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When a Friend Gets Divorced: The Male Perspective

March 9, 2011, 7:45 am
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Earlier this week, when I decided to entertain the topic of how married men process the fact a close friend is getting divorced, I thought of several films I've seen over the years featuring orphans. Stay with me.

Have you ever watched an orphan movie? And I don't mean the time you acted as a benevolent soul and took home that straight-to-video joint starring Vivica Fox and Eddie Winslow from 'Family Matters.' You remember. The one that no one else was willing to take a chance on and upon wasting one hour and 42 minutes of your weekend, you didn't know whether to pat yourself on the back for blindly supporting black cinema or smack yourself in the face.

Granted, it was charitable of you and your family to take home an unwanted movie, but that's a different type of orphan movie, one abandoned by the studio system and the public. I'm referring to real orphan movies with the cliche villainous nuns, bloody British accents, the whole nine. But it's another cliche also found in all orphan movies that's applicable to the subject of men, friends and divorce.




Think of the long-faced kid, hands firmly pressed against the window, as he watches his friend - hell, maybe his brother - be whisked away in the backseat of a nondescript family sedan. As the kid mourns the loss of his running mate, he wishes that he, too, was in the car. And there it is: That's the way the average married man feels when he's informed that his buddy is separating from his wife - like an orphan waiting for his turn to be picked up.

Days will pass, but the feeling of being left behind won't. Caught daydreaming, his wife will call to him and ask, "Honey, what are you doing?" as he blankly stares through the metaphorical window waving goodbye to his emancipated friend. He'll snap out of it and reply, "Nothing, babe, nothing." He'll then find himself rubbing her feet as she goes on about her long day only to trample on the moment by blurting out, "So what the hell happened to that foot massager I bought you from Brookstone anyway?" And that's how the fight started.

The grass is greener on the other side. Men are interminably hopeless that way. No matter how good we have it at home - at least for those of us who have it good at home, because some men have it really bad (I mean really, really bad). I'm straying. No matter how good we have it at home, we think we want something different and, if not different, something more.

Deep down, embedded in our subconscious, we long for a harem of women that will serve our guiltiest of pleasures with the caveat that we don't have to pay for their health insurance, their car note, their meals or their toothpaste. We want to get our 'Charlie Sheen' on, minus the increasingly creepy antics and the high beams he traded in for his eyeballs. "Give us free!"

The point is that men, especially those of us who are married, are never satisfied. We forget why we got married. Of course, love is a big part of the equation - at least it should be. But there are also self-serving reasons. Many of us marry so that we have someone to save us from ourselves. We're creatures of self-destruction. We know this because we're self-aware creatures of self-destruction. We break things.

Yet when a buddy announces his divorce it's like an avalanche of envy falls on our heads. "What? You're getting paroled? I wish I could come with you. Write me letters and let me know what it's like out there. Tell me everything." In that moment, both are oblivious to the high marital recidivism rate. He'll be back.

Eventually, his friend realizes he's been inside so long. He's not equipped or prepared for the outside world, the single life. Sure, the idea was exciting at first. But then he finds himself perusing the pages of dating sites as if he were shopping on human eBay. He begins to yearn for the type of stability he once had. It's the delusional circle of life; we always over-romanticize what we once had, yet voluntarily let go.

So, in the end, it all balances out. Besides, porridge is served dinner is ready. The husband left behind steps away from the window and back into his not-so-bad reality. Damned if we do, damned if we don't.



Mason Jamal writes about men, women and popular culture. For more of his musings, visit masonjamal.com. To have his commentary delivered to your e-mail, subscribe here. Keep up with Mason's daily thoughts and observations by following him on Twitter @masonsays.

 

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Harry Belafonte Documentary 'Sing Your Song' To Be Shown On HBO

March 9, 2011, 8:05 am
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HBO has picked up the U.S. TV rights for the documentary, 'Sing Your Song,' which tells the rich story of the life of Harry Belafonte.

Directed by filmmaker Susanne Rostock, the film will debut in Fall 2011, exclusively on HBO.

Inspired by singer and actor Paul Robeson, Belafonte rose to fame as a singer, despite trying tours across a segregated country and his provocative crossover into mainstream Hollywood. Belafonte's groundbreaking career personifies the American civil rights movement, while impacting many other developments in social justice.

'Sing Your Song' reveals Belafonte as a tenacious hands-on activist, who worked intimately with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., mobilized celebrities for social justice, participated in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and took action to counter gang violence, prisons and the incarceration of youth.

Belafonte's well songs include 'Jump in the Line,' 'Jamaica Farewell,' and the classic 'Banana Boat Song,' with its signature lyric "Day-O."

 

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BV Talk Back: Is the Health Reform Backlash Fueled by 'Racial Resentment'?

March 9, 2011, 8:34 am
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Health Care Reform

From The Grio:

Remember all of the anger at town hall meetings across America during the national debate over health care reform, when some people said they wanted to take their country back? A racist even painted a swastika outside the district office of black Congressman David Scott (D-Georgia), who was inundated with racially threatening faxes, emails and phone calls. And Tea Party supporters hurled racial and anti-gay epithets at Congressional lawmakers who gathered outside the Capitol in support of health care.

An interesting study was released suggesting that white opposition to heath care may be racially motivated. The report, conducted by the Greenlining Institute, a multiethnic public policy, advocacy and leadership institute, set out to determine whether race is a factor in support for the 2010 health care reform law, and whether racial bias is involved in white opposition to the law.

Based on data from the 2008-2010 American National Election Survey, the report found that more Americans supported health care reform (44.3 percent) than opposed it (35.8 percent, with 19.8 percent holding no opinion). But the devil is in the details.


While 78.6 percent of blacks, 52.6 percent of Latinos and 43.6 percent of people of other racial backgrounds supported health care reform, only 38.4 percent of whites supported the legislation. Support among people of color could be a result of racial disparities and inequities in America's health care system. For example, people of color are more likely to be without health insurance. Blacks and Latinos are less likely to have a regular doctor than whites. Native Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. And although black women are 10 percent less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women, they are 36 percent more likely to die from it.

The Greenlining Institute focused in on racial resentment, which is defined as "a political belief system that fuses whites' belief in traditional conservative values such as the protestant work ethic (e.g., hard work equals success) with whites' negative feelings towards blacks as a group.... Whites who share this perspective tend to believe that the reason blacks fail to get ahead in society is their failure to work hard enough, and not because of racial discrimination."

Interestingly, the study found that whites who were high in racial resentment were against the health care law, not because they hated Obama, which they did, but because of their attitudes towards blacks. They believed African-Americans and other groups were getting something they did not earn or deserve. On the other hand, for whites who were low in racial resentment, their positive feelings about health care were related to their positive attitudes about the president.

