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Will the Democrats Try to Keep Obama from Running for Reelection?

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It appears to be the case that the Democratic anger about President Barack Obama's tax deal has come to a head. Suggesting the unthinkable, there are Democratic rumblings about the possibility that someone could challenge President Obama in the primary heading into the 2012 presidential elections.

Those on the far left, from Keith Olbermann to James Carville, have gone as far as suggesting that President Obama has sold out a long list of Democratic principles. The recent tax deal with the Republicans may be the straw threatening to break the camel's back, but there has been a consistent irritation that Obama isn't strong enough, and that he hasn't fought very hard to end the war in Afghanistan. In addition, liberals have always seemed to feel that Obama comes up short on many of the issues they hold near and dear.

If Obama were to be challenged in the primary, no one seems to know who that challenger might be. All of the usual suspects have turned down the opportunity to stand up, including Russ Feingold and Howard Dean. Also, some speculate that speaking up on a challenge to President Obama is merely a way to get his attention and to turn his policies back in the right direction.

I don't personally expect that Obama will be kept from running for re-election, but there are two things we must keep in mind: First, no president who's ever been challenged in a primary has ever gone on to win the election. Secondly, it may take only one more major blow up before the theoretical concept of challenging Obama suddenly becomes a reality. In other words, the tension between President Obama and the Democrats may grow even deeper as he continues to compromise even more with the increasingly powerful Republican Party.

One has to wonder just how reasonable the criticism of President Obama happens to be, given that most of his critics are not able to provide a reasonable alternative to his current strategy. A prolonged battle with Republicans might have made good political sense, but the consequences would have been devastating for millions of Americans praying that their unemployment insurance doesn't run out. Also, the ideologues of the Democratic Party can sometimes get so caught up in fighting that they don't actually connect themselves to the nuts and bolts aspect of actually getting things done.

President Obama did the right thing to compromise on this particular issue. But as we enter 2011, I am hopeful that he will show the kind of backbone his liberal base is seeking. All the while, it will be difficult for Obama to prove his strength after losing the power he should have been using last year. I am curious to see what happens.

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

 

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NFL Rookie's Home Being Raided for Possible Drug Activity

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Police have raided the home of Baltimore Ravens kick returner David Reed to investigate possible drug activity. A spokesperson for the Baltimore County police says that Reed hasn't been charged with anything, but that police have taken evidence from his home. The raid occurred at approximately 10:30 pm Tuesday of this week.

Lt. Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County police says that Reed will "have his due process and his opportunity to talk about the circumstances."

Of course none of us knows what happened in this one, but I'm sure that no one is surprised. The culture of drugs and criminal activity continues to plague the athletic community, and for those of us who are concerned about the plight of black athletes, the alarm bells are going off. Whether you can blame negative elements of hip hop culture, the stupidity of youth or an overzealous criminal justice system, there is surely plenty of blame to go around.

One can only hope that the charges that may be filed against Reed (I suspect that the police have something to talk about or they wouldn't be speaking so gingerly) are not serious enough to derail his life. But if they are, I am hopeful that other young black athletes can learn from his mistakes. We can't keep repeating the same cycle.

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

 

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Congressional Black Caucus Bashes Obama on Tax Cuts

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The Congressional Black Caucus has joined the chorus of Democrats currently at war with President Barack Obama. The feud was built on the recent tax cut compromise the president made with Republicans. President Obama and the Democrats were pushing to let the Bush era tax cuts expire for those earning over $250,000 per year. The Republicans, however, were determined to protect the interests of the rich.

Barbara Lee, Chairwoman of the CBC, said that she will not support President Obama's plan:

"You put those together and this is an assault on the working poor and middle-income people," she said. "What is so outrageous about this whole thing is we know the pain and suffering people are going through right now as a result of the bush era tax cuts."

The CBC says that they are willing to consider other proposals on tax cuts, including an extension of unemployment benefits for 13 months, and a two-year extension of tax cuts for those earning less than $250,000 per year.

The CBC doesn't appear to be swayed by a recent press conference held by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton. During the surprise gathering, both Clinton and Obama spoke on the benefits of the deal the president made with Republicans. The bill should be brought to a vote in the Senate on Monday, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Right now, I must confess that I am confused by what's happening in Washington. Rather than seeing the benefits of Obama's deal with Republicans, or at least realizing the logic behind his decision, Democrats are screaming at the top of their lungs about allowing wealthy Americans to keep their taxes down. I am not, for one second, a fan of allowing the wealthy to keep their tax cuts, but I am willing to allow them to have these cuts if the cost might be the loss of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans.

