media included people of color before the ONE magazine dedicated to black women "diversified" it would feel different. There is one precious seat at the fashion shows that says Essence the magazine for black women. When asked, "What is your unique perspective for black women?" How is that answered?"
Do you think it's necessary for Essence magazine to have a black fashion director who understands the needs and wants of the black community? Or do you think a non-black fashion director can do just as good of a job speaking to a largely African-American audience. Does race matter when it comes to fashion?
Essence: May 2009
Essence editors once again featured their favorite model/icon on the cover of the May '09 issue, but this time, the first lady is posing with the first mother-in-law, Marian Robinson.
Essence
BlackVoices.com
Michelle Obama Covers
Essence: May 2009
Essence editors once again featured their favorite model/icon on the cover of the May '09 issue, but this time, the first lady is posing with the first mother-in-law, Marian Robinson.
The New Yorker: July 2008
The magazine's editor claimed satire. However, no one but Obama's G.O.P. detractors found the depiction of Michelle as an armed militant and Barack as a terrorist particularly funny.
Radar: September 2008
Using a doctored photo, Radar splashed an austere image on its cover and asked "What's So Scary About Michelle Obama?" The question was in response to anti-Michelle backlash.
Ladies Home Journal: September 2008
In a joint Q&A with her husband, Michelle told LHJ, "Finding balance has been the struggle of my life and my marriage, in being a woman, being a professional, being a mother."
Ebony: September 2008
Back when she was just a "first lady hopeful", Mrs. Obama spoke to Ebony about family and the future. As an added bonus, her mom Marian Robinson dished to the mag as well.
Essence: September 2008
It seems like most magazine covers with one or more members of the Obama clan on them are deemed "Collector's Editions." This family-centric cover is no exception.
More: October 2008
As the presidential election neared, Michelle Obama started popping up on a wide range of magazine covers. Here she is on the cover of More, a magazine for women over 40.
Us Weekly: November 2008
In the days following Barack's historic election, the weekly tabloid turned political, spotlighting then-President-elect and Michelle's "Amazing Journey."
OK! Weekly: November 2008
The editors at OK! claimed to know what Michelle is really like and offered a look into her private world, including "date nights with Barack."
The "twisted American classic" style of designer Byron Larshas caught the attention of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Lars, who is celebrating 20 years in fashion, enjoyed the esteemed honor of seeing First Lady Michelle Obama appear in one of his designs, the Holiday Swirl Neck Blush Dress, at the 'In Performance at the White House,' special taped on June 2.
Catch a full glimpse of Mrs. O in this original Beauty Mark creation as she rocks out with Sir. Paul McCartney onstage for a rendition of 'Hey Jude.' 'The Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House' airs Wednesday, July 28, at 8 P.M. ET on PBS stations nationwide, followed by an encore presentation at 9:30 P.M.
If you adore the slimming fit and eye-catching color of Lady O's original design, snag a similar style for only $316. The Byron Lars Silk Charmeuse Dress in Blush and Grey is available at carinanewyork.com. Want to own the real thing? This October three select Lord & Taylor stores, New York/5th Avenue, Connecticut/Stanford and Washington/Chevy Chase, will carry the exact Byron Lars dress you see on Michelle Obama.
With his increasing popularity as the pitchman for the Old Spice commercials, budding actor Isaiah Mustafa has been cast to the comedy film, 'Horrible Bosses,' which stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Colin Farrell and Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx.
All of this work reportedly comes on the heels of Nielsen data citing that sales of Old Spice body products are up a monumental 107% within the past month as a result of his Emmy-nominated spots, and the Old Spice YouTube channels have been viewed more than 58 million times.
In speaking with THR, Mustafa said, "It's a dream come true. It was a couple of lucky occurrences that had to happen for me to get the commercial. I missed the first audition but made the second one they scheduled because they hadn't found anyone. They said they were going to book me, but I didn't get the call. I said "Forget it" and put it out of my head. Then they called after Christmas. I think about it all, and it wows me."