Read the rest on The Grio: Is 'racial resentment' behind health reform backlash?

BV Talk Back Questions:

-Do you think racial hatred is behind the resistance to Obama's health care plan?
-If not, what is the real cause of the resentment?
-What, if anything, can the president do to counteract such high resistance to health reform?

Leave your comments below!

 

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The Notorious B.I.G.: 14 Years After Death, Still Reflects the Black Male Experience

March 9, 2011, 8:38 am
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March 9, 1997 will forever go down in history as the day when the world lost one of it's most talented artists, the Notorious B.I.G. Biggie was "the man," dropping lyrics like no other, gaining respect all around the world. He was loved by the community, and his spirit continues to live in the world on the 14-year anniversary of the day that he died.

I loved both Biggie and Tupac when they were alive. Both of them were about my age, and I mourned with the rest of the world after hearing about their deaths. I can also say that, like nearly everyone else, I knew that both Biggie and Pac were going to die young. Both artists seemed to believe that the end was coming soon, which is a problem that is all too common among young African American males.

In the midst of the cultural cancer that impacts the lives of millions of young black men across America, we find that all too often young black men don't expect to become old men. Hip-hop has long existed as a venue through which the state of the black male is communicated, and in this arena, you find that there is consistent conversation about violence, homicide and the soldier-like suicidal mindset that these men must embrace in order to have a chance to keep breathing.

Biggie's last album before he died was called "Ready to Die." His arch rival, Tupac Shakur, featured several songs about death on his last album, "All Eyez on Me." In a quest to intimidate their long list of enemies, both Biggie and Pac maintained a kill-or-be-killed style of lyrical communication. It was frightening, but with enemies who can smell fear from a mile away, both men felt that communicating their willingness to sacrifice themselves to either save face or protect their allies was the necessary approach to an uncomfortably volatile situation. Like the many Crips and Bloods in South Central Los Angeles, peace is preferred, but typically unobtainable, which then means that you have to embrace the fact that there's a good chance you'll end up dead.

I was on the radio today with Santita Jackson, the daughter of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Her show is on WVON, which I consider to be the voice of the South Side of Chicago. We were discussing black males and suicide. Suicide rates for black men have grown dramatically since 1980, and I mentioned Biggie within the context of black male suicide. Of course we all know that Biggie and Pac didn't commit suicide, but we all know that they were indeed suicidal. Some would define suicidal behavior to mean that an individual exists within a state of hopelessness, fully believing that sacrificing his own life (or at least being willing to fight to the death) is the only answer to his problems. One example is what Dr. Alvin Poussaint refers to as "suicide by cop," where many black males kill themselves by engaging in shootouts with the police.

Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls and millions of other black males in urban settings are forced to live within a cultural tornado where the possibility of death exists around every corner. Homicide is the leading cause of death among young black men (with many of these guns being readily provided to our community by money hungry gun manufacturers), and many of these men are consistently faced with the possibility of being killed by another black male.

For those who escape the jaws of death, they are then forced to deal with the fact that black men are the most likely to be unemployed and incarcerated (notice the rapper Ice Cube's lyric in which he says he'd rather "be judged by 12 than carried by 6," reflecting the unfortunate choice between either incarceration or death). While we can certainly conclude that black men are less than perfect (like everyone else), one cannot deny that racism plays a powerful role in the way our society's systems have dealt with African American men. In my own life, I can remember trying to do the right thing in school and still being sent to the detention hall and also how my teachers tried to put me into special education classes because they felt I wasn't as intelligent as the other kids. I was later able to connect this reality with the fact that studies show that black boys are disciplined far more regularly than white kids, and are also more likely to be defined as having a learning disability, even when there is none.

When I remember the life of the Notorious B.I.G., I see a man who spoke about realities being faced by men like him. I too can recall being "ready to die," especially when my best friend was shot in the head just a few months before Biggie was killed. The way Biggie brilliantly articulated the complexities of his struggles has been carried on by other artists like T.I. and Lil Wayne, and serve as reminders that out of love for our fathers, brothers and sons, we must seek to understand and remedy the experience of the black male in America.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here.

 

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Dr Boyce Watkins Spotlight: Nwenna Kai Teaches The Value of Eating Healthy

March 9, 2011, 9:05 am
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African Americans must learn to eat healthy. Many of the diseases that end our lives are preventable, but our addiction to grandma's famous fried chicken often leads to our demise. People like Nwenna Kai are working to remedy this problem by helping people of color learn what to eat and how to live. She is an entrepreneur with a passion for food and a commitment to her community and it is for that reason that Nwenna Kai is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:


What is your name, and what do you do?

My name is Nwenna Kai, and I am a Revolutionary Health Expert. I teach people how to eat healthier and live healthier with a plant-based natural and holistic diet and lifestyle. I coach, I consult, I lecture, I write books, I create e-products, I teach teleseminars, etc. My ultimate vision is to teach and educate from a TV show platform.

What is your educational and professional background?

I have a B.A. in French and film production from Howard University. I have an MFA in creative writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. That's my institutionalized educational background. My on-the-job training came from opening up my restaurant Taste of the Goddess Cafe in Los Angeles. I ran it for four years. It was the best educational, spiritual, personal, and professional experience that I could have created for myself. It was an organic raw vegan restaurant. I did it with my own start-up cash, my own recipes, and my passion and drive for teaching others about health and wellness. I also self-published my first book, The Goddess of Raw Foods. My real education comes from living. I have taught myself how to thrive in business. That's an education that no 100K MBA education can

As an authority on holistic lifestyle, you have a book titled The Goddess of Raw Foods. What can readers expect from your book, how will it benefit them, and where can they buy it?

Readers can expect simple to gourmet raw vegan recipes that stemmed from my restaurant, my catering company, and my years of experimenting with food. There are also tips in there about food preparation, how to set up your kitchen for a plant-based diet and lifestyle, and lots of nutritional information about food. They can purchase it at www.amazon.com and/or my website at www.nwennakai.com. They will learn that eating healthier is easier than what they may think.

You also have another book coming out soon called What's Really Eating Us? Black women & weight. Both of your books are about eating healthy, but how does this book cater especially to black women? Where can readers buy it?

What's Really Eating Us? Black women & weight is a much different book than the first book. It is not available for purchase as of yet. What I found through my coaching and consulting business is that most of my clients were black women who wanted to lose weight, and they have struggled with weight practically all their lives. I come from a metaphysical perspective when it comes to any disease or illness of the mind and body, so what I found was that the weight issue and challenges couldn't just be solved with food and lifestyle choices. It has to be solved at a much deeper level. So the book addresses food issues, DNA, racial discrimination, the influence of overweight black women in the media, our family tribal agreements (you know the one about my grandmother is overweight, my mother is overweight, my aunties are overweight, so that must mean that I am going to be overweight), the issue of food desserts in urban mostly black communities (i.e. Detroit), and economics of course. Most people think eating healthier is expensive. Absolutely not true.