Quite frankly, the political warfare going on in the Democratic Party reminds me of the opposition some of my friends have shown toward issues like gay marriage. There are millions of Americans who have nothing to gain or lose by allowing gay people to be married, but they become angry and offended nonetheless. Personally, it never mattered much to me one way or the other, so my response has always been, "Why not?" This was especially true in 2004, where staunch opposition to gay marriage fueled another four years of one of the worst presidents in American history. Sometimes we cut off our nose to spite our face when it comes to political ideology.

Yes, extending tax cuts for the rich is going to negatively impact the federal debt, but the debt is going to continue growing whether or not the wealthy get their cuts. Also, stopping the wealthy from keeping their tax cuts is not going to put food on the tables of those families who stand to lose everything while the folks in Washington play a dysfunctional game of high stakes chicken. If the Democratic attacks on the president are part of some covert strategy to recapture the White House, brand the Republicans as the party for the rich and undermine Republican arguments that Obama is too liberal, then I get it. But if things are effectively what they appear to be, then I am shocked and disappointed that this is going down at all.

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

 

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Obama Allows Clinton To Hold Court In His White House

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It was an extraordinary sight, even by White House standards.

Two presidents at the podium in the White House press room, discussing Democratic infighting over a tax cut extension plan.

Then, an even more extraordinary sight: President Obama leaving, former President Bill Clinton behind to hold court with reporters for 20 more minutes.

"I'm going to let him speak very briefly," Obama said. "And then I've actually got to go over and do just one more Christmas party. So he may decide he wants to take some questions, but I want to make sure that you guys hear it from him directly.

Replied Clinton: "Thank you very much, Mr. President. First of all, I feel awkward being here, and now you're going to leave me all by myself."

Clinton endorsed Obama's proposal to temporarily extend all the George W. Bush tax cuts, including those for the wealthiest Americans. While Democrats are protesting that last item, Clinton echoed Obama's argument that the package also includes unemployment benefits and other tax breaks that benefit the middle class.

Both noted that Republicans will take over the U.S. House next month, and be in a position to dictate the terms of any revised deal.

"I think this is a much, much better agreement than would be reached were we to wait until January," Clinton said "And I think it will have a much more positive impact on the economy -- so for whatever it's worth, that's what I think."

Obama chimed in,"that's worth a lot!"

The two presidents also discussed how to deal with a Congress controlled by the other party, something Clinton experienced and which Obama will have to face next month.

After Clinton took a question on last month's Democratic election defeats, Obama announced: "I've been keeping the First Lady waiting for about half an hour, so I'm going to take off ...

Clinton said, "I don't want to make her mad, please go."

Source: USA Today




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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Study: Barack Obama Seen as Being More Black Than White

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A recent study out of Harvard University has concluded that the typical adult American sees mixed-race Americans like Barack Obama and Halle Berry as being more black than white. The study, conducted by Arnold K. Ho, a doctoral student of Psychology at Harvard, says that even when bi-racial people are equally mixed with both the white and black races, they are seen as being more black than white.

Ho conducted the study with James Sidanius, a Professor of Psychology and African American studies, also at Harvard.

The authors interpret their findings to relate to the "one-drop rule," based on a 1662 law in Virginia that connected mixed-race individuals to their lower social class. Even as recently as 1985, a Louisiana court ruled that a woman with a black great-great-great-great grandmother could not claim that she was white on her passport.

"One of the remarkable things about our research on hypodescent is what it tells us about the hierarchical nature of race relations in the United States," Sidanius said. "Hypodescent against blacks remains a relatively powerful force within American society."

The work is published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The study certainly opens the mind toward noticing the things that are typically left out of our consciousness. Racial divisions are so deeply entrenched in our society that they are accepted as part of our nation's default state of existence. Matters are made worse by the fact that African Americans have been so terribly miseducated about the horrors we've experienced in this country and our nation refuses to acknowledge how 400 years of sub-human treatment affects all of us today. One interesting example is the finding of a researcher that black babies were used as alligator bait during the 1800s. The researcher dug further into the matter after wondering why there are so many postcards from 100 years ago that featured black babies running away from hungry alligators.

I am not one to disagree with the conclusions of the scholars who conducted the Harvard study, given that their explanation for the findings seem quite plausible. Another possibility, however, is that skin complexion and hair texture may also play a role in how mixed race Americans are perceived. Given that we are used to seeing black people in all different shades, it's not out of the question that Halle and Barack are identified as being black primarily because they look like other black people.