When talking about his upcoming part in the comedy film, the Portland native went on to explain that he's not fully aware of where he stands in the film, "It's a smaller role, but who wouldn't want to be in one of these funny, irreverent comedies? The cast is great. I'm playing a cop because I play these authoritative characters well. I don't know exactly who I'm in the scene with -- maybe Jennifer Aniston!"
It's a good thing Perry landed him first for his film because the 36-year-old former professional football player signed an agreement with NBC and they get to approve any future involvement regarding his entertainment ventures. "It means I'm exclusively working with NBC unless they approve other projects," he said. "I'm going to be filming an episode of 'Chuck' next week. I don't know how many episodes yet, but I do know I'm playing an official CIA guy (named Greta). The character is pretty goofy, so it's going to be fun."
Since his contract with Old Spice is still running, Mustafa said he could be do more work for them in the future, "As far as commercials, I don't think there are any more lined up. They could always change their mind and want more. I signed on to be their spokesperson for a year, so I still have a few months left."
For anyone wondering how Isaiah stays in top shape, he revealed that he's been "doing Tony Horton's DVD sets for three years."
"Right now, I'm vegan-cleansing: no processed sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol, no animal products and no gluten," he added. "I never knew what gluten was before. Now I know exactly what it is, and it's everything I want!"
The single best investment you can make is something most people wouldn't guess: It's investing in yourself. Investing in yourself can make you a millionaire - without having to worry about what the stock market is doing.
How do you invest in yourself? It's S.I.M.P.L.E.:
S - Strive for Perfect Credit
As I explain in my book, 'Perfect Credit: 7 Steps to a Great Credit Rating,' having pristine credit is often better than cash in the bank. With A-1 credit, you get the best rates on car loans, credit cards and mortgages. You also position yourself for good jobs and promotions, since employers are increasingly conducting employment-related credit checks when deciding whom to hire and promote. For loans and career opportunities, having outstanding credit will help you save or earn hundreds of thousands of dollars during your life.
I - Improve your education
Consider earning a degree if you don't have one, because U.S. Labor Department statistics show that college graduates earn 62% more money than high school graduates. Over a lifetime, that translates into a $1 million earnings gap.
M - Make it a lifelong endeavor to increase your knowledge, training and skills
Constantly upgrading your skills makes you more marketable and attractive to employers. Focus on a variety of areas: communication skills, job skills, and technical skills, along with leadership and management skills, too.
P - Put money in your own business
Entrepreneurs are far wealthier than most corporate employees. In fact, 6 out of 10 millionaires in the U.S. are self-employed. Check out The Money Coach's Guide to Your First Million for success strategies of the wealthy.
L - Learn to give back
You reap what you sow. But don't just give to receive. Give in order to help others and you'll find yourself rewarded in many ways. You can give money, but you can also donate your time, talent and resources.
E - Earn more by creating stability in your personal and professional life
Constantly "trading up" is expensive - whether you're talking cars or relationships. Don't lease new cars every year or two; that's wasting money. And don't let your love life become a revolving door. Divorce is expensive, and often takes two to five years to recover from financially. Instead, maintain stability. Besides, banks and employers alike prefer to see longevity. So unless you're unhappy or unfulfilled, stay with the same company instead of job-hopping every year. Also, keep the same address/phone/email instead of making frequent moves. That looks bad.
Taking these actions above to invest in yourself is a "sure thing" - far less risky than gambling on Wall Street.
Follow me on Twitter for more financial tips. Also, share your thoughts on this topic: What have you done to invest in yourself?
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.'
From portraying President David Palmer on TV's '24' and Jonas Blane on the series 'The Unit,' to his voice as the feature in the ubiquitous Allstate commercials, Dennis Haysbert has been a fixture on the small screen for years.
There's also his film roles on 'Major League,' 'Waiting To Exhale,' and 'Love and Basketball,' to name a few.
Now, the San Mateo, California native is taking his skills to the Great White Way, performing with Eddie Izzard in David Mamet's Broadway play, 'Race.'
The 54 year-old is replacing David Alan Grier as Henry Brown, one of two partners who think about defending a white man accused of sexual assaulting a black woman in the critical acclaim work.