The book is a beginning to a nationwide conversation about obesity among black women. Right now over 70% of black women are overweight. That's a real problem because obesity leads to so many other diseases like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. So if we have a large population of black women overweight and obese, how does this affect our community? How does this affect our children? Women are the first teachers of the children, so if we can't figure out how to properly nourish our bodies and take care of ourselves, then where does that leave our children, our families, and our future. So the obesity issue is a byproduct of something much deeper that is resonating with our racial group. This is what the book addresses.

In 2007 you were awarded the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneurial Scholarship sponsored by Women Impacting Public Policy. How did you win this award?

Great question! I used the Law of Attraction to win this award. No kidding. One of my clients encouraged me to apply for the scholarship. I was hesitant because I was like "Why would Elizabeth Dole Young give money to a black woman in Los Angeles with an organic raw vegan restaurant?". It was my good friend from Howard University and attorney at the time, Adia May, who encouraged me to apply anyway. Then, I made it to the finalist selection, and the organization flies you to DC to make a speech and meet the women of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). At the time, I was struggling with my restaurant, not just financially but I didn't want to run a restaurant anymore. I was just tired and burnt out. So while I was on the plane flying to DC, I remember I kept telling myself that this award was mine no matter what. I just had that thought in my head - that I wasn't coming home without that award being mine. And so I just saw myself in my head winning. That's how I won this award.

Then when it came time to the speech, I just showed up for myself and authentically spoke from my heart what was there. What was there and present for me was how much being an entrepreneur was the thing that breathed life into me since I was little. I can't remember too much of my speech because I actually got choked up while delivering it, but I started it with saying that my dream was to just teach the world about eating healthier, and that's my service to the world as an entrepreneur. I just want people to be healthy; that's it. That's all I got AOL Black Voices.

You speak openly about your entrepreneurial trials and errors. What is the best piece of advice you would offer to other entrepreneurs?

I got two pieces of advice.

1) Stay in the game. I remember I saw Russell Simmons speak in LA once, and he said to the audience that the only difference between him and the other guy was that the other guy quit. Many of us quit on each other, and we definitely quit on ourselves and our dreams. I had many reasons to quit and get out of the game. And there were days that I did quit, but then there were days that I had to slap myself out of it and get back on track and remember what I was made of.

2) Consistently educate and invest in yourself. I just hired a coach and she's great. She's expensive but this is how entrepreneurs think and do. We are in a BIG, BIG game so we have to play BIG. Being an entrepreneur is so much more than the business and keeping your books tight and marketing your business. It's really about you and your personal and spiritual journey. So take classes, humble yourself, and learn from experts in your field and not in your field. Also, humble yourself and take advice from your customers. That's a big lesson for me. Take everything in. I got some golden advice from watching Iyanla Vanzant on Oprah Winfrey just recently. I've learned to make myself into a sponge and soak up everything.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?

I'm always working on projects, but my next vision that I'm developing is Food is Our Medicine. I want to develop 1000 entrepreneurs by the year 2020 to create green sustainable businesses that will thus create jobs and newer economies. Whether it's building community co-ops or community gardens, catering companies, vegan product lines, organic food delivery businesses, starting restaurants, working with public policy, when it comes to the food industry, etc., I want to develop leaders in this green economy.

And......The revolution starts at the dinner table!

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the bookBlack American Money To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To suggest a subject for a Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here.

 

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Michelle Obama Celebrates International Women's Day

March 9, 2011, 9:41 am
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Michelle Obama Celebrates International Women's Day

"Women are now the majority of graduates at colleges and universities. We make up nearly half of America's workforce. We got to get paid more for it. But we do. Women are thriving in every sector of our society. We are leading businesses. We're serving at the highest levels of government and the armed forces. We're breaking barriers and succeeding in careers that our mothers and grandmothers never could have imagined," First Lady Michelle Obama declared from the East Room of the White House Tuesday evening, commemorating the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day and celebrating Women's History Month.



Although International Women's Day does not get much recognition here in the States, in many countries abroad, it is considered to be a national holiday. It is a global day that recognizes the past, present and future political, economic and social achievements of women.

In some countries, the holiday is like Mother's Day, where folks express their love for the women in their lives by lavishing them with gifts. In other lands, there are "girls-only" gatherings and private party celebrations. But in countries like Iran, men and women were beaten and arrested by government officials for acknowledging and celebrating the holiday in 2007.

As far as how vital women are to the very fabric of this great nation, Mrs. Obama went on to elaborate:

"As more opportunities have become open to women, that hasn't just enriched our own lives. As we all know, it's enriched the life of this nation. And that's one of the reasons why we have to do this, because we need to remind ourselves and our country that we're here because of us. Because we as a nation benefit from every girl whose potential is fulfilled; from every woman whose talent is tapped. We benefit as a nation. We as a nation benefit from their intelligence, from their hard work, from their creativity, from their leadership."

Even though women have made vast accomplishments, a woman's work is never done.

"There are still barriers to break and more progress is needed in order to achieve equality," the First Lady explains. "We continue our work to promote entrepreneurship and workplace flexibility so that women can contribute as fully as possible to our economy. And while we've made some important strides, all of you in this room know better than anyone else that this work is far from finished. We have so, so much more to do. You all know better than just about anyone that change is hard, and change is slow. Many of you might not win the battles you're fighting or see the progress you're fighting for in your lifetimes. You know that. But I'm thinking tonight of a quote from the author Alice Walker, who once wrote, 'So our mothers and grandmothers have more often than not anonymously handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see. And that is why all of you keep on fighting. That's why all of you keep on leading and working toward a better day for all of us.' "

 

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How to Throw a Fabulous Dinner Party

March 9, 2011, 9:47 am
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Special event creative and entrepreneur Andre Wells is principal owner of Events by Andre Wells (EAW). Outfitted with a consistently packed schedule of celebrity, corporate and social affairs, this seasoned event planner has certainly made a name for himself. The DC/L.A.-based guru is on the A-list of the event industry. From major television networks to social and political glitterati, oftentimes your hottest tickets also provide you with an Andre Wells experience.

However, most of us find enjoyment in much more humble settings - for less than $1000 a ticket and outside exclusive lists. Although seemingly unattainable, this same elegance and harmony can be experienced at your next gathering with just a touch of preparation. What Andre brings to each event - big or small - is his uniquely personal touch and special attention to detail.