One personal example of the strength of the black gene pool is my God daughter, who has a white grandmother, a bi-racial mother and a father from Ghana. There is nothing about her dark, beautiful skin that would make you think that she could possibly be one-quarter white. Now, if she looked white and called herself white, I can't imagine anyone challenging her self-identity. But her father's African blood seemed to step into her DNA and take over the whole party.

Another reason that Halle Berry and President Obama might be considered black is because they also identify themselves as being black. Perhaps it was social pressure or something even more sinister, but Barack Obama has never identified himself as anything other than a black man (although it may have cost him politically, since Republicans have consistently tried to radicalize his image), and the same is true for Halle Berry. If anything, it might be the case that mixed-race individuals are made to feel that they can't be proud of the white side of their family, for fear of being considered a sell-out. For example, Tiger Woods' world-famous "Cablinasian" remark to describe his pride in being of mixed race was met with ridicule from quite a few members of the African American community. So, while we cannot argue that black people have been consistently relegated to a lower socio-economic class, the truth is that black people also some ability to define ourselves.


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

 

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Cam Newton Wins Heisman, With Storm Cloud Hanging Overhead

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Auburn quarterback Cam Newton became the 76th winner of the Heisman Trophy, considered to be the most prestigious award in all of college football. Newton won the award this week, making him the third player in Auburn University history to win the trophy. His stellar play on the field led to Auburn having a 13-0 record and playing for the BCS Championship.

Quite simply, Newton is an absolute beast. He led the SEC in rushing with 1,409 yards. He was simultaneously the nation's top-rated passer with 2,589 yards passing and 28 touchdown tosses. He also scored another 21 touchdowns rushing.

We've spoken about Cam Newton on Black Voices in the past, primarily because Cam's father is accused of seeking payment for his son's possibly playing at Mississippi State. The NCAA ruled that although it believes that Newton's father was seeking payment, neither Cam nor Auburn University officials were aware of any pending transactions. Therefore, both Cam and Auburn University have been cleared of any wrong-doing by the NCAA.

I have one response to the NCAA's reaction to the Cam Newton case and it makes reference to something that comes out of a bull's backside. While I would be my last nickel that both Auburn and the NCAA knew what Cam's dad was trying to make money in the background, the truth is that they understand the importance of standing down on this particular issue. Right now, Cam Newton is worth tens of millions of dollars to the NCAA. Because he is such an amazing player, corporate sponsors are banging down the door to pay millions to advertise to the legions of fans that Cam draws around the country. Therefore, the quick translation of the NCAA's actions would be simple: "We're willing to overlook what happens under the table because there's just too much money to be lost by taking Cam Newton off the field."

Although I've long been an advocate of seeing college athletes get labor rights that are the same as their coaches, I would guess that a black market will have to suffice for the time being. In the long-run, there should be nothing unethical or illegal about superstars like Cam Newton and their relatives profiting from their athletic ability. The unAmerican practice of utilizing the human capital of others and selling it as your own should eventually come to an end. College athletes and their families don't deserve to live in poverty while those running this professional sports league make millions. America should not be the land of athletic sweatshops.

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

 

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Major Protests at Six Georgia Prisons: Inmates Demand Human Rights

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Inmates at six major prisons in the state of Georgia have begun a strong peaceful protest against inhumane conditions in the facilities in which they live. The protest is unique because it represents a coalition of black, brown and white inmates, jumping the line of racial segregation so prominent in prisons across America.

While the wardens at the prisons are not speaking to the public, the public is certainly speaking to the system. Across the nation, supporters of the movement are making calls to various officials to request that they help with the problem (you can see who to call by clicking here). The prisons at which the protests are taking place are: Macon, Hays, Telfair, Baldwin, Valdosta and Smith State prisons.

Thousands of inmates stayed in their cells Thursday, leading to strong and swift retaliation by the prison guards. According to those familiar with recent events, inmates have been beaten and had their personal items destroyed. Inmates also say that the authorities have cut off their hot water and shut off the heat when outside temperatures were in their 30s.

Black Agenda Report quotes one of the inmates as saying, "We are going to ride it till the wheels fall off. We want our human rights."

Demands by prison inmates include, among other things, decent living conditions, educational opportunities, just parole decisions, the end of cruel and unusual punishment and better access to their families. Currently, inmates' families cannot send money orders and are instead expected to send funds through a company that takes a large percentage of the money sent. Also, the companies that provide short, 15-minute phone calls for inmates charge massive amounts of money to families, many of whom are in poverty due to missing a primary bread-winner in the home.

