As the holiday season approaches, I remember singing Christmas carols as a child. "Grand Wizard the Snowman was a very jolly soul!" La, La, Laaaaa.....
Wait, you didn't sing about the Grand Wizard when you were kids? Well then, you must not be from Hayden, Idaho. Because the folks in Hayden keeps it REAL.
Apparently, one resident from Hayden, Idaho has decided to show his holiday spirit by creating a Ku Klux Klansman out of snow, complete with a pointy hat, dark eyes and noose. That's so Christmas-sy!!
A self-proclaimed white separatist showed his a** drew complaints from neighbors and received a visit from law enforcement officers after erecting Grand Wizard the Snowman this week.
Markus Eliseuson was told by the police that he could be charged with a crime because the snowman was holding a noose. Deputies were reportedly called by neighbors who were appalled by the pointy-headed snowman with two dark eyes.
It is unclear whether Eliseuson is a member but he has earned notoriety in recent years for being near the former compound of the Aryan Nation. Wow, they have a compound? I thought they only existed as a dramatic foil in TV shows?
Eliseuson could have been charged with creating a public nuisance. Idaho law defines a public nuisance as anything the community deemed "offensive to the senses" or that interferes with the comfort of an entire neighborhood.
The noose has since been removed. Which is sad! What's a KKK snowman without the noose? How can you celebrate Christmas without the symbol representing the lynching of black people in front of your home??? I know I can't.
So, as you enjoy your holiday season, think about that poor lonely Grand Wizard without his noose and remember those who are less fortunate this year. What has become of America when Grand Wizard the Snowman can't have his noose? Too much government intrusion, I'd say. Keep the government out of my snow!
Personally, I am going to stay off Twitter until the KKK Snowman's noose is returned.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
12-Nov-10 - In a case better suited for Judge Mathis, Paula Cook is proceeding with her civil suit against Fantasia Barrino for an antiquated legal cause of action called "Alienation of Affection" in a North Carolina court.
It turns out that U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York was just wasting time in trying to evade the punishment of censure that his colleagues in the House of Representatives had in mind for his ethical violations.
But in an overwhelming vote Thursday, Rangel became just the 23rd House member to receive censure, which required Rangel to stand before the House like a misbehaving schoolboy and be chastised by the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
All that happened after the House voted 333-79 to censure the veteran lawmaker from Harlem who fought in recent days to have the censure reduced to a simple reprimand, a lighter punishment.
Last month, Rangel was convicted by the House Ethics Committee last month of 11 violations including tax evasion, filing misleading financial statements and improperly seeking money from corporations.
While Rangel's 40 years of service in the House on behalf of New Yorkers is a credit to his record, the scandal of the past two years will add a thick layer of tarnish to his accomplishments.
Even in his short statement on the House floor after the vote, Rangel came up a clunker when talking of the "political" nature of the vote against him. But if the vote was so political, why did a large majority of his fellow Democrats also vote in favor of censure instead of the lighter punishment?
Perhaps they heard from angry constituents who have grown weary of regular people having to follow one set of rules and lawmakers, who should be held to greater scrutiny, following a whole separate set of regulations.
Rangel avoided paying all his taxes on his vacation home in the Dominican Republic for 17 years. I fear where I would end up if I was lucky enough to have a summer home in the Dominican and decided not to give Uncle Sam his full cut.
Rangel has also repeated that while he made mistakes, none of them benefited him financially.
Charlie! Keeping money from the government to keep in your pockets benefits you financially. Any school kid can see that.
It's good that the Rangel saga is now over. The old lawmaker has been sufficiently punished for his misdeeds. He gets to go back to his office and serve the people of Harlem. And the nation can see that a silver tongue and friends in high places can't always get you off the hook when you do wrong.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
12-Nov-10 - In a case better suited for Judge Mathis, Paula Cook is proceeding with her civil suit against Fantasia Barrino for an antiquated legal cause of action called "Alienation of Affection" in a North Carolina court.
Commentators wondered out loud how LeBron James would respond to the heat of Cleveland with his own Miami Heat. They didn't know if LeBron would choke under hostile conditions, if he would make himself weak and contrite in the face of unprecedented animosity. They didn't know if the haters would get the best of him.
Well, you can stop asking your questions, because King James showed up in full effect.
James first showed that he wasn't intimidated by the his new Cleveland enemies by doing his famous "powder toss" in front of a stack of booing fans. The same people who once cheered for the move were screaming in disapproval. His toss of powder into the air was LeBron's way of saying, "I ain't scared of non of ya'll."
At that point, the rest was history. King James had nearly 40 points after just three quarters, putting a hurting on Cleveland that is rarely experienced by any NBA team on their own home court. Toward the end of the game, James was laughing on the bench with his teammates, watching the third string of the Heat nurse a 30-point lead. The final score of 118-90 was one of the most resounding NBA statements made this season, and King James has made it abundantly clear that his greatness will not be denied.
After the game, James refused to apologize for leaving Cleveland the way that he did. Stating that he has the utmost respect for the organization and it's fans, he thanked them for seven great years and admitted that he was glad to host his ESPN special to raise money for kids. I applauded his honesty, since LeBron doesn't owe anyone an apology for exercising his labor rights. At worst, nasty Cavs fans should apologize for being so disrespectful. Oh yea, this was the first time the Heat has won in Cleveland since 2007. They'd lost five straight time to...hmmmm....oh yeah, LeBron James. He gave the world to that city, and it's shameful that people have shown such disrespect.
A black man with a history of drug crimes, somewhere between 25 and 40 years old, is hanging on the streets with a gun-toting pal.
That man is the New Yorker most likely to be murdered in 2010.
A Daily News review of the latest NYPD crime statistics shows drugs are a factor in at least half of city homicides - and two out of three victims are black.
Stats through Tuesday reveal 49% of all murder victims are involved with drug use and/or drug sales. The figure is 53% for murder suspects.
The numbers say 67% of murder victims are black, with 25% Hispanic and just 4% white.
In 12% of city slayings, drugs are the exclusive motive. Police say that figure is much higher when other factors such as previous disputes and criminal histories of victims and suspects are included.
Much of the data mirrors past years, when black men were most often targeted in fatal shootings.
Tony Fields, whose barbershop sits in the city's most lethal precinct, never noticed much change around his East New York business. "It's not that complicated," said Fields, 44. "Lots of guns and drugs equals a high murder rate. Get rid of the drugs. Get rid of the guns. Get rid of the murders."
Retired Correction Officer Tony Armstrong, 47, said the neighborhood's reputation for mayhem was nothing new.
"I'm not surprised that we have the highest murder rate," he said. "It's East New York."
The Rev. Al Sharpton said the homicide numbers were unsurprising and unacceptable.