In the spirit of the EAW tagline, "When style and glamour are the only option," Andre shares secrets that transform large venue flair to living room excitement. Whether your next shindig is intimate or buzzing, Andre guides you through hosting your fabulous fete with the same flair as those magnificent big-budget balls. Cheers!!



ATMOSPHERE

Andre stresses the importance of the social aspect of any event. When it comes to hosting friends and associates, atmosphere is arguably the most important facet of your intended ambience. Although "nothing beats a great group of fun people," says Andre, he also notes that "you are in control."

It is very important not to impede on your own enjoyment with stress that will flow over to your guests, so preparation is key. Per the master himself, here are a few ways to stimulate interaction amongst guests and execute a memorable affair:

1. Never be a "Ghost Guest." This is when you get so wrapped up in execution that you forget to enjoy your own party! Not cool.

2. Have good tunes. "There is no reason for anyone to have bad music these days," says Andre, so prep the iPod. He suggests more upbeat tunes as guests arrive, ending with smooth grooves over dessert.

3. Have accessible cocktails. If there is no bartender, make sure you batch mixed drinks or have wine at just the right temperature ready to pour. Lets face it: Nobody likes to wait for a drink!

4. Prep the reception area. Set the tone for the evening as everyone gathers for cocktails before dinner. Small bites, cool coffee table books and beautiful flowers should get it started.

5. Keep it dim. Bright lighting over dinner is a no-no!


DECOR
Table settings are the centerpiece of any dinner party, no matter how grand. Another Andre tip to avoid being a "Ghost Guest" at your own special event is to set the table one to two days early. Says Andre, "Monochromatic color schemes always work." Because spring is upon us, go with "bright, cheery" colors and combinations.

Here are Andre's tips to make dinner extra special.

1. Invest in nice napkins. It's one of those things that you notice only when it's marvelous.

Easter Bunny Jacquard Napkins, $54, williams-sonoma.com
2. Charger plates are always fun. It sets the tone of the table, creates a focal point for the setting and a set can be very inexpensive. Bravo for base plates!

Round Acrylic Green Charger Plates, $2 each, lionsdeal.com
3. Add a little nature. Nice potted plants or seasonal floral or blooming branches, such as chrysanthemums, tulips and magnolias, will give a table a pretty, cozy feel.

Tulips, $39.99 for 20, proflowers.com
Another idea: use fruit and/or branches. Lemons and limes "pop" in a glass or sterling silver bowl and add a fresh citrus aroma while branches add an organic touch.

4. Candles, candles, candles! "You can never go wrong with candles," even if your dinner isn't a romantic one.

5. No messy desserts. When it comes to dessert, passing the pie can be a little messy. Individual desserts make for spectacular presentations.


ANDRE'S EXTRAS

1. For the bathroom: Scented candles and monogrammed hand towels

Monogrammed Hand Towels, $15.99, target.com
2. Water selection: Plain, with citrus or cucumber slices

3. Allergy sensitivity: Be sure to consider guests' food allergies during food preparation. It's also helpful to inform guests of miscellaneous logistics such as parking.

FOOD
Try leafing through a cookbook full of delectable, no-hassle choices, like Make It Super Simple with G. Garvin, that will make the evening a breeze. "If you must cook an elaborate feast, perhaps a kitchen dinner party is in order," says Andre. We all know how everyone enjoys congregating in the kitchen. Pair wine with tastings and assign special individual courses to couples for a splendidly interactive evening.

How do you make your dinner parties extra special?

 

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Minister Farrakhan's Radio Show Appearance Dividing Pittsburgh's Black and Jewish Communities?

March 9, 2011, 9:50 am
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A live radio broadcast from Pittsburgh featuring controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan will go on as scheduled Friday, despite the withdrawal of a key panel member, the organizer said.

Host Bev Smith blamed Jewish and white Christian organizations for the decision of Melanie Campbell, CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, to withdraw from the program that includes Farrakhan and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat. One group Smith cited denied any involvement.

Campbell told organizers she feared she would lose funding if she appeared with Farrakhan, said Smith, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host. Smith worked with Farrakhan during his Million Man March in Washington in 1995.

Farrakhan, 77, of Chicago, took his campaign of anti-Semitism to new levels over the past two years, said Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism in New York.

"The problem is, he still attracts thousands of people to these events," Segal said. "Anytime messages of hate are heard like that, it's a concern."
Campbell is a Washington-based national civil rights leader who works on youth leadership programs, grassroots organizing and issues affecting women and girls. She could not be reached.

 "One of the beauties of America is that free speech is protected," said Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House. "Although I had no idea who all the participants in this program were until yesterday, I look forward to an open and civil discussion at the forum. I will be representing my views and will not hesitate to express and defend my convictions, which are grounded in the Judeo-Christian doctrines I practice."

The radio broadcast is the second in a series of programs about challenges facing predominantly black communities. It will air live at 7 p.m. in Pittsburgh on WGBN 1150 AM and on the station's Website.

Smith, who lives downtown, titled the town hall-style meeting "The Disappearing Black Community and How We Can Get it Back." The center gave away tickets to fill the 486-seat auditorium and an overflow room.

"It's un-Christianlike not to talk to other people," Smith said. "My pain is that she had to be forced into this."

Smith said the Jewish Chronicle, a Pittsburgh publication, and Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania were among those opposed to her program.

The Jewish Chronicle, which has called Farrakhan a "rabid anti-Semite," spoke against his appearance in a recent editorial. Chronicle Executive Editor Lee Chottiner declined to comment.

Source: Pittburgh Tribune


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

 

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Black Ownership Doesn't Matter in the Online Space: It's About Black Control Over Content

March 9, 2011, 10:29 am
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Does Black or Latino Ownership Matter in the Online Space?

The Root has published a series of quotes regarding the purchase of The Huffington Post by AOL, and how that will affect the AOL sites targeted to communities of color like Black Voices. This excerpt from the popular media blog Richard Prince's Journal-isms raises some interesting questions:

"Now that AOL's acquisition of Huffington Post has closed, Arianna Huffington will take control of AOL Latino, AOL Black Voices and other AOL sites as part of the $315 million deal that puts the Huffington Post under the AOL umbrella," Richard Prince wrote Monday for the Poynter Institute.

"Between now and July, HuffPost GlobalBlack, a new black-oriented Huffington Post project, expects to hire about eight staffers as it brings to life a brainstorm from Huffington and Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television.

"As Peter Steiner's New Yorker cartoon famously pointed out, on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog. But do people know whether you're black or Latino? Or at least that you have those groups' best interests at heart?

"Whether these ventures can show the love could be key to their success.