Most prisons in Georgia don't allow for nearly any educational opportunities beyond the GED. This is inconsistent with the notion of preparing inmates for re-entry into society upon their release. If someone is both marginalized by the criminal justice system and uneducated, their likelihood of going back to prison is very high.

I remind the reader that the 13th Amendment, which abolishes slavery, says, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

The translation is that the prison system became the escape clause that continues to open the door for the perpetual subjugation and enslavement of African Americans (in addition to poor whites, but in far lower percentages). When one considers the fact that black Americans are disproportionately represented in a prison system that incarcerates more human beings than any country on earth, you can see that prisons are nothing more than modern day slavery. There should be an investigation into the conditions of these facilities, and we must release the notion that it's OK to do whatever we want to another human being, as long as they've been labeled to be a criminal.

Given that black people are terribly affected by this system, we must go out of our way to challenge it. Most of us have a brother, cousin, or parent who has either gone to prison or somehow been involved in the criminal justice system. My biological father went to prison and my primary male role model also started a downward spiral in life after having his first exposure to prisons at an early age. I could tell you more, but it would just be too painful. I gave a speech in Kentucky and heard the testimony of a young girl who said that the same judge who sentenced her brother to 10 years in prison had also sentenced her father many years earlier.

We must change the way we view prison and incarcerated Americans. A nation should balance its need to control crime with the desire to keep our society safe and productive. When inmates go into prison, they must be given every opportunity to obtain an education, as well as engage in a process of positive rehabilitation that will make the person an asset to the world once they return home. Additionally, we should all stop making jokes about things like prison rape and accepting it as a default way of life. The truth is that prison rape is a factor in the spread of HIV in the black community, which is killing thousands of African Americans every year.

It's time to change some of these policies, so Eric Holder and Barack Obama should be respectfully asked to help manage this issue. We should also do them a favor by mobilizing one another and addressing it ourselves. There is simply too much at stake for us to let this issue go. Everyone deserves human rights.

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

 

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President Nixon Tapes Reveal Disparaging Remarks About Blacks and Jews

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Richard M. Nixon made disparaging remarks about Jews, blacks, Italian-Americans and Irish-Americans in a series of extended conversations with top aides and his personal secretary, recorded in the Oval Office 16 months before he resigned as president.

The remarks were contained in 265 hours of recordings, captured by the secret taping system Nixon had installed in the White House and released this week by the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

While previous recordings have detailed Nixon's animosity toward Jews, including those who served in his administration like Henry A. Kissinger, his national security adviser, these tapes suggest an added layer of complexity to Nixon's feeling. He and his aides seem to make a distinction between Israeli Jews, whom Nixon admired, and American Jews.

In a conversation Feb. 13, 1973, with Charles W. Colson, a senior adviser who had just told Nixon that he had always had "a little prejudice," Nixon said he was not prejudiced but continued: "I've just recognized that, you know, all people have certain traits."

"The Jews have certain traits," he said. "The Irish have certain - for example, the Irish can't drink. What you always have to remember with the Irish is they get mean. Virtually every Irish I've known gets mean when he drinks. Particularly the real Irish."

Nixon continued: "The Italians, of course, those people course don't have their heads screwed on tight. They are wonderful people, but," and his voice trailed off.

A moment later, Nixon returned to Jews: "The Jews are just a very aggressive and abrasive and obnoxious personality."

At another point, in a long and wandering conversation with Rose Mary Woods, his personal secretary, that veered from whom to invite to a state dinner to whether Ms. Woods should get her hair done, Nixon offered sharp skepticism at the views of William P. Rogers, his secretary of state, about the future of black Africans.

"Bill Rogers has got - to his credit it's a decent feeling - but somewhat sort of a blind spot on the black thing because he's been in New York," Nixon said. "He says well, 'They are coming along, and that after all they are going to strengthen our country in the end because they are strong physically and some of them are smart.' So forth and so on.

"My own view is I think he's right if you're talking in terms of 500 years," he said. "I think it's wrong if you're talking in terms of 50 years. What has to happen is they have be, frankly, inbred. And, you just, that's the only thing that's going to do it, Rose."

These tapes, made in February and March 1973, reflect a critical period in Nixon's presidency - the final months before it was "devoured by Watergate," said Timothy Naftali, the executive director of the Nixon Library.


Source: Washington Post

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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Singer John Legend Among Critics' Choice Movie Awards Nominees

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Singer John Legend was recently nominated for the Jan. 14 Critics' Choice Movie Awards . He wrote and sang the song 'Shine' for the critically acclaimed documentary, 'Waiting for Superman.'