Black Voices caught with the veteran actor as he makes his debut on the Great White Way. Below are excerpts of the conversation.
You've been acting for a long time. What took you so long to get to Broadway?
Dennis Haysbert: Well, the right vehicle. I had started a family years ago and they're finally getting old enough that they're almost out of the house so there's time to do Broadway. Otherwise it's a bit of a luxury. Everyone knows that you don't do Broadway for the money and so it was just a matter of finding the right vehicle at the right time and making it work. This is the time.
Now that you're on Broadway how does it feel, and have you been getting used to the seven or eight shows a week?
DH: I'm getting used to it. I still have a few more weeks to go and I enjoy it. I enjoy it immensely. But I'll tell you, I'll never complain about being tired again.
For a character like this, where you play a lawyer, did you do any research for the character other than just the rehearsals?
DH: Well, the rehearsals are what you needed. It was a very intense three week period which is about half the time that you normally get for a Broadway production. So it was very intense. If you don't have your character down by then I don't think you're going to get him. So that's all the preparation I needed. I just have to make sure that I get my rest and get ready for that hour and half marathon because once it starts you know it doesn't stop. There's no take two.
What's it been like working with this cast? Was that intense rehearsal enough to build a chemistry that shows onstage during the show?
DH: The chemistry is absolutely fantastic. Eddie [Izzard] and I are the new members of this cast. Richard Thomas and Afton C. Williamson have been with the show since day one and so they're very helpful and very supportive in ushering the two of us into this glorious beast, as I call it. It's a lot of fun.
How's working with David Mamet?
DH: I worked with David for four years on 'The Unit'. So, it's good to be working with him again.
Speaking of 'The Unit', we're you upset that it was canceled after four seasons?
DH: Yes. I wasn't pleased. I think we had a great show. I think we still had a very viable audience. We were seen by a lot of people. Actually, our audience was a lot bigger than the Nielsen ratings would show. We were number one in the military and among their families. So it was a little disheartening to learn that we were not coming back.
You have had high visibility for years with 'The Unit', '24' and even the All State commercials. What sort of reaction do you get when people see on the street?
DH: I get a myriad of reactions, anything from 'Major League' to 'The Unit' to the All State commercials to some of the other films that I've done. 'Far From Heaven'. I get it all which is great, especially in New York because people are so film and television literate here. I had someone mention 'Suture' to me. I was blown away. New Yorkers know their stuff. I like it.
Two of your films have had anniversaries this year. One is 'Love and Basketball' which is celebrating it's 10th anniversary and the second one is 'Waiting to Exhale' which is celebrating it's 15th. Terry MicMillan wrote a sequel to that one. Any thoughts on that?
DH: I think it's a great idea. I don't know whether I'm in it or not, whether my character is in it. We will see, but I think it's a fantastic idea if it's true.
If there was biopic that you could do who would you choose to play?
DH: A biopic. That's a good question, a very, very good question. I was actually thinking about this other day. Booker T. Washington. He's a very controversial character in history and people have painted him in a very, very differing light and it would be nice to shed some light on that story, do a somewhat definitive story on his life.
You've had a good TV run and always seem like you're in demand. Was that always the case? I'm sure every actor struggles at some point but at this point in your career are things a little easier than it was for you when you started?
DH: Yes, they are, a little bit. It's all a matter of choice now, what you chose to do. What can you do that can define who you are and where you're going. I'm looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to maybe combining what David Palmer and Jonas Blane are or getting back to some romantic drama. I just want to do something provocative and scintillating and interesting, something that people can vibe to and want to see week in and week out. Or even want to come to a theater, sit down and relax and see.
An Ohio woman who helped counsel countless couples experiencing marital discord was found stabbed to death on Monday. Police arrested and charged her husband with the brutal murder.
Tonya Hunter(pictured below), owner of the marriage counseling service Success 1 Services in Bedford Heights, Ohio, met her husband, Maurice Lyons (pictured above), last year, when he attended a class that she taught on anger management. The 42-year-old woman married Lyons last December, but almost immediately, the marriage grew sour because it was fraught with financial problems: Hunter owned two homes, which are both facing foreclosure; had college loans; credit cards; and a car loan debt that totaled to nearly $500,000.