"The most racially biased thing we could do would be to act like it's normal - that we are helpless to change things," Sharpton said. "We are not. But we need to change the culture. It breaks my heart when I see kids wearing Scarface T-shirts instead of Malcolm X T-shirts. That's making the culture of dealing drugs acceptable."
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.
Despite the dark cloud of fear that the HIV virus has cast, there have been some breakthroughs that is causing many to cheer. Here, the five most positive facts to help us believe that one day the world just might become HIV/AIDS free:
#1 Infection rates are down
Since peaking in the mid-1980s, the number of Americans infected with HIV has dropped from 130,000 per year to an estimated 56,300 - still a considerably high number. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the decline is due to prevention efforts taken including long-awaited research advances, record-high HIV testing rates in the United States and a bold new national HIV/AIDS strategy to reduce the burden of the disease.
#2 Pope encourages condom use (in certain situations) to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS
Last month, Pope Benedict XVI took a departure from the Catholic Church's long-opposed use of condoms because it's a form of artificial contraception to encourage its 1.166 billion followers to use them as a method to prevent spreading the AIDS virus. The pontiff continues to stand by the church's belief that abstinence and marital fidelity are the only ways to prevent HIV.
#3 Vaginal gel significantly reduces HIV infection
In July, a new study in South Africa revealed that a vaginal microbicide gel containing the drug tenofovir reduced HIV risk among women by 39 percent. Another surprise discovery is that the gel, which could become available in the U.S. in 2013, also reduced the risk of genital herpes infection.
#4 Truvada pill reduces odds of HIV infections in men
A study released last week found that daily intake of Truvada, a pill containing two HIV antiretroviral medications, reduced HIV risk among gay and bisexual men when used with other prevention methods, including condoms. This approach is called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and the CDC is currently partnering with federal agencies to develop guidelines for the use of PrEP among gay and bisexual men in this country.
#5 Rise in funding health programs in poor countries
According the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the amount of money public and private donors give for health assistance for developing countries has risen from $5.66 billion in 1990 to $26.87 billion in 2010. HIV/AIDS programs are the most funded of all of the health programs, according to the IHME.
Former teen R&B hearthrob Jermaine Jackson is knee deep in child support woes. Reportedly, the crooner owes his ex so much in back child support payments that his driver's license has been confiscated.
According to TMZ, Jackson owes an astounding $91,921.55 for the two children he fathered with ex-wife, Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza (pictured above during happier times with Jackson). When the couple separated back in 2004, after a nine-year alleged marriage, Jackson discovered that Oaziaza had not gotten a divorce from her first husband so their union was annulled. Since then, the celeb couple has duked it out publicly over custody and finances.
Jackson was court-ordered to pay his ex $3,000 a month for his sons, Jaafar and Jermajesty. Back in September, Jackson cried the blues,to an L.A. County Superior Court judge and tried to have his monthly child support obligation cut to $215. He claimed, and still does, that his monthly income does not exceed $1,448 and that Oaziaza, who also has three children with his younger brother Randy, was better off financially.
Now Jackson's child support papers have been turned over to the L.A. County Child Support Services Department, and they are claiming that the entertainer has been negligent in informing them whether he works full or part-time. They also say that he was not forthcoming in providing further documentation of income sources, such as royalties or residuals. Now the Department has confiscated Jackson's driver's license until he satisfies his outstanding debt.
In the past, peeved off Oaziaza has argued that Jackson has lied about his income. Most notably, she claims, that Jackson still drives expensive vehicles like the blinged out Rolls-Royce paparazzi caught him cleaning at a do-it-yourself car wash earlier this year.
The miffed Mom also told the courts that Jackson still lives in the same Calabasas, Calif., mansion they shared as a couple. Oaziaza also pointed out that he received a $450,000 one-time payment for appearing on the reality show "Big Brother" back in 2007. Lastly, Jackson earned monies for co-starring with three of his legendary brothers last year on the A&E reality show "The Jacksons, A Family Dynasty."
Until Jackson can come up with the loot, though, his Rolls-Royce might just become a dust-catcher!
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
12-Nov-10 - In a case better suited for Judge Mathis, Paula Cook is proceeding with her civil suit against Fantasia Barrino for an antiquated legal cause of action called "Alienation of Affection" in a North Carolina court.
Tynielle Silvera was the kind of person we all want our children to be. She was making good grades, on her way to college and even tutoring other kids in the neighborhood. She was planning on becoming an attorney, and had become her mother's pride and joy.
Silvera's dreams for the future came to a screeching halt this week, as she was run down by a drunk driver as she was crossing the street.
The perpetrator of the crime, Kenneth Serwan, is a 46-year old married father of three who'd been convicted of drunk driving in the past. He is being held on $100,000 bail. At the time of her death, Tynielle was crossing the highway to take the train back home after heading to Bedford-Stuyvesant, where she'd been tutoring 13-year old Leanora Genus.
Genus said that Silvera was like a sister or best friend to her, and always motivated her to strive for her goals. Serwan's decision to drink and drive that day caused the painful and instant death of the dreams of two young women. He should be ashamed of his choices, as should anyone who has even taken a chance on getting behind the wheel after drinking.
A recent study showed that alcohol is the most costly drug in our society, ranking ahead of crack, heroine and crystal meth. The high price of this drug of choice comes not just from the damage it does to the individual, but also from what it does to the rest of us. Millions of people are affected each year by alcohol-related incidents, including drunk driving accidents, rape, domestic violence, etc. If we are going to protect the Tynielle Silveras of the world, we must confront the demon of alcohol consumption.
Even more harmful for Tynielle is that she would have been affected by alcohol if she'd gone to college. Over 92,000 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 report being victims of sexual assault committed by someone under the influence of alcohol. Also, 42 percent of college students admit to binge drinking. I've spent the last 20 years of my life on a college campus, and I can say that this accident wouldn't have been the last time that Tynielle's life would be significantly altered by alcohol.
I was at dinner once with a colleague that I worked with every single day. I respected the brother a great deal, but he honestly liked to drink too much. Once, when we went to dinner and I saw him gulp down several drinks before the meal, a few more during the meal and even more after the meal. I then sat there like an idiot as he grabbed his car keys, got behind the wheel and drove home.
I may never forgive myself for not speaking up that day. I should have stopped him from getting into that car. I did confront him a few months later about his drinking, telling him that he is not only jeopardizing his own life, but that he is risking the lives of others and sending the wrong message to the students who looked up to him. He never spoke to me again and I lost a friend for life. Truth be told, I could care less about losing a friend that day, because he needed to be confronted.
When we see others who drink too much or consider getting behind the wheel after drinking, it is our obligation to stop them, no matter what it takes. It may be uncomfortable, and it may cause a confrontation. But by stopping a person from drinking and driving, we might be saving the life of an innocent victim. Tynielle Silvera had a future, and alcohol killed it. The tears of her mother should be etched in our hearts, and we must stop stand up to the demon of alcohol.