"'The last decade is full of failed websites targeting Latinos,' notes Monica C. Lozano, chief executive officer of ImpreMedia, which calls itself the nation's leading Hispanic news and information company. Its network includes nine print publications and 11 online properties, claiming a monthly reach of 7.7 million adults and monthly distribution of nearly 7 million. It is not Hispanic-owned.

Read the rest on TheRoot.com.

As someone who helped launch BlackPlanet.com, who now works at Black Voices, this is the second time I have worked for an African American web property that is not "black-owned." While black media ownership is important, much like the Latino company mentioned above, what is just as important to consider is the commitment of the employees of a media company to eagerly serve its target demographic. For AOL properties, this is definitely the case. Experiences from my work history further underscore the value of this commitment above all else.

When I helped launch BlackPlanet.com, I was hired by a team of five young Asian people and one young man who is half-Latino. Coming from Brown University (and just being me) I was reared in an academic context that prized diversity and sought to convey to pupils the value of the contributions of all members of American society to our great nation's achievements. I was happy to finally be working on a team that fulfilled my idealistic professional vision.

Many people at the time compared the launch of BlackPlanet.com under a mostly-Asian management team to the stereotyped situation of "the Koreans who own the corner store in a black neighborhood." That kind of horrible statement makes you wonder: what group might also have some race issues? But after BlackPlanet.com was launched, and it became the darling of the African American online world, most ignorant quips like that ceased to be uttered. Black people online experienced a well-engineered, fun and culturally-specific place on the web made just for them, and in the end that is all that mattered. It has since been bought by Radio One, which is owned by a group of investors including Radio One founder Cathy Hughes, an African American.

Of course, part of what made the launch of BlackPlanet.com successful (which is identical to the situation at Black Voices) was the all-black management team. At BlackPlanet.com, we had a black executive director, prominent black technologist Omar Wasow, a black marketing manager, an African American lead designer, and a black editor/producer -- me. It was actually a joy to have our perspectives as African Americans enriched by the non-black members of our team as we ran the site. We even had one white engineer, who was very comfortable being in the "minority." And more than once I offered cultural angles on AsianAvenue.com content pieces, which was our sister site, that improved the work of their editor. Thus, as I learned at Brown, our cultural diversity was actually an asset and not a curse. It certainly didn't "water down" BlackPlanet.com, and black ownership would not necessarily have helped.

The issue of ownership in itself is quite complex in the world of big business. It's not just a matter of whose faces are found in the corner offices (although lack of diversity there is a failure of many companies that blacks spend most of their money enriching). Companies on the level of BlackPlanet.com when it was launched and AOL today are not owned by any one person or group. They are owned by investors and stockholders -- period. As consumers, you also cast an important vote with your dollar, but that's about it as far as the division of power goes. While the barrier to investing in companies and buying stock is somewhat high, it is not insurmountable. If more African Americans want a say in how the companies they buy from function, they can also become "owners" by buying up stock as a group, exert power by boycotting companies that don't adequately serve us, and pool our resources to invest in companies that do perform in ways that suit our needs.

The mostly-Asian founders of Community Connect, the former parent company of BlackPlanet.com, did just that. After working day jobs while doing hard work at night until they found funding, and then enduring ten years of grueling work as entrepreneurs, they finally sold their company to a black-controlled media giant. Community Connect was launched with a small loan from the CEO's brother that could easily be raised in one Sunday at a megachurch special offering. I am not saying this to chastise the black community -- but the money is there. I think we can have more black-owned Web sites, and I don't knock the black-run Internet entities that are a success like Bossip and Media Takeout. But when you look at the type of content produced by the top black sites (I'm looking at you World Star Hip-Hop) -- it almost makes you consider black ownership a bad thing.

Are we sometimes the first in line to sell our people out?

When you look at the legacy of BET, a company that was completely black-owned and run, you can see that black ownership is not a holy grail. No other media enterprise is more maligned for its cultural products, and it was created by us for us. So while African American ownership may be preferred, it might not guarantee quality or depth of media content, or respect for every black audience member.

At both BlackPlanet.com and BlackVoices.com I have been free as a content editor and technology producer to work from a basis of having that respect. Here at BlackVoices.com, I create products that serve the African American audience that I love. I have been grateful to have access to the resources to do this work for a group that has been underserved --even harmed -- through media outlets like BET. Does it matter that the resources to be of service come from "non-black" entities? No. All that matters is the intention of these entities to make great products.

I believe that AOL will continue to be a company dedicated to serving communities of color the very best, as the Black Voices team has with complete editorial authority in my four years at the company. Black-controlled, in some instances, is better than 100% black-owned.

 

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'Eerie' Voodoo Dolls Found in Famed N.Y. Mansion

March 9, 2011, 10:30 am
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'Eerie' Voodoo Dolls Found in Famed N.Y. Mansion


It appears New York's Steinway piano family may have been into something far stranger than building world-class keyboards.

A box of antique voodoo dolls and voodoo masks was found at the Steinway Mansion in the Astoria, Queens landmark by an auctioneer preparing to sell items in the home.

It isn't certain whether the last owner of the house, Michael Halberian, used the masks and dolls in rituals before his death in December at the age of 82.


The discovery shocked auctioneer Michael Capo who called the find "eerie" and said that his staff, while professional, wants nothing to do with the objects.

"There is a dark story here," Capo told reporters.

Really?

What makes these masks so much more sinister than the masks people collect and adorn their homes with all around the world?

Capo said he isn't sure if he will put the masks up for auction yet. My guess is that you will see those "eerie" masks on sale with all the other items in the home, now that Capo has done his best to raise interest in them and generate some publicity.

If Capo is experienced enough to be clearing the Steinway Mansion, I'm sure these masks aren't the first ones he has run across while clearing out big, old homes of the rich and famous.

The first group of items from the Steinway Mansion are expected to go on sale March 26.

Be on the lookout for a box of spooky-looking masks and dolls that will be sold to the highest bidder.



 

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VIDEO: Men of McCafe Casting Call Wows Charlotte's CIAA Tournament

March 9, 2011, 11:07 am
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For the past several months, McDonald's has been on a search for African-American men who are creating change and positively impacting their communities around the country.

Last weekend, the annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Basketball Tournament took place in Charlotte, N.C., and McDonald's and a few of their celebrity brand ambassadors were on hand to culminate their latest Men of McCafé Search, to identify five community service-driven men.

The food service giant previously kicked off the search at the Atlanta Football Classic, where historically black college and university (HBCU) rivals Florida A&M University and Tennessee State University battled it out at the Georgia Dome.

The lucky contest winners will win an all-expense paid trip to the 2011 Essence Music Festival.

BlackVoices.com was on location to catch all of the action.