There were two police reports filed by Hunter against her husband for domestic violence. The last complaint was filed two weeks ago. According to police investigators, this report stated that Lyons appeared to be high on drugs and was demanding money from Hunter. "The defendant then pushed Hunter/spouse against the kitchen sink." Hunter's 4-year-old son witnessed the beating.
Hunter, who was pursuing a doctoral degree in marriage and family counseling at the University of Akron in addition to teaching at the University of Phoenix, ran a domestic violence group session every Wednesday at her office. Ironically, her website states that her company's services will "provide you with the knowledge and understanding of how relationships works and how problems can be resolved in even the most challenging situations."
When Lyons met his wife, he had been recently released from prison. He had served time in Illinois for aggravated battery, intimidation and vehicular invasion. The repeat offender also has a criminal record in Missouri and Ohio. People thought that the pairing of both Hunter and Lyons was very odd. Hunter was viewed as being outgoing and friendly, while Lyons was quiet and reserved.
Two weeks ago, with her young son in tow, Hunter had visited various building personnel where she worked, , to tell them to call the police immediately if they saw Lyons anywhere near the building. Many people in the office building had known about Lyon's prison record, and some even changed the locks on their doors when warned by Hunter.
Hunter called police to complain that she had been inundated with threatening phone calls from Lyons, where he allegedly said he wanted to punch her in the face and kill her. On July 20th, police issued a warrant for Lyon's arrest.
A week before she was found dead, Lyons could not be found. When Hunter was discovered stabbed to death in her building's parking garage, her son was dropped off on a street corner. Investigators did not state who abandoned the boy on the street. The little boy was taken to county social workers and interviewed, where he said that his mother was killed and lying in a garage.
Lyons was booked this week on charges of aggravated murder and domestic violence. Here's the thing, most past convicts are usually attempting to readjust to society's values, norms and relationships outside prison walls.
Why this educated woman would marry and have a child with a man who was convicted of aggravated assault is beyond me.
I'm not saying people don't change, but what I am saying is that this man couldn't have had that much to offer her. Lyons was enrolled in Hunter's anger management classes, for goodness sake. Clearly he needed some time to become stable both mentally and physically. Hunter was getting her doctorate in marriage and family counseling. As a professional, she should have left this one alone.
And what of the poor 4-year-old? How will he become anything different from his father when he has witnessed battery and possibly murder. With no Mother, and a Father who has abandoned him, who will love and nurture this child? As Mothers, we have to do better with our choices in men. If we can't at least do it for ourselves, we should at least do it for our children.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
Glenn Beck's vitriolic language and over-the-top attacks on various groups that he deems as deviant, communist or plotters to overthrow the American way of life, may have almost turned deadly.
For who knows what reason, Beck has targeted a relatively obscure, left-leaning organization called the "Tides Foundation." The group, on its website, says that its mission is "to partner with philanthropists, foundations, activists and organizations across the country and across the globe to promote economic justice, robust democratic processes and the opportunity to live in a healthy and sustainable environment, where human rights are preserved and protected."
According to MediaMatters, the Tides Foundation was mentioned on Fox News 31 times, 29 of them by Beck. The other two were by Sean Hannity. Beck called the group thugs who indoctrinate schoolchildren on his July 14th show.
On July 18th, police pulled over a two-strike felon named Byron Williams (pictured). He was allegedly wearing body armor and had an extensive amount of ammunition in his car. He allegedly opened fire on the California Highway Police, and more than 60 rounds were exchanged.
Where was Williams headed? According to Oakland police, Williams, 45, said "his intention was to start a revolution by traveling to San Francisco and killing people of importance at the Tides Foundation and the ACLU."
Williams' mother said that he was angry at left-leaning politicians, watched a lot of television and was angry at "what's happening to our country," especially "the way Congress was railroading through all these left-wing agenda items."
This should be a wake-up call for all of the people who think Beck's rhetoric is a joke. It is potentially fatal. Words have the power to spark people into action. And when Beck's paranoid rhetoric reaches mentally unstable people down on their luck, this is what happens.