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

Historically, the Critics' Choice Movie Awards are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations. All four major acting category winners at the Academy Awards in 2010 were first Critics' Choice Movie Awards winners in the same categories and were present at the January 15, 2010 ceremony to graciously give their first acceptance speeches of the awards season.

The BFCA also recognized 'The Hurt Locker' for Best Picture and Kathryn Bigelow as Best Director, making her the first female to win the award. 'The Hurt Locker' and Bigelow also went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, but were both overlooked at the Golden Globes.

Legend's song will be in competition with the following song: 'I See the Light,' performed by Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi/written by Alan Menken & Glenn Slater for the animated film 'Tangled;' 'If I Rise,' performed by Dido and A.R. Rahman/music by A.R. Rahman/lyrics by Dido Armstrong and Rollo Armstrong for the Danny Boyle film '127 Hours;' 'We Belong Together,' performed and written by Randy Newman for the Pixar/Disney film 'Toy Story 3;' and 'You Haven't Seen the Last of Me Yet,' performed by Cher/written by Diane Warren for the 'Burlesque.'

Following 'Black Swan,' 'The King's Speech' and 'True Grit' tied with 11 noms.

Among the 12 bids for "Black Swan" are best picture, lead actress (Natalie Portman), supporting actress (Mila Kunis), director for Aronofsky and original screenplay for Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin.

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

Unlike the Oscars, where there are five nominees in each of the four acting categories, the BFCA selects six. Lead actor nominees are Jeff Bridges ('True Grit'), Robert Duvall ('Get Low'), Jesse Eisenberg ('The Social Network'), Colin Firth ('The King's Speech'), James Franco ('127 Hours') and Ryan Gosling ('Blue Valentine').

In addition to Portman, the contenders for lead actress are Annette Bening ('The Kids Are All Right'), Nicole Kidman ('Rabbit Hole'), Jennifer Lawrence ('Winter's Bone'), Noomi Rapace ('The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo') and Michelle Williams ('Blue Valentine').

The Critics' Choice kudos will be handed out Jan. 14 in a ceremony carried live on VH1 from the Hollywood Palladium.

 

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Meet The Sirens From 'Tron: Legacy': Yaya Dacosta And Elizabeth Mathis

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Coming out this week is 'Tron: Legacy,' the heavily anticipated sequel to the 1982 film, 'Tron.'

Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Kevin Flynn and Clu, while Bruce Boxleitner reprises his roles as Alan Bradley and Tron. Garrett Hedlund portrays Flynn's adult son, Sam. The other cast members include Olivia Wilde and Michael Sheen.

Playing the Sirens in the films are former runner-up of 'America's Next Top Model' Yaya Dacosta And Elite model/ actress Elizabeth Mathis, along with Beau Garrett and Serinda Swan.


Sam Flynn (played by Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (played by Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade-a signal that could only come from his father-he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (played by Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe-a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.

While Dacosta started acting in 2005 and has a few films to her credit, such as 'Take The Lead,' and this year's 'The Kids Are All Right,' she also has appeared in the soap opera 'All My Children,' and has done some theater work.

Mathis has appeared in 'Enchanted,' the fantasy girl in Chris Rock's 'I think I Love My Wife,' and as one of Denzel Washington's daughter in this year's 'Unstoppable.'

Blackvoices.com caught up with Yaya earlier this year as she spoke about her role in the film.

You're also in one of the most anticipated films of the year, 'Tron: Legacy.' How exciting is that for you?

Yaya Dacosta: That's so exciting. I know so many people, especially who are guy friends, who were such huge fans of 'Tron' one and so now 'Tron' two is just really going to be quite big. I'm excited about the whole thing. It's interesting seeing the 3-D craze take on a new life. My thing is that there are a group of Sirens who kind of prepare the main character for his journey. So it'll be interesting for sure, identifying me beneath the costume and the makeup.

'Tron: Legacy' will open in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on December 17.


TRON: Legacy Exclusive Clip - Sirens Dress Sam

Trailer Park Movies | Myspace Video

 

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If You Use the Internet, They Are Tracking Your Every Move

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The Internet and consumer privacy
Recent legislative proposals allowing consumers to opt out of being tracked by companies that do business on the Internet have put attention back on a massive industry that has grown right under our noses. Companies have quietly developed a slew of technological advances that allow them to follow you throughout the Internet to see what sites you visit, how often you browse and even "leak" information from social networking sites like Facebook.com.