Check out the exclusive video package (below), featuring nationally syndicated radio personality and noted HBCU philanthropist Tom Joyner, 'Meet the Browns' hottie Lamman Rucker, former NFL player and reality star Isaac Keys, BET personality Alesha Renee and choreographer, actor and fitness guru Darrin Dewitt Henson chop it up with BV for the cameras.





More Info on the McDonald's Men of McCafe:

The Men of McCafe is a group of African-American male brand ambassadors. Five community service-minded males will represent as the official Men of McCafe at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans during Fourth of July weekend. Consumers can log on to www.365Black.com and apply for a chance to represent McCafe until April 15, 2011.

 

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What To Watch: 'Mars Needs Moms,' 'Red Riding Hood,' 'The Walking Dead' DVD

March 9, 2011, 2:53 pm
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Coming out this week is the animated film, 'Mars Needs Moms,' featuring the voices of Seth Green, Dan Fogler, Elisabeth Harnois, Mindy Sterling, Kevin Cahoon and Joan Cusack.

Produced by the team behind 'Disney's A Christmas Carol' and 'The Polar Express,' 'Mars Needs Moms' showcases nine-year-old Milo's (Seth Green) quest to save his mom (Joan Cusack) from Martians-a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling). With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom-in more ways than one.

Also out in theaters is Catherine Hardwicke's latest film, 'Red Riding Hood,' starring Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Virginia Madsen, Julie Christie, and Adrian Holmes.

Valerie (played by Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider Peter (played by Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (played by Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (played by Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. Panic grips the town as Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast--one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect...and bait.

Out on home video is the groundbreaking, genre-bending AMC original series 'The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season,' starring Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, and Chandler Riggs.

Based on the popular Image Comics' comic book written by Robert Kirkman and nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Drama,'The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season' breathes new life into the zombie genre as it unfolds a post-apocalyptic saga that follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln), who searches for a safe haven and, hopefully, a new home, far from the undead that now roam the earth hungry for human flesh. Each episode explores the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies, and the toll it takes on the survivors who now find themselves going to extremes just to see another day. In this horrific world gone mad, each turn brings new surprises and dangers, as the survivors try to regain some semblance of a normal life.

The Blu-ray and DVD contain all 6 episodes of the first season on a 2-disc set and are packed with special behind-the-scenes featurettes and insightful extra footage.

 

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Who Wore Burberry Better: Monica or Kim Kardashian?

March 10, 2011, 8:17 am
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R&B princess Monica has been stepping up her style game lately - guess that's what happens when you're photographed front row at all the Lakers games. In January, she secretly married Los Angeles Laker Shannon Brown and has been making the rounds court side.

The sassy singer recently turned up at the Hawks/Lakers game in one of the season's hottest fashion items: a Burberry Prorsum gold-studded car coat trench. Monica kept her jacket asthe star of her look, opting for simple black skinny jeans and nude peep-toe pumps.

These days, you can't turn on the TV or open a magazine without seeing Kim Kardashian. The sexy reality star also kicked it court side in Burberry, supporting her boyfriend, New Jersey Nets player Kris Humphries, who played against the New York Knicks. Kim styled the same $3500 jacket with funky leather leggings, a black T-shirt, platform booties and a luxurious black Hermes bag.

We think both ladies are "ballin" in Burberry, but we want to know what you think. Who wore Burberry better? Kim Kardashian or Monica?


 

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'Snoop' of 'The Wire' Arrested in Drug Raid

March 10, 2011, 8:45 am
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'Snoop' of 'The Wire' Arrested in Drug Raid


Actress Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson (pictured) gained fame and a strong fanbase following her role as a tough drug assassin in HBO's classic series 'The Wire.'

Unfortunately, her life is mimicking her on-screen role.

Pearson was arrested this week in a drug raid in Baltimore - the same city that provided the gritty backdrop for 'The Wire.'

Pearson, 30, was one of 60 people arrested in the Drug Enforcement Administration's heroin and marijuana sweep.

For someone who had to overcome an early life of violence and prison, Pearson's story offered inspiration to wannabe actors worldwide, since she was not a professional actress when she took the role of the cold-hearted killer.

At 16, Pearson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to eight years in prison. She also refused to testify as a witness in a recent murder trial in Baltimore.

With her new life as an actress, though, Pearson seemed to be turning her life around. She cofounded a nonprofit organization that worked with at-risk youth and wrote a memoir, Grace After Midnight.

Only time will tell whether Pearson will overcome her personal demons and shake free of the thug life she seems to hold so dear.

Anyone like me who watched her capture the television screen during her performances on 'The Wire' has to be saying to themselves, what a tragic waste of talent.



 

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MLK Parade Bomb Suspect Arrested, but Is It Enough?

March 10, 2011, 9:13 am
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Two months ago, we told you about the attempt of a would-be bomber to plant an improvised explosive device on the route of an annual Martin Luther King Day parade in Spokane, Wash.

Dozens, possibly hundreds, of people owe their lives to the quick thinking of three city workers who alerted authorities about the backpack containing a time bomb that was sophisticated enough to cause massive damage, according to the FBI.

You may be happy to know that the police have apprehended a suspect in that mass murder attempt and charged him with trying to use a weapon of mass destruction and possession of an IED.

But the arrest opens up a new avenue of questions.
Kevin William Harpham (pictured), 36, could face life imprisonment if found guilty of the charges. Authorities say the former army soldier has had ties to local neo-Nazi groups, including the National Alliance, although that group says he is not a member.

As we've said before, the attempt at killing innocent people at the parade, which was a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on human rights, was a failure. The bomb did not go off, and the people who wanted to remember Dr. King's works were able to do so, uninterrupted. That's the good news.

But there's bad news too.

We don't know much about how this was done, how the alleged would-be bomber got the material, if he was alone or if he had help. If he had help, he did this with a network of planners who were dead-set on creating a tragedy.

What's most disturbing is that this kind of homicidal insanity lurks right in our midst and nothing is done about it. If you'll remember, there was James Von Brunn, a deranged 89-year-old man with a long, violent and racist past, who walked in to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and shot security guard Tyrone Johns before he was shot and wounded himself. Months later, he died before he could stand trial.

Both Von Brunn and Harpham openly subscribed to racial hatred and made that plain on Websites they posted to. One day, Von Brunn and allegedly Harpham got the gumption to act out their wishes.

Here's the most disturbing part (which is more disturbing than these two and people like them): They are not being watched.

On Thursday, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) held hearings in Congress on the possible radicalization of young people in America's Muslim community. He said he is interested in finding out who may be potential terrorists and to find out why Muslims are not more active in turning potential terrorists in (for the record, one in five post-9/11 terror investigations began from tips within the Muslim community).