An 18-month-old Charleston, S.C., toddler is in critical condition, after police investigators say he was beaten by three teens as he hung upside down by his ankles in a closet.
The child's mother Shakera Suncelaree Wright (pictured), 18, told the Department of Social Services (DSS) case workers that she was visiting friend Tyrek Varnes, 16, at his home. Varnes had two other friends, a 14 and 15-year-old visiting him as well (the younger teens have not been identified due to their age).
Reportedly, the youth were "play wrestling" with the young victim, Louis. Wright saw the kids pummeling her son, hitting him repeatedly in the stomach and chest, and told police and DSS she told the kids to stop when she felt the child had endured enough.
Later, on the night of the alleged "play wrestling," Wright put her child in bed with Varnes and then went to the adjoining room, which belonged to the teen's twin sister, to sleep. The following morning, Varnes' mother woke her son up and he left for school. When Wright checked on Louis, she noticed that he looked dazed. The Mom said, "He looked like he wanted to die."
After repeated attempts to get the toddler to come around, Wright contacted her son's father, who advised her to call for an ambulance. When the child arrived at the hospital, he was already suffering respiratory distress. Louis was immediately moved to the intensive care unit of the hospital, and there, attending physicians noticed pronounced bruising throughout his torso.
When doctors performed a CAT scan on the toddler, they discovered five rib fractures, air and blood in his thorax, multiple lacerations of his liver, spleen and pancreas. The child was in shock and the scan also showed that he had suffered a skull fracture at some point, but they could not determine when it had occurred.
After reviewing the results of the scan, the physicians promptly called police and DSS.
Interestingly enough, the police report also revealed that Wright had told Louis' grandmother, she did not know how he had sustained his bruises, and she even speculated that he might have just fallen and hurt himself.
Wright and Varnes, along with the 14- and- 15-year-old teens were all charged with infliction or allowing infliction to great bodily injury to a child. Varnes was charged as an adult, and he also confessed everyone's role in the toddler's abuse to police.
The felony charge carries a 20-year sentence if they are all convicted.
There are so many questions to be answered in this incident: Wright is said to have put the toddler in Varnes' bed. Why would she do that? Varnes is not identified as the Father. He is just identified as some random friend.
I'll ask again: Why would a Mother leave her child in the bed of a "friend." What responsiblie Mother does that? I guess the operative word here is "responsible." Wright just witnessed these fools inappropriately play fighting with her child. That wasn't enough?
Here is what I want to know: Will this child be rehabilitated? Will he speak properly, walk properly. Will he read? Will he play? Will he laugh? Will he breathe? Can this child just live? What future, if he makes it, is waiting for this child? Tell me why this child's spirit even wants to stick around. Tell me.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
12-Nov-10 - In a case better suited for Judge Mathis, Paula Cook is proceeding with her civil suit against Fantasia Barrino for an antiquated legal cause of action called "Alienation of Affection" in a North Carolina court.
Tanya Hamilton's directorial debut, 'Night Catches Us,' tackles the Black Panther movement through its two leads, Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie. It's a provocative and powerful drama that moves with solid acting from the ensemble cast.
Set in Philadelphia during 1976, Marcus (played by Mackie) returns home under a cloud of suspicion from the community, including his Muslim brother Bostic (played by The Roots member Tariq Trotter) and old buddies from the Black Panther. The theory is that he left town to avoid the wrath from new leader Dwayne 'DoRight' Miller (played by 'The Wire's Jamie Hector) for allegedly ratting out on a member/best friend to the FBI.
His only trusted friend who's waiting to see him but doesn't want to discuss the past is his best friend's wife and former BP member Patricia (played by Washington). Having given up that life to be a successful attorney, Patty welcomes Marcus home but encourages him to leave his past behind and move forward like she did.
Bringing the past to the forefront is Pat's cousin, Jimmy (played by Amari Cheatom), who continues to provoke the police with his shenanigans and Pat's daughter Iris (played by newcomer Tamara Griffin), who's eagerly pursuing answers to her father's death.
With a renewed emotional relationship that threatens to change the lives of Pat and Marcus, the only way for peace to exist is for everyone involved to come out with the truth before tensions rise among the cops and the community.
The power behind the film is the acting from the ensemble cast from Mackie, Washington, Wendell Pierce, Cheatom and the debut performance from Griffin. Tackling the Black Panther movement is a bold move from Hamilton as she uses stock footage within the film, but it's also what keeps one entertained and enlightened.
The past is what people remember and at times forget, and here's a film where you get a subject matter and story that folks can relate to and walk away pleased with Hamilton's first film.
From the looks of it, Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj have a lot in common. The two pint-sized rappers, who both reside from The Big Apple, both made splashy impacts as soon as their music careers were launched. And although, at one point, they seemed to be bosom buddies, recent events have turned their verbal sparring into a hip hop battle royale.
As of late, the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop superstar has decided to take her beef with her should-be protege to wax. This is in response to Minaj's 'Roman's Revenge' duet with Eminem, which many believe to be a verbal thrashing on the self-proclaimed Queen Bitch. In true old-school rap fashion, Kim popped back with a searing diss track, titled 'Black Friday,' a dark reference to the newly-minted pop star's debut opus 'Pink Friday.'
They might be in the midst of an all-out, old-school rap war of words, but these two MCs are more alike than they'd like to admit. BlackVoices.com takes a look at the many similarities and few differences between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim.
(L.K.) Birthday: July 11 (N.M.) Birthday: December 8
(L.K.) Age: 34 (N.M.) Age: 25
(L.K.) Rap Posse/Group: Junior M.A.F.I.A. (N.M.) Rap Posse/Group: Young Money
(L.K.) Note-worthy Cameos: 'Get Money' with Junior Mafia; 'Crush on You' with Lil' Cease; and 'Lady Marmalade' with Pink, Mya, Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott, and Christina Aguilera (N.M.) Note-worthy Cameos: 'Monster' with Kanye West, Jay-Z and Rick Ross; 'Bedrock' with Young Money; 'Bottoms Up' with Trey Songz
(L.K.) Endorsements: Three Olives Vodka, Mac Viva Glam III, Old Navy (N.M.) Endorsements: Mac 'Pink Friday' lipstick
(L.K.) Superstar rap mentor: The Notorious B.I.G. (N.M.) Superstar rap mentor: Lil' Wayne
(L.K.) Hometown: Brooklyn, New York (N.M.) Hometown: Queens, New York
(L.K.) Rap alter ego: The Queen B (Bitch) (N.M.) Rap alter ego: Barbie, Roman Polanski
(L.K.) Acting Out: Appeared in the films, 'Juwanna Mann' and 'She's All That'; judged the reality competition 'The Search For The Next Doll' and also competed on 'Dancing with the Stars.' (N.M.) Acting Out: Attended LaGuardia High School in New York City, the school that inspired the movie and television show 'Fame.'