The Federal Trade Commission has been receiving complaints from consumers who say that their privacy is being violated by companies that follow them around on the web. The FTC is currently asking for a "Do Not Track" option for all consumers that will make it illegal for firms to snoop on their activities.


The online advertising industry generates roughly $300 billion in U.S. economic activity, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Internet advertising companies spend an estimated $25.8 billion each year to sell products to you on the web. Additionally, companies that are paid to track you on the Internet are everywhere. Another study by the IAB found that 80% of online advertisements use "behavioral targeting" technology.

Tracking cookies are the most popular way that companies follow you through the web. Cookies are downloaded to your browser, allowing the company that owns the Web page to keep up with the number of times you visit the site, along with the length of your stay. Companies can also get a "fingerprint" on you, which consists of the specific way in which your browser is structured (fonts, plug-ins, etc.).

Some of the reasons that consumer advocates are worried about companies getting access to private information is that the data leakages can affect us in a multitude of ways. For example, a company may be able to decide if it wants to offer insurance coverage to you based on how the company's computers analyze your Internet activity. Also, the data may be used by companies to decide if they want to hire you.

Keeping your Internet fingerprint clean may be an important part of your personal and professional strategy. At the very least, we should all be aware of cases in which our civil liberties might be affected. The FTC has a tough job of regulating the Internet, and the truth is that they will probably never figure it out completely. It's better to take your own steps to protect yourself.

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

 

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Stanford University Poll Blames Parents for State of School System

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Stanford University Poll


Parents struggling with a downward spiraling economy, subpar housing conditions, mediocre healthcare and abysmal unemployment rates are to blame for the low test scores and poor graduation rates prevalent in public schools.At least these are the findings of a poll Stanford University conducted jointly with the Associated Press. According to the poll, 68 percent of adults believe parents deserve "heavy blame" for the deplorable state of the United States school system more than school administrators, government or teachers' unions.

Thirty-five percent of respondents believe that teachers deserve a great deal or a lot of the blame, while 72 percent of Mothers versus 61 percent of Fathers say parents are at fault. Conservatives were more likely than moderates or liberals to blame parents.

With emphasis placed on test scores, discipline and high standards or expectations, those polled believe that parents should shoulder the responsibility for the failure of a school system once at the forefront of technology and innovation.

"Nobody is too busy to raise a child for a successful future," said Wilfred Luise Vincent, 65, of Coppell, Texas. Vincent worked early or late shifts for Delta Airlines during most of his career, so his two daughters would have a parent at home after school.

Now he's retired and home after school to help guide his granddaughter while his daughter works.

"The problems children and their parents deal with inside and outside of school every day are growing," says Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education, a Chicago advocacy group.

"Children are tired, they're hungry and they need someone to help with their homework. Some kids face violence at home or in their neighborhood. Some parents are trying so hard to keep a roof over their family that they can't help with school."

Conversely, less than half of those polled expressed concern about getting and keeping good teachers.

And this is when I begin to question the sanity of the poll participants.

Most said education in their local public schools is excellent or good, and doing a good job preparing students for college, the work force and life as an adult. Yet, 67 percent also believe the United States is falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to education.

Those are some of the most contradictory, illogical findings I've ever had the displeasure of reading. If the school system is "excellent," why has the United States position of preeminence as it pertains to technology and inventions been consistently diminishing, falling behind such emerging powerhouses as Singapore and Sweden in global competitiveness?

I am 100 percent in agreement that some parents aren't doing enough to ensure that their children are emotionally, physically and psychologically prepared to succeed in school. Children are having too many children, too fast, and not understanding that they are ultimately responsible for that child's success or failure.

There are no excuses for the apathetic attitudes many parents exhibit concerning their children's education.

But what this "poll" does not address is the racially biased elephant in the room.

Researcher Amy Golba once said, "The neglect for the educational needs of children in urban schools threatens the economic well-being of the nation. Unless the inequalities in education between suburban and urban schools are diminished, the schools and their students will always be victims of the divisions of race and class. All of these students say the 'Pledge of Allegiance' to the same flag each morning in their classrooms repeating the words '...one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' Children experience the irony of these words that they speak each day that they come to school."

Today, African Americans, Hispanics and children living in poverty regardless of ethnicity dominate 23 of the nation's 25 largest urban school systems. With low incentives for educators, state funding going predominately to wealthier districts and the flight of the middle class to suburban schools, public schools in urban areas are often ignored and given the minimal necessities required to meet state standards.

One in 10 kindergarten and first-grade students misses a month of school every year, which can put them behind their classmates for years, according to Attendance Counts, an advocacy group. What is not mentioned is that 81 percent of students in urban schools have absenteeism issues in contrast to the 35 percent in suburban schools.