So if King is so interested in rooting out terrorist elements among Muslims, why is he not interested in rooting them out everywhere? The Spokane bomb had all the elements of another Oklahoma City bombing, which had nothing to do with radical Islamists but, rather, a run-of-the-mill American boy who was determined to kill as many as he could.

That was the same intent of Von Brunn and the same attempt in Spokane, but I'm waiting to hear this from King and everyone else who claims to have an interest in ridding the nation of terrorist elements.

The number of hate groups has increased exponentially since Barack Obama was elected president.

These types of people travel freely throughout the country, and believe me, they don't all have shaved heads and wear swastika tattoos but, rather, business suits and preppy sweaters in many cases. Still, where are the Congressional hearings to find fringe elements in the mainstream?

It's a sigh of relief to know there is an arrest in the thwarted Spokane bomb attack, but we should all be uneasy to know that our lawmakers see fit to ignore that and focus on people who haven't done anything wrong.

 

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Juan Williams: NPR Is an 'All-White Operation'

March 10, 2011, 10:10 am
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Ousted NPR pundit Juan Williams ripped his former employer - which is taking heat after an embarrassing sting - for showing the "worst of white condescension" when it fired him last year.

"I think when it comes to NPR's decision to, without any reason, throw me out the door, I think that for them, especially for some of the people who created NPR, it's an all-white operation," said Williams, who works for Fox News.

Williams said NPR "felt they had never had much success" with black or Hispanic journalists and did better with white women.
Williams made the comments to the Huffington Post before Tuesday's release of a sting video that showed an NPR exec calling Tea Partiers "racist."

The Website published the interview Thursday as part of a series that examines black journalists' experiences in the media industry.
NPR canned Williams, 56, in October after he told "The O'Reilly Factor" he gets "nervous" when he sees people in airplanes wearing "Muslim garb."

NPR has said Williams' comments about Muslims "undermined his credibility as a news analyst."

About the firing, Williams said: "I think they acted very unfairly, and largely in a condescending manner..."

Earlier this week, NPR executive Ron Schiller was caught on tape calling Tea Partiers "middle-America gun-toting" people... and "racists."

Schiller and NPR's CEO resigned, and many Republicans in Congress have called for stripping NPR's federal funding.

"These people are not only attacking the Tea Party ... they attack anybody who disagrees with their point of view. These folks are doing damage to real journalism at NPR."

Source: NY Daily News


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

 

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The Best Hair Colors for Your Complexion

March 10, 2011, 10:00 pm
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With spring and summer right around the corner, it's time for us brown beauties to update and refresh our looks.

Whether you're a scoop of caramel cone or a swirl of chocolate, we've found a color for you to dye for!

DROP-DEAD RED

Lovely caramel latte Rihanna has taken a true hair-or-dare risk with these ultra-bright red locks. The color brings our her amazing bone structure and brightens up her skin tone. If you're a caramel diva ready to take a chance, put on your dancing shoes and head straight to the salon to try this out. If you want to achieve this color at home, try Sebastian's Hot Red Cellophane semi-permanent hair color ($39.99, probeautywarehouse.com)


Who says chocolate bunnies can't pull off red? Well, whoever said it clearly hasn't checked the hair credits lately. We're not buying it, and clearly, neither is Estelle. This color works for her complexion because it's deep. The hues are a blue base versus an orange base like Rihanna's, which plays off the deep browns in Estelle's skin tone. DIY this look or have a girlfriend help out. A similar at-home color is Clairol Pro Creme, $5.99, sallybeauty.com.

GOLDEN HORIZONS

We all love Beyonce's color. Whether she has a full head of blonde or sections of hair that frame her face, this diva knows exactly which color works best for her tone. The blonde brings out her olive-y yellow skin base and makes her features pop. To all you light-skinned sisters out there thinking you can't pull this look off in fear of being 'too bright,' we say shine on! Get this look at home with L'Oreal Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color in 73 Golden Sunset, $9.99, lorealparisusa.com


A deeper yellow base than Beyonce, Chrisette Michelle pulls off this blonde look with a natural twist. Short- and natural-haired chicks get to have more fun with color - not too much worry about damage or breakage. Since the hair is already close to the shaft, it leaves you with more room to play. This color brightens Ms. Michelle's face and makes her look about five years younger... and who wouldn't want that? Try this on your own with Fekkai Salon Color Brush-On Permanent Hair Color in Very Light Blonde, $30, ulta.com.


BROWN BEAUTY


Always one to make a subtle statement, we love the deep brown/red/blonde hair Alicia Keys has going on. The lowlights and highlights give her hair dimension and play well with her undertones. If you want to go all out, do the color and the style all at once. You'll turn plenty of heads your way. For a color like Ms. Keys, try Garnier HerbaShine Color Creme in Mahogany Dark Brown, $8.49, cvs.com.

Meagan Good wears this deep-brown hue well. It gives her a spark of Hollywood glam, makes her features profound and, of course, draws more attention to those luscious kissers. Though Brown might appear to be a 'safe' color, be careful as to the type of brown you choose. This particular color is universal and can play off most complexions, which is why we love it! For a similar color, try Clairol Pro Creme in Rich Neutral Brown, $5.99, sallybeauty.com.


BLACK STALLION

Black is usually the last thing you would think about when it comes to fresh hair color for spring and summer, or a color that works well with brownies. However, black will always be a classic - no matter the season or the complexion. Brandy's jet-black hair palette leaves room to play with makeup, fashion and even jewels, so you can have your bright colors interjected in other ways for the season.

Basketball Wife Jennifer Williams is always primped, and her beautiful black locks never fall flat. Like Brandy, this color works with Jen's complexion and provides her with dimension and flavor. Whether stick-straight or bouncy curls, this budding entrepreneur's hair looks healthy and totally gorg!

You can achieve both of these looks with Dark and Lovely Conditioning Hair Color in Jet Black, $4.49, drugstore.com.

THE RISK TAKER

Now ladies, for kicks and giggles and, of course, a little harmless fun this season, do a Nicki Minaj: throw on a hot-pink, lime green, purple or even two-toned wig and hit the town! But if you're going to go extreme, leave the coloring up to the professionals.

Star Wig, $39.99, rickysnyc.com.


What color do you think looks best on you? Tell us!

 

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3 Health Signs You Should Never Ignore

March 10, 2011, 10:00 pm
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Self diagnosis seems to be everyone's favorite way to explain a pain, lump or fatigue, but what's the use of a health care plan if you're going to be your own doctor?

The Internet provides information on health issues, which allows people to make their own medical decisions. Your assumptions could be inaccurate, and you will spend time treating a health concern you never even had. Self diagnosis may save you time and money, but when the problem becomes severe, it will only result in less treatment options and more medical costs.