(L.K.) Unpaid Plugs For High End Fashion Designers: "I drop 30 or more in Christian Dior" (N.M.) Unpaid Plugs For High End Fashion Designers: "Monster Guiseppi heel/ That's the Monster shoe."
(L.K.) Augmentations: Nose, cheeks, eyes and breasts (N.M.) Augmentations: Buttocks and breasts
(L.K.) Nasty As She Wanna Be: On her debut 'Hard Core,' the self-proclaimed 'Queen B**ch' was the first female MC to boast and brag about her bedroom behavior in songs like 'Big Momma Thang' and with lyrics like "I used to be scared of the d**k/Now I throw lips to the s**t/handle it like a real b**ch." (N.M.) Nasty As She Wanna Be: With half of her stage name being 'minaj' a reference to the French phrase 'Menage A Trois,' the Queens MC has never been shy about discussing threesomes and famously does so in Usher's hit song 'Little Freak' with lyrics like "I'm looking for a cutie/a real big ol' ghetto booty."
(L.K.) Raunchy Collaboration: 'Magic Stick' with 50 Cent (N.M) Raunchy Collaboration: 'Little Freak' with Usher
(L.K.) Diddy Did It: Shortly after her mentor/lover Notorious B.I.G. died, Kim joined forces with Sean 'Diddy' Combs on the song 'Notorious' and in other business ventures. Diddy also made a splashy earlier appearance on Kim's 1996 hit song, 'No Time.' (N.M.) Diddy Did It: Minaj enlisted Diddy and his former Bad Boy Records employee James Cruz to co-manage her career in the summer of 2010.
(L.K.) Blonde Ambition: In the video for 'Crush on You,' Kim was a chameleon rocking a different wig and outfit, including yellow, red, blue and green, in several of the video's scenes. (N.M.) Blonde Ambition: Though her signature hair color is pink, Nicki loves to don two-tone weave pieces, particularly long blond wigs with pink tips. (L.K.) Crazy for Jay-Z: Kim and Jay-Z got their start around the same time and collaborated on two songs - Jay-Z's 'I Know What Girls Like' and The Queen B's 'Big Momma Thang.' She even was rumored to be signing to his Roc Nation label in 2010, although those rumors have not been confirmed. (N.M.) Crazy for Jay-Z: Nicki appeared on Kanye West's star-studded track, 'Monster' alongside Jay-Z and Rick Ross. He also brought her out to perform the song at his Yankee Stadium tour-stop with Eminem.
(L.K.) Mag Swag: She's appeared on virtually every hip-hop monthly, but at the height of her career, Lil' Kim was a fashion darling. Her most well-known fashion magazine spread was for 'Interview' magazine, where she appeared nude, and only wearing a leather Louis Vuitton skull cap. Her body was covered with the the luxury fashion brand's insignia and she was interviewed by designer Marc Jacobs. (N.M) Mag Swag: On the heels of her debut album's release, she appeared on the covers of Vibe and Billboard magazines and made heads turn for a colorful outfit she wore on the over of 'Out' magazine. (L.K.) Diva Duets: Collaborated with Mary J. Blige on 'I Can Love You,' and Grace Jones on 'Revolution' (N.M.)Diva Duets: Collaborated with Mariah Carey on 'Up Outta My Face' and Rihanna on 'Fly'
(L.K.) Homage To The Past: Sampled Sylvester's 'Was It Something That I Said' for 'Big Momma Thang,' sampled George Benson's 'Turn Your Love Around' for 'Not Tonight' and sampled Shirley Murdock's 'The One I Need' for 'We Don't Need It.' (N.M.) Homage To The Past: Sampled Annie Lennox's 'No More 'I Love You's' for 'Your Love' and sampled Prince's 'Darling Nicki' for 'Blow Your Mind'
Jon Embree is a former tight end for The University of Colorado. He is currently an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins. The rumor mill has it that Embree may soon take the next step of becoming head coach at his alma mater.
Typically, such a bold move by a university to give an African American coach a chance might be applauded. In this case, heads are turning because of confusing remarks made by former Colorado coach Bill McCartney.
McCartney, who was one of three finalists for the job as of Wednesday night, shut down speculation by stating that the university had informally offered the job to Embree. He also went as far as stating that Embree was offered the job because he is African American.
"It was never about me doing it again," McCartney told the Denver Post. "It was about setting the table for a black man to come in (as head coach). And he (athletic director Mike Bohn) hired one. Now, give him a chance."
McCartney went on to say that it was "awesome" that the school offered the job to Embree.
Sorry, but Bill's "awesome" remark at the end is not all that convincing. The fact that former coach McCartney made reference to Embree's race as being the primary reason he was hired implies that he's not giving Embree credit for being the best man for the job. In fact, it almost seems that McCartney is saying that if Embree were white, he would be deemed unqualified. Isn't that what people say when they stigmatize black hires as being beneficiaries of Affirmative Action? Had McCartney simply been an outside observer, his remarks might have more credibility. But the fact that McCartney was competing with Embree for the job says that his ill-conceived statement may be a duplicitous attempt to manipulate the hiring process (the university has not yet made its formal decision) . McCartney is effectively saying that he never had a chance to get the job he desired because the school only wanted the black guy.
I've commented on multiple occasions about the Americanized Apartheid which exists within the NCAA. Although over a billion dollars per year is earned by the NCAA on the backs of black athletes, these athletes are almost never given opportunities to earn any of that money. Not only are their labor rights stripped during college, but they are not being offered coaching jobs when they graduate. Only 3 out of 119 NCAA college football coaches are black, but many of the players earning billions for these campuses with national TV appearances are African American.
Heisman trophy candidate Cam Newton is one case in point. While the nation stood still over a scandalous exchange of $180,000 for Newton's football services, no one noticed that Cam's coach, Gene Chizik, is being offered millions in contract extensions and incentives resulting from Cam's brilliant play on the field. No one in the country turns on an Auburn University football game to see Gene Chizik. But millions of Americans are glued to their TV sets in order to see Cam Newton.
When players like Newton have outlived their short lives on the football field, many of them are in their mid-twenties and uneducated in nearly anything other than the game of football. While I scream at the top of my lungs about the self-destructive nature of throwing away your educational future in exchange for sports, I would at least like to see more of these young men get opportunities to coach in the game they know best. Instead, the NCAA consistently tells them that they were good enough to be uncompensated pieces of meat on the football field, but not good enough to enjoy the riches of standing on the sideline. This is simply insulting.