And don't forget about the unhingedresponse when health care reform was passed in March: "Get down on your knees and pray. Pray. It's September 11th all over again, except that we didn't have the collapsing buildings." After financial reform passed last week, Beck told his audience, "Your republic is over."
Meanwhile, Andrew Breitbart's website recently tagged Obama as the "suicide-bomber-in-chief," while the conservative Washington Times just last week published an op-ed -- by a former congressman, no less -- asserting the president poses more of a threat to America than al Qaeda.
I wonder what Beck would have said if Williams succeeded with his plan and innocent people were murdered because of their political leanings.
"On occasion, the shadow of violence falls on American civic life and it should never be accepted or tolerated. Often, it is encouraged by partisan voices who label activities of which they disapprove by suggesting they are "anti-American" or some other epithet," Tides CEO Drummond Pike said in a statement.
"This incident serves to remind us that it should be the obligation of every American, especially those whose voices are amplified by the media, to foster civil discourse and dialogue among those who may disagree about public matters. One does not win an argument by inciting unbalanced people to violence. As Americans, we know we are best at solving problems when we reach broadly across boundaries for the best of ideas. Intolerance that closes our eyes defeats our aspirations."
The sad part is that commentators like Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly spew this potentially fatal rhetoric for money. They've gotten rich by spreading fear, lies and paranoia of the type seen in the Shirley Sherrod and New Black Panther Party cases. As Professor Michael Eric Dyson said, the Far Right is using the fact that we have a black president to stir already existent racial paranoia.
Corporate entities need to be held responsible for allowing this dangerous rhetoric that is not based on fact in the air.
The irony of it all is that Williams' mother said her son was upset after he got out of prison, because of the amount of unemployment he was receiving and that he couldn't find work as a cabinet maker because of his criminal record.
The ACLU and Tides foundation probably did more to improve those issues yesterday than someone like Beck has done in his entire life.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
Jack Tatum, a safety for the Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1979, was known for two things: knocking the hell out of an offensive player and paralyzing New England Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game. Tatum died at 61 on Tuesday, after a massive heart attack. According to the Associated Press, Tatum was dealing with diabetes and other health problems for the last several years.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of Jack Tatum's passing. Jack was a true Raider champion and a true Raider warrior," The Raiders said in a statement on their website. "He was a great player and person and has been a big part of our lives since we drafted him in 1971 as a first round pick out of Ohio State. "Jack was the standard bearer and an inspiration for the position of safety throughout college and professional football. Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes go out to his wife Denise and family."
In the '70s, Tatum sent fear in to the hearts of wide receivers trying to catch a pass across the middle or in the open field. He wasn't called "The Assassin" for nothing. It was just another day at the office to see Tatum knock a helmet off of a receiver or knock the wind out of a running back, but his most controversial hit came when he tackled Stingley.
In the preseason game, Stingley was lunging for a pass that fell incomplete while Tatum was coming at him full speed. While Stingley was off-balance, Tatum hit him severing Stingley's fourth and fifth vertebrae. Stingley spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair, dying in 2007. Even though it was a clean and legal hit, Tatum was criticized for never apologizing for it. While he did want to speak with Stingley after the hit, that never happened over the close to 30 years after the incident.
"It's not so much that Darryl doesn't want to, but it's the people around him," Tatum told the Oakland Tribune in 2004 about trying to connect and meet up with Stingley. "So we haven't been able to get through that. Every time we plan something, it gets messed up. Getting to him or him getting back to me, it never happens."
But it's not as if Tatum didn't feel bad for what happened to Stingley. According to John Hicks, a close friend and former Ohio State teammate of Tatum, that incident stuck with him for the rest of his life.
"It was tough on him too," Hicks said of Tatum. "He wasn't the same person after that [hit]. For years he was almost a recluse."
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
20-July-10 - Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice-T was reportedly pulled over by New York City police officers early on Tuesday for driving without a seat belt.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
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. 
Already cast in the film are James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr, Alice Eve as Emma Frost, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Lucas Till as Havok, and Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, 
Glenn Beck's 