In fact, inaccurate self diagnosis and its resulting physical and financial effect has its own term. Medical professionals refer to these risks as "shadow diseases," where one illness can have a domino effect on another.

David Pryor, MD., founder of blackwomenshealth.com and board-certified physician in internal medicine, says many people underestimate minute health signs.

"I think a lot people experience certain symptoms, but they assume these symptoms can't be very serious," Pryor says.

The symptoms, however, could be a sign of cancer, heart disease, infections or diabetes. Here are a few signs that are best left up to professional diagnosis.

1. FATIGUE AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH is a signal women should be cautious of. Pryor says fatigue and shortness of breath along with anxiety could be associated with heart attacks.

"Women don't always get the common heart pains like men," Pryor says. "Heart disease is the number-one killer of both women and men, and a number of studies show that women experience heart attacks and chest pains in different ways than men."

A temporary weakness in one side of the body or an inability to speak could be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a mini stroke. The American Heart Association says these are warning strokes with no lasting effect, but in half of all TIA cases, a stroke occurs within a year.

"If you can't find your words and then it goes back to normal, it is something to worry about and you need to be evaluated ASAP," Pryor says.

2. BLOOD IN URINE. A sign that may seem embarrassing is traces of blood in the urine. People may not run to tell their physicians about this one because it's not that easy to explain. Patients may skip out on these details, but Pryor says that this could be a signal of kidney stones, an infection or a sign of cancer.

3. BLOOD IN MUCUS. In cold season, coughing up blood may appear to be a symptom related to a tough cold, but the amounts of blood could have other meanings. This may be a sign of a lung infection such as bronchitis, which is caused by exposure to bacteria.

"It could be a sign of an infection, but be more concerned if it persists," Pryor says. "It could be associated with lung cancer."

Any time you experience abnormal health signs, pay attention to the issue. Think about what may have triggered the symptoms and whether it has happened before.


Pryor offers three steps to take when an inexplicable case happens:

1. Take your symptom seriously. According to Pryor, underestimating the health concern means you will not take care of it. In order to receive medical treatment, you must first acknowledge it as an issue.

2. If it's threatening, call 911. Don't gamble with your life. If it's not threatening, but doesn't improve within 24-48 hours, you should consult a physician.

3. Be in tune with your health. Know your body's behaviors. Something that normally occurred rarely but begins to occur more often can only mean one thing: Your problem is entering stronger stages. Over time, the severity of the issues grow and can limit the options for treatment.

"The sooner you know about it, you can get on medication and live longer," Pryor says, "There are less options for treatment in the later stages."


Have you ever ignored a health symptom that turned into a bigger issue? Tell us your story.

 

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5 Things 112's Q Parker Loves About Black Women

March 10, 2011, 10:00 pm
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For Women's History Month, we asked black celebs about what they love about black women. First up: Q Parker, the sultry singer from R&B group 112 and recent fitness calendar model.

We know what we love about him, but what does he love about black women?


1. Nurturing Ability
"I was raised by a God-fearing dynamic black woman who is a great wife to my father, a wonderful mother, and an incredible grandmother."

2. Strength
"Black women have a unique ability to be strong and resilient in some of the toughest situations."

3. Emotional Range
"Black women can be outspoken, opinionated, laid back and reserved - all rolled into one."

4. Uniqueness
"Black women come in all shapes, sizes, curves and shades! And I love every one of them."

5. Support
"Through my life, it's black women that have supported my dreams, my musical career, and have always had my back. Without them, I don't know where I'd be."

What do you love about black women? Tell us!

 

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Two Nigerians Make the Forbes Billionaires List: What We Can All Learn

March 11, 2011, 1:49 am
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Two Nigerian men, Mike Adenuga and Aliko Dangote, represented their home country of Nigeria by placing themselves among the wealthiest men in the world. Both men made the Forbes billionaires list, with Adenuga ranking as number 595, while Dangote skyrocketed up to number 51. Dangote's fortune grew five fold last year, as he consolidated his holdings and went public on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. His company now has a market cap of $13 Billion, representing over one-fourth of the total market cap of the entire Nigerian stock market.

Dangote is able to make money hand-over-fist primarily because there are so few Nigerian cement suppliers to meet the country's increasing demand for construction. He is now wealthier than South African billionaires Nicky Oppenheimer from Debeers and John Rupert, both of whom are white. During my trip to Nigeria in 2009, I noticed that there was a tremendous amount of construction being done in the country, as well as a hunger to understand the principles of entrepreneurship and building a business. I expect the country to continue to grow, assuming that it can deal with its well-documented corruption problems (for example, I was asked to give an agent money in order to get my bags through airport security).

Dangote's next plan is to list his company on international stock markets. The Nigerian Stock Exchange is not deep enough to handle a company as large as his, so he is now planning to list on the London Stock Exchange. Dangote Cement is expected to be a world-wide company and his place on the Forbes list is expected to rise. Dangote recently bought himself a $45 million dollar plane to celebrate his birthday. The tycoon is sure to remain an economic powerhouse, but it should be noted that having one man control a full fourth of the nation's entire market capitalization is a very dangerous thing. This would never be allowed here in the United States, for good reason. Such a strong concentration of power could squash all potential competitors, undermining the ability to create a truly free market.

The other Nigerian to make the Forbes list was Mike Adenuga. Adenuga is now number 595 on the list with a fortune of $2 billion dollars. The tycoon made his money by founding Globacom, a company that provides mobile, fixed and broadband services to the country. The company was founded in 2005 in the Republic of Benin. Adenuga took the gamble of laying a billion dollars of fibre optic cable to connect Africa to the rest of the world. Apparently, the investment is starting to pay off.

Most interesting about these massive achievements by our Nigerian counterparts is that African Americans have the same (actually more) wealth-building capacity that others have around the world. If you'll notice, these men became wealthy by finding a public need and filling it, and also making investments to develop infrastructure for their financial futures. If you are highly educated and have a great deal of skill, your primarily objective should not just be to go work for someone else and live paycheck-to-paycheck. Your long-term objective should be to own the land on which you stand, so you can have access to true economic independence. So, to all the rappers who tell our kids to spend money at the club and on expensive jewelry, realize that by engaging in such a flawed use of your financial resources, you're only begging to remain a slave to capitalism. That's why most of the entertainers and athletes I know eventually end up going broke after being pillaged by their Harvard-educated attorneys, managers and record label executives.

With black unemployment being as high as it is and our wealth levels being so low, teaching our kids the value of owning their own business might take us a very long way. Make sure your kids learn the basics of entrepreneurship.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here.

 

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