One of the glaring racial disparities in college sports is the "good old boy network," the one that benefits coaches like Bill McCartney who have the privilege of being able to call up friends at the university who tell him that Embree is only being hired because he is black. One could also take McCartney's argument on race and use the converse: Embree may or may not be getting the opportunity because he is black, but the data clearly show that McCartney would likely never have been a head football coach were he not a white man. So, as much as some would like to complain about the impact of modern day Affirmative Action, we must realize that the Affirmative Action program for white males in America (and the NCAA in particular) has been in existence for the past 400 years.
We all know that best friends share secrets, dating advice -- and in the case of Kim Kardashian and Ciaria -- the same dress! Reality star Kim Kardashian strutted down the streets of Paris in this sweet, poofy taffeta dress by French label Carven. We can't help but adore how she matched the dress with leopard printed Christian Louboutin booties.
Singer Ciaria gave her bestie a run for her money when she hit the red carpet in the same look from head to toe. Both ladies look lovely, but who do you think wore it best, Kim K or Ciara? Let us know BV fashionistas!
Is the Internal Revenue Service targeting African-American and Hispanic taxpayers? That's the conclusion of a new study provided exclusively to Fortune titled "IRS Enforcement's Impact on Minority Communities," conducted by Thomas M. Evans, CEO of TaxLifeboat, a firm that advises taxpayers on resolving their problems with the IRS.
Evans stresses strongly that the disproportionate number of IRS actions against minorities isn't intentional. Rather, he charges, it's the result of overly rigid, highly-automated enforcement policies that waste taxpayer money by pursuing low-earners who either can't pay, or owe virtually nothing.
Worse, it pushes minority workers who were paying some, if not all, of their tax burden from mainstream jobs into the shadowy cash economy. "The IRS enforcement actions drive workers and revenue out of the system," warns Evans. "Once people are caught in that mill, their life changes, and they're forced to stay in the underclass."
The IRS doesn't specify the ethnic background of Americans it hits with enforcement actions. To explore the issue, Evans examined the 1,000 zip codes where the IRS had filed the largest number of liens from July 2009 to July 2010. He then mined the 2000 Census, the most recent source available, to determine the racial makeup of those areas. Evans found that, on average, the populations of those 1,000 locales with the nation's highest level of tax enforcement were 22% African-American and 24% Hispanic. That's approximately double the proportion of those minorities in entire country.
The top twenty zip codes for IRS liens range from sections in big cities such as New York and Chicago to suburbs such as Lawrenceville, Georgia outside of Atlanta, Katy, Texas a suburb of Houston, and New Castle, Delaware, a town near Wilmington.
Hiding in plain sight
Why do IRS actions fall so heavily on minorities? The principal reason is that low-earners, including an outsized number of blacks and Hispanics according to Evans' findings, commit the violations that are easiest to detect. The IRS's powerful computers screen the W-2 forms from employers against the returns filed by individuals. If the worker didn't file a return at all, or if they claim too many exemptions, the IRS automatically launches an "examination." That step frequently leads to an enforcement action, which can trigger severe penalties----garnishing wages, seizing homes, freezing bank accounts or the filing of tax liens that ruin credit ratings.
According to Evans, who advises thousands of low-income clients a year, many workers are so uninformed about the tax system that they think the amount withheld from their paychecks is sufficient payment. Hence, they don't file returns at all.
Others, he says, don't intentionally cheat, but "don't think that it's a priority to be tax compliant." They may neglect to report such items as credit card debt forgiveness, which is classified as income under the tax code. And, says Evans, they simply can't afford the $100 to $300 for an advisor to prepare their returns.
It frequently takes a couple of years for the IRS to present these folks with a bill for back taxes. That number can be scary: Adding interest and penalties doubles the amount due in less than five years.
Remarkably, many of the low-earners with IRS problems don't owe anything. Evans recently worked with a truck driver who hadn't filed a return in seven years, and faced a bill for $60,000. "He'd been paying through withholding," says Evans. "When we finally filed all the returns, and included his deductions, he owed $400."
When the IRS garnishes their wages, many former factory workers or security guards stop looking for higher-paying jobs, or quit their jobs altogether in favor of work in businesses where they're paid in cash. Nor are the enforcement actions cost effective, to say the least. "The IRS has no leverage with the poor, as they would with the affluent," says Evans. In the past eight years, spending on IRS enforcement has increased 17.8% adjusted for inflation. But revenue per enforcement action has fallen by almost one-third.
Evans isn't alone in his criticism of the IRS's pursuit of low-earners. Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, an independent IRS official who reports to Congress on tax issues, said in a recent report, "The IRS policies fail to address the needs of low income taxpayers, and its lien-filing policies are harming and will continue to harm taxpayers' financial viability without strong evidence that they promote future compliance with the tax laws or even bring in substantial revenue."
Through a spokesman, the IRS declined to comment without seeing the report, which will be made public later on Thursday.
-Do you feel that you or your loved ones have been harshly targeted by the IRS, despite not having intentionally violated the tax code with criminal intent?
-What did you do to right any wrongs with Uncle Sam? How did the IRS work with you?
-Will this report change the way you do your taxes? Will you be more careful or invest in a tax preparer now that you know minorities are more likely to be audited?
-What is your feeling about the IRS seeming to come after black celebrities in particular lately, such as Method Man, Wesley Snipes and Kelly Rowland?Could there be unreported racism in the system?
Early word is that Lee Daniels, who directed last year's Oscar nominated film, 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire,' is considering doing a film version of the Broadway musical 'The Scottsboro Boys.'
Apparently, the Philadelphia, PA native has seen the show several times and is in early conversations to develop it, states Deadline.com .
There's no telling what project Daniels is actually lined up to do. He's been in discussion with Sony Pictures to helm 'The Butler' the story of Eugene Allen, an African American servant in the White House over 34 years, who had a unique perspective on the civil rights struggle and was invited back after retirement to witness the inauguration of the first African American president, Barack Obama.
This was after plans to do the Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights March film, 'Selma,' was shelved after funding couldn't be completed for production. Some big names like Hugh Jackman, Liam Neeson and Robert De Niro were initially attached to it.
'The Scottsboro Boys' is based on the 1930s case where nine African American men were wrongly accused of a crime. It won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award when it originated off-Broadway. The musical's director, Susan Stroman, will be an exec producer on the film and producer Barry Weissler will also be part of the producing team.
Although the musical received favorable reviews, it will be closing on December 12 due to low attendance. "We couldn't pay our bills," Weissler said in a telephone interview to Bloomberg.com .
Let's hope Daniels can find a get a distributor with deep pockets to finance the film and get it in theaters.