By ninth grade, missing 20 percent of school is a better predictor of a student dropping out than test scores are, said Attendance Counts Director Hedy Chang. In the poll, 41 percent said students not spending enough time in school is a serious problem.

While this is a disheartening statistic, what is even more disturbing is that adults who either have no interest or understanding of the issues brutalizing urban communities (i.e., drugs, theft and violence, which have infiltrated our school systems) believe that our educators and administrators are doing an "excellent" job, and it is only our parents who are failing.

There are teachers who are doing an exceptional job, playing Mother and Father to children left to fend for themselves, and I salute them. The education of our children, though, has always been, and will always, be a collaborative effort.

And while parents are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of their children, underlying historical, political and economical factors cannot be minimized if true equality is ever to be attained in our public school systems.






 

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Who Wore What Last Night

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From Connecticut to Nigeria, some of our favorite fly girls were out and about this past weekend. Whether they kept it it casual or went full-on glamazon, these ladies looked amazing. Check out whore wore what.

True Blood actress Rutina Wesley attended Spike TV's '2010 Video Game Awards' in a silvery gray dress with dangly earrings, a large black clutch and black patent leather peep-toe heels. It's always a treat to see Wesley dressed up; her character Tara isn't exactly known for her sartorial choices!

Over in Lagos, Eve rocked the MTV MAMA Africa Music Awards red carpet in a sexy one shoulder mini-dress. Eve rarely gets things wrong style-wise; her dress is a great example of animal print done right. From her hair to her super long necklace to her shoes, Eve is looking good.

Also in animal print, Lala Vazquez attended the 2010 Hollywood Style Awards in a demure knee-length dress. We love that the dress is hugging Vasquez's curves in all the right places, but it still leaves lots to the imagination with the high neckline and long sleeves. Peep-toe pumps seemed to be the shoe of choice for the ladies this past weekend with Vasquez also working it out in a cute black pair.


Kerry Washington was as casual as she seems to get at events when she attended the HARMAN VIP reception for 'We the Peoples,' in Connecticut. The actress paired jeans with a boat-neck, horizontal striped shirt with three-quarter sleeves. She traded the pumps for some lust-worthy laced up heeled boots. Her fresh makeup, white cocktail ring and Gucci purse made her look polished as opposed to dressed up. Simply put, Washington made us wish our 'not really trying' outfits turned out that cute.

 

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Don King Busted For Carrying Ammunition In Luggage

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Boxing promoter Don King was stopped by security at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport for having ammunition in his carry-on luggage.

Hopkins Airport spokeswoman Jacqueline Mayo says the 79-year-old King was stopped by members of the Transportation Safety Administration on Sunday night.

She says King had ammunition for .38-caliber and .357-caliber firearms in his bag.

Mayo says the ammunition was taken and that King was released to continue his trip, she believes to Florida. She said she didn't know if King received a citation.

King didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

WOIO-TV in Cleveland first reported the incident and said King was in Cleveland for his wife's funeral.

Eighty-seven-year-old Henrietta King died Thursday in Florida from complications from stomach cancer.



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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Watch Teaser Trailer To 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'

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Walt Disney Pictures has released the trailer to 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,' the 4th installment of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow.

'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise --this time in Disney Digital 3D(TM). In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (played by Penelope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (played by Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Geoffrey Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Sam Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Astrid Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.

Directed by Rob Marshall ('Chicago,' 'Nine'), the film will be released on May 20, 2011 in 3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D.

 

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Carmelo Anthony Says He Wants to Play for the New York Knicks

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Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets has made it clear that he wants a contract extension, but not with his current team. The Nuggets offered Melo $65 million over three years, but he reportedly turned it down in order to keep his options open. Reports are that Anthony wants to become a New York Knick.

New York is the city in which Anthony was born and lived for eight years. It is also the place where he can join the successful team built around Amare Stoudemire, who has helped the Knicks become strong for the first time in several years.

Other possible deals to trade Anthony have been in the works, but they've all fallen apart. One of the difficulties of structuring a trade for Anthony is that he can kill any deal by telling the other team that he wouldn't be interested in taking an extension from them. While it seems that $20 million per year is a lot of money for an athlete to earn, the reality is that it's really chump change compared to what professional basketball players would earn in a free and fair market. In 1996, Kevin Garnett signed a monster contract that would have landed him roughly the same amount of money that Carmelo will earn after his new contract. That's when NBA owners locked the players out and restricted their salaries. Since that time, NBA revenues continue going up, owner wealth goes up, but player salaries have remained at the same level they were over a decade ago.