Forever Lazy is a new product similar to a Snuggie, yet more like adult footed pajamas -- with a hood and a flap in the back! Forever Lazy may sound crazy, but it only makes sense that as more and more Americans are out of work or worried about the economy, many will be looking to make do with less. With winter coming, this means making monthly heating bills as low as possible. Of course that is what the original Snuggie is for, but using even less heat will require more snuggly material. Two perceptive entrepreneurs have -- literally -- got you covered with quite the cozy comfort garment dubbed, "Forever Lazy."
Two Wisconsin couch potatoes hope to wedge their way onto the Snuggie's sofa with a line of comfort wear called the adult onesie.
Tyler Galganski and Dave Hibler are selling fleece, footless onesies with hoods called the "Forever Lazy" out of Hibler's parents' basement in Brookfield.
Businessweek's website has called them some of "American's Best Young Entrepreneurs." They've also been on in "In Touch Weekly" magazine as "Fergie's favorite way to cover up" after the singer ordered more than 20 for Christmas gifts.
The 25-year-old best friends have released a long-form commercial that's almost a carbon copy of Snuggie commercials.
The world got a big laugh that was parlayed into countless jokes when the Snuggie phenomenon caught on, but seriously -- an adult onesie? Called "Forever Lazy"? This is a scenario that begs to be spoofed by 'Saturday Night Live' and every comedy group with a YouTube channel. Forever Lazy is set to become the laughing stock product of 2011.
I mean really, what's next? Just wearing your coat, hat and gloves indoors and turning off the heat? That will garner the most savings on your heating bill, and won't cost you an extra dime. And you will maintain the dignity that comes with not wearing an adult onesie.
Yet, the expiring unemployment benefits will be forcing many families to make hard choices that can cost a lot more than the pain of losing pride. As a genuine effort towards heating bill savings, perhaps Forever Lazy will be a great purchase for those who will be forced to turn the heat way down this season.
And let's face it -- we must admit that there have been a times when we've longed for adult footed pajamas for that extra touch of cuddliness. Or is it only me? Okay, I confess.
Maybe the adult onesie with the silly name is really a good idea after all.
#25 - The Pet Rock
This blogger remembers when his dad first brought home his Pet Rock. The rock was in a box, resting in comfortable nest of straw, and his new pet had come with a 36-page training manual. "There are all sorts of tricks a pet rock can do," his father said. "Like, sit. It can play dead. And with a little push, it can roll."
#25 - The Pet Rock
This blogger remembers when his dad first brought home his Pet Rock. The rock was in a box, resting in comfortable nest of straw, and his new pet had come with a 36-page training manual. "There are all sorts of tricks a pet rock can do," his father said. "Like, sit. It can play dead. And with a little push, it can roll."
#24 - Matchbox Cars
With remote control cars and simulated racing games clogging toy stores, it's hard to remember that, once upon a time, humble little die-cast cars represented the ultimate gift for any burgeoning car freak. Then, Matchbox's tiny little 1/78-scale automobiles were the absolute alpha and omega of child car culture.
#23 - The Magic 8-ball
Why pay for a psychiatrist when you can go to the Magic 8-ball for advice and insight? Sure, the possible answers are limited to 20 (10 positive, five negative and five non-committal), but the Magic 8-ball will never ask you how that makes you feel, or cut you dead when your insurance lapses. It will probably just tell you ask again later, by which time you'll probably have solved the problem yourself.
#22 - The Slinky
The slinky requires no batteries. You can't buy fancy outfits for it. You can't play in on the Internet. You can't pay extraordinary amounts of money for extravagant versions, and if you're waiting for your kids to break it so you can throw it away, good luck. The slinky does one thing, and does it very, very well; it obeys gravity. As Jay Leno said, It's the one toy that encourages kids to play on the stairs.
#21 - CB Radio
In the mid-70s, the song "Convoy" was a number one hit on both the pop and country charts and CB trucker slang like "breaker, breaker 1-9" and "rubber duck" had entered the vernacular. As motorists discovered the thrills of dodging smokies and cursing out speed-crazed men driving 40-ton rigs, the CB joined the cassette deck as must-have auto options.
#20 - The Transformers
With the 2007 release of Michael Bay's Transformers movie, it's easy to forget that the toys have been with us for over 20 years. An adaptation of Japan's Microman and Diaclone lines, the Transformers offered something truly unique: toys that could, with a few deft moves, morph from one thing to another.
#19 - The Lava Lite
Excepting Aladdin's, it's the one lamp everyone seems to know, yet you can't even read by it. You maybe even owned one once, that torpedo-shaped vertical glass tube full of slowly churning goo. We call them Lava Lamps, but their real name is Lava Lite. The first Lava-Brand Motion Lamps lamps came out in 1965, just in time to help a generation of psychedelic dropouts tune in and drop out as they gazed into the gloopy miasma within.
#18 - My Little Pony
The 80's Saturday morning cartoon line-up included The Smurfs, Pee-wee's Playhouse and My Little Pony. Not only did a sense of right and wrong permeate those shows, the dolls and toys kids begged their moms for were a great inspiration to their childhood imagination. A shining, glitter-covered case in point: My Little Pony.
#17 - The Princess Phone
Baby boomers will remember the 1930's classic -form follows function telephones - clunky, black and squat. You'll remember when colors arrived and the emergence of the wall phone. If you were a girl, though, what you'll remember most fondly is the girl's best friend, the princess phone.
#16 - The Mood Ring
The mood ring may be far out, man, but it has a practical, medical history. The ring was conceived in the 1960s, when Marvin Wernick went to an emergency call with a doctor friend, and watched him use a thermotropic strip to take a child's temperature. Wernick got some of the product and fitted ovals of it into rings with glass "gemstones" to show off the color. He wrote up some incredible claims about the connection between body temperature and mood, and a new psychological accessory was headed toward American history.
I've been separated from my wife for over 11 years. We have sought divorce, but never followed through. We own a modest amount of property and assets in the $3 million range. The female friends I have want me to get a divorce before they consider moving in with me. I don't want a roommate and I don't want to divide what we have worked to acquire. My wife is my business partner and she is accepting of our arrangement; the lady friend(s) wants more. I've been honest from the start, but it always ends in the same way. I want a true relationship that is not based on money, but at the same time I'm not interested in marriage -- especially at age 65! Please help.
-Richard
It sounds like you are sending the message that you can't commit, and for a woman that just doesn't work. Women want to feel secure in their relationships, and since you separated from your wife -- being unable to sustain that commitment -- and never followed through with your divorce -- being unable to commit to dissolution -- your track record is sending a clear message to your lady friend(s) that you can't commit. These women recognize that you don't have room in your life to make them a priority in the way in which they want, since you still have legal ties to your wife. They also see that your choice to abstain from getting a divorce for financial reasons and the hassle of splitting assets means that you are more concerned with your own comfort than their need for commitment and security.
It is fine to choose to live your life this way, but you are choosing women who obviously want more, and that is why it ends in the same way. You say that you want a true relationship, but your definition of what that is seems to be very different from that of the women you are dating. To them, a real relationship is one in which you are fully committed and are available to be a husband and partner in life. To you, a real relationship is one in which you live with a woman, but don't have to fully commit to marital bonds.
The best way to solve this is to find a woman who wants what you want, and defines a real relationship using the same terms in which you use. You need to search for someone who is financially stable and who does not want marriage. The trick is to ask them what they are looking for, before you tell them what you are looking for. In many cases you may tell a woman that you are separated, have filed for divorce, but have not gone through with it. This gives women hope that you might divorce, and that you will be available to commit to them eventually. This sends false hope and mixed messages, and you end up with women who wait and wait, all the while growing resentful that you aren't doing what they expected of you.
It is good that you are honest from the start, but you have to be very clear, concise and specific about what that means. Letting a woman know that you have no intention of getting a divorce or getting remarried, and explaining that you are only looking for a partner to share your life with, will help to weed out those who are looking for more. Ask her what she wants before sharing what you want, so that you can choose to not proceed if her wants are not in line with yours.
Coming to home video on January 18, 2011 is the high-octane, action-packed film, 'Takers,' which stars Idris Elba, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Jay Hernandez, Zoe Saldana and Michael Ealy.
Produced by Will Packer, 'Takers' exploded at the box office this past summer, wowing audiences with its breathtaking action, cat-and-mouse suspense and shocking climax.
The film came in number one at the box office its opening weekend making $20,5 million dollars when box office analyst predicted it would gross less than $10 million.
The film revolves around a notorious group of criminals (played by Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Brown, Hayden Christensen and Ealy) who baffle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies. They are in and out like clockwork, leaving no evidence behind and laying low in between heists. But when they attempt to pull off one last job with more money at stake than ever before, the crew may find their plans interrupted by a hardened detective (Matt Dillon) who is hell-bent on solving the case.
Bonus features on the 'Takers' Blu-ray include cast and filmmaker commentary, along with "Executing the Heist: The Making of Takers," an inside look at the production of this new action favorite. Exclusively available on the Blu-ray edition is the BD-LiveT enabled movieIQ, which lets viewers access live trivia information about the cast, crew, music and production of 'Takers' - all while watching the movie, as well as PS3 Wallpaper/Theme.
I've discussed the topic of unemployment benefits here repeatedly, and my opinion is pretty clear. In times of need, there's really no point in tossing people back out there to fend for themselves. Especially given the fact that unemployment benefits have a double economic bottom line, allowing one person to pay rent, pay utilities and buy food to eat, while helping the person who sells them that food to keep their job. It's simple math. According to the Congressional Budget Office, every $1 spent on jobless benefits generates up to $1.90 in economic growth.
Because the average person collecting unemployment gets a paltry $300 a week, it's fair to say nobody's getting rich or stashing this money away for a rainy day. On the contrary, most collecting unemployment spend it immediately on the aforementioned necessities. This of course helps our struggling economy tremendously.
None of this logic seems to matter to those on Capitol Hill, however. We've watched for weeks as Democrats who still had a majority in both the House and Senate at the time allowed Republicans to hold the benefits of formerly-employed Americans hostage. The GOP has repeatedly held up the extension of benefits, whining about their insistence on paying for them with budget cuts rather than borrowing money.
There is also the looming issue of the expiring Bush-era tax cuts for the rich. The GOP is essentially refusing to provide vital cash for struggling Americans unless these tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans are preserved. In the middle of this cluster is President Obama who talks softly and carries no stick at all, as he simply refuses to force the issue, all in the name of some mythical concept of bipartisanship which will never come to fruition.
Sadly, if you're one of the millions actually depending on unemployment benefits to help you make it through the holidays, you are simply out of luck. I've long pondered just when people whose lives are being treated as political footballs would finally get angry and speak up. That time seems to be near:
As Democrats and Republicans wrangled over tax cuts for the richest Americans, time ran out for millions of people who have been unemployed for up to 99 weeks. Congress has failed to agree on how to extend benefits for the long-term unemployed and some 2 million people who have been out of work for 6 months or longer face being cut off before Christmas, NPR reports. Tempers and protests are beginning to flare over the pending crunch. Unemployed New Yorkers in Santa hats protested the benefit cut-off at the Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony.
The parties blame each other for the failure to reach agreement on extending benefits. Democrats accuse Republicans of ignoring the plight of the unemployed, while the GOP says it would be happy to vote for an extension of benefits, as long as the money comes from budget cuts elsewhere.
In a separate, but equally sad story, elsewhere:
Tempers flared at an unemployment office in Louisville, Ky. as the end nears for federally-funded extended jobless benefits. Local CBS affiliate WLKY captured a bit of the scene on Monday -- amid some commotion, a man can be heard saying in a raised voice, "What did you just say to me?" WLKY reported that "at least two people were escorted out" of the office. With the threat of benefits expiring for 100,000 Kentuckians, WLKY reported, "tempers are flaring."
It's the type of scene that contributed to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development's decision to add armed guardsto each of its 36 field offices where workers can file unemployment claims (previously only some of the offices had armed security).
It is truly a sad day when elected officials are either so selfish or so timid that they fail to ensure the basic welfare of the very constituents who pay their salaries and send them to office. Perhaps reducing Congressional salaries to $300/week would give these folks a new perspective on life outside Capitol Hill. The rage over this clear injustice is starting to build. Let's hope it takes our country to a more equitable place.
Merry Christmas, America. Stay warm if you can. And if you are finally ready to speak up and fight for your rights, there are organized ways to demand what you need.
Celebrities are notorious for falling in love fast, and falling out even quicker. Looking back at 2010, many of our favorite celebs rode love's emotional rollercoaster all the way to a not-so-happy ending. All too often, these stars fell head over heels without taking into consideration the old saying, "haste makes waste".
Many couples -- such as Terius 'The-Dream' Nash and Christina Milian, Fantasia and Antwaun Cook, and even Kanye West and Amber Rose -- would have benefited from knowing when to pump the brakes. Most recently, singer Monica and L.A. Lakers player Shannon Brown are a classic example of this. Monica -- who has already tatted Brown's name on herself -- became engaged to him after dating for only four months. After receiving a great deal of criticism from fans on Twitter, the 'Everything to Me' singer was quick to defend her decision.
"We realize people will have their opinions, but we know who we are & who's we are," she tweeted. "We pray 2 an awesome God 2gether....I'm realistic enough about life to know my journey has just begun. I don't have anything else to say about it 2 people who judge. If u worked on urself u wouldn't even see me."