Since leaving Syracuse University (I never met Melo while he was here), Carmelo Anthony has led an interesting life. He has played well, stayed out of trouble and seems well on his way to having an outstanding NBA career. I am not a big fan of the "One and Done" approach to college basketball that Melo used while he was at Syracuse, but I blame the system more than I blame Carmelo. In fact, the millions that our university and other NCAA institutions earned off Carmelo Anthony while he was here are better served in the pockets of he and his family.

Even Carmelo's wife, Lala Vasquez, has shown herself to be more than just a basketball wife. Rather than simply defining herself through her husband, she is an educated woman who's had a successful career in media. I am impressed by both of them, and it's my greatest hope that the craziness of NBA life doesn't undermine the beautiful marital bond they've created. As they move into the media circus of New York City, everything will be put to the test.

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

 

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Obama's Landmark Nutrition Bill Signed Today

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Obama's Landmark Nutrition Bill Signed Today

There may not be any more of those delicious bite-size pizzas or that indescribable cafeteria lunch meat after President Barack Obama signed the landmark, "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010," that aims to improve the quality of school breakfasts, lunches, and other foods sold in schools.

The landmark bill piggybacks off First Lady Michelle Obama's goal of eradicating childhood obesity which includes her "Let's Move" initiative. It will also serve to strengthen nutrition programs that serve young children, like the WIC and Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Apparently Republicans care about the kids, this bill passed with bipartisan support. Even Rachael Ray, who doesn't exactly cook the healthiest food (but it is good), was on hand for a telephone press conference offering her support.

"This is the first substantive step I've seen in my lifetime," Ray said about the bill's focus on young people and nutrition. "I watched the First Lady and President sign it this morning and it gave me chills."

Ray, through her youth organization, helps children throughout the boroughs in New York City to plant their own gardens in the public schools. She says, as a result, children know where their food comes from, and take food that they grow directly into the cafeteria to eat. "It's a beautiful thing to watch kids make that connection," she says.

The bill will focus on nutrition and physical activity to address the problem of obesity as well as allow for fitness and activity standards in the schools. Statistics show that over 130 million Americans are obese or overweight and childhood and teenage obesity has increased by four times over the past 40 years. Over 70 percent of overweight adolescents will be overweight or obese as adults.

It's good to see that school systems are taking some responsibility, particularly as many public schools reduce recess time. This bill is a good first step, but much more needs to be done, particularly by parents, to seriously reduce the epidemic of childhood obesity.



 

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Don King Tries to Bring Bullets Through Airport Security

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Don King Tries to Bring Bullets Through Airport Security

Nearly everyone thought boxing promoter Don King had retired from the kind of dubiousness that has kept him in court. But according to the Associated Press, he was stopped by security today at the airport in Cleveland, Ohio for having the ammunition for a .38 caliber and .357 firearm in his bag.
Why Don thought he could bring the bullets for two guns through the same airport security that won't let you bring Afro Sheen is beyond me.

More than anything, this proves that the nearly 80-year-old promoter still has to watch his back. He was in town for his wife's funeral, 87-year-old Henrietta King, who died Thursday in Florida from stomach cancer.

According to an airport spokesman, the ammunition was taken and King was released to continue his trip. King didn't have a comment on the incident.

 

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20 Questions: Theater & Film Ingenue Nicole Beharie

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In a day and age when nearly every pop star and rapper has added the word "actor" to his or her resume, Nicole Beharie is a rarity in the acting world.

The Florida native trained at Juilliard before earning critical acclaim for her star turn opposite Alfre Woodard in the 2009 indie flick 'American Violet.' Starring in a Lifetime movie based on Carleen Brice's acclaimed novel 'Orange Mint and Honey' alongside Jill Scott followed, and now the bronze beauty is starring in her first Broadway show just steps from her alma mater and alongside an enormously talented cast that includes Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def.

Beharie fills BlackVoices.com in on why she's not writing that Oscar acceptance speech just yet with this week's 20 Questions.

BlackVoices.com: This is your first Broadway role. Were you nervous about making this transition from film?
Nicole Beharie:
Extremely nervous and honored, and like everyday, I thought, "They're gonna fire me" (laughs). Just playing. I'd think, "I can't believe I'm in this room," but, Broadway is a big thing. It's like your dream, and I went to Juilliard right across the street from Lincoln Center and every day I go to work, I also pass my alma mater and it just brings me back.

BV: Is there any downside to this hectic schedule?
NB:
You're on Broadway