Celebrities aren't the only victims to acting swiftly in love, many of us have been guilty of the same thing. When feelings are so fresh, attempting to apply logic almost always proves futile. We either find ourselves, like Monica, on our way to the alter and defending our actions, or snapping to our senses after realizing that things aren't really what they appear to be.
Love has a way of causing us to lose our common sense. Sometimes we wind up making decisions based on what feels right versus what actually is right. Rule of thumb: If you think you are moving too fast ( it's been less than six months), you probably are. Here are seven tell tale signs you're rushing into love.
1. You've said "I know it's been ___ days/weeks, but I feel like it's been forever."
Time does fly when you're having fun, but real and deep love takes time to foster. Slow down!
2. You've moved the relationship to the next level and you haven't introduced him/her to your family or friends.
Do you really expect to inform everyone about your ring and your man/lady at the same time?
3. When someone asks you to talk about them you begin with, "I think I have met my husband/wife."
Chile, it'll be ex-husband/wife if you don't slow down.
4. Everyone is telling you that you are moving way too fast.
If your close friends or family -- the people who know you best -- think you're rushing into things, they just may be on to something. Listen to the people you trust the most, they have your best interest in mind.
5. You fell in love over a vacation.
Although the time spent was unforgettable, it is usually short lived. We all know what happened to Terry McMillan...
6. You don't know his/her middle name, but you've already talked about moving in together.
If you don't know the basic facts about the person, they what makes you think you're ready to join your worlds? You could be looking for apartments and be completely unaware of the fact that she uses five different aliases in three other states.
7. You talk to each other and start every convo with, "I never felt this way about anyone."
Warning: This is also known as blind infatuation - Approach with caution.
Shirea L. Carroll, is a published journalist who has written for Essence, VIBE, Washington Post's Theroot.com, XXL's Juicy, and AOL. Reporting on everything from music and entertainment to celebrity and love, she's interviewed some of today's biggest celebrity names. Find the NJ native on her blog Invite Only, or follow her on Twitter @InviteOnly to find out "who is and isn't invited."
A bill approving a $1.25 billion discrimination settlement for black farmers was passed by the House earlier this week and is headed for President Barack Obama's desk to be signed.
The settlement is the culmination of almost two decades of legal and political wrangling, not to mention heartbreak and despair for black farmers in the Deep South.
But for John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, the settlement is only the beginning. Hours after the settlement was passed, he began receiving calls from black farmers wanting to know their next steps and how the process will work.
"I've been swamped by calls and I'm still explaining to the farmers that it is a bit of an administrative process. But the farmers are not going to have to do it by themselves," Boyd said.
Now begins a process of reaching out to black farmers, many of whom are poorly educated in an effort to teach them about the settlement. The goal is to get as many black farmers as possible to have their cases heard by an arbitrator to avoid a repeat of what happened during the first settlement of this case when many found out about it too late or did not file in time.
"The president could sign the bill as early as next week so we are going to have to work with these farmers because with these cases there is a percentage of farmers not up on educational skills. We want them to understand and be able to explain what happened to them," Boyd said.
About 30,000 farmers have filed claims. Boyd said he wants to make sure everyone has their case heard by an independent arbitrator.
"My goal is to not leave anyone out. Now is the time for the farmers to reach out and say: 'This is what happened to me and I can tell my story," Boyd said.
For President Obama, this is a kept campaign promise that he can use to show African Americans how he has been working on their behalf.
"President Obama can say this was resolved on his watch. He made good on a campaign process. It behooves the administration to look at this as something that directly affects African Americans in the poorest counties in this country. Down in places like Mississippi these are poor communities and they need this money to help get their lives together."
The fight to get the bill passed was long and difficult but was worth it. Boyd said comments by Rep. Michelle Bachman who said the settlement was "rife with fraud" and Rep. Steve King from Iowa who called the settlement "slavery reparations," shows the attitude that disenfranchised black farmers were facing.
There are ample anti-fraud provisions in the settlement, including an independent arbitrator to review cases and the final approval that is needed from the court.
"It sounded like some Rush Limbaugh stuff on the house floor. This case had nothing to do with reparations, it was about discrimination," said Boyd. "He gave me all the credibility and validity we need to move forward with this process. He proved my case that racism is still alive in America. We are talking about using this as a stepping stone to fight racism."
Part of that is the fight to rid the U.S. Department of Agriculture of the racism that officials there still acknowledge is in existence.
In an interview, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he is expecting recommendations from an outside consulting firm later this month about how to prevent this type of discrimination going forward.
An independent consultant hired by the USDA has identified more than 3,000 discrimination cases that warrant further examination. Those claims, originally totaling more than 14,000, lay unexamined during the Bush Administration. Many of those claims are now beyond the statute of limitations. Vilsack said he expects at least 600 of the remaining cases to lead to actual claims.
Farm service agency locations have received civil rights training and the agency has doubled compliance reviews. The goal is nothing short of a complete "cultural transformation," Vilsack said.
"My focus has been making sure that we don't get the government and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the same situation that it has been for the last 20 or 30 years and that is by taking a look at our current practices and making sure we are not making the same mistakes again, either intentionally and unintentionally," said Vilsack.
Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli said the black farmers settlement bill, which also settled other long standing suits with Native Americans over management of their land trusts and water rights are transformative.
"They don't just resolve litigation but they put large classes of our citizens in a new relationship with the agencies that play a crticially important role in their lives," said Perrelli.
Boyd said there's still work to be done.
On a local level, the committees that decide how federal aid is distributed and which loans are approved are still dominated by whites. Black farmers have been pushed to advisory panels that do not have a vote, Boyd said.
"You can't have an agency that represents only white males and that is what has happened with the USDA," Boyd said.
The amount of money that black, Latino, Native American and women farmers receive in the same subsidies and aid given to white farmers is still severely lagging.
"On the farm, when a calf gets out, we have to take a piece of wire and mend the fence. Settling this case starts that process but there is stil time needed for healing and for the trust factor to develop between black farmes and the USDA," Boyd said. "We've got a lot of work to do and I'm hopeful we can get a lot of this change done on the watch of President Obama."
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
12-Nov-10 - In a case better suited for Judge Mathis, Paula Cook is proceeding with her civil suit against Fantasia Barrino for an antiquated legal cause of action called "Alienation of Affection" in a North Carolina court.
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 
Forever Lazy
Rebecca Brody is a relationship coach and columnist in NYC. She hosts 
Shirea L. Carroll, is a published journalist who has written for Essence, VIBE, Washington Post's Theroot.com, XXL's Juicy, and AOL. Reporting on everything from music and entertainment to celebrity and love, she's interviewed some of today's biggest celebrity names. Find the NJ native on her blog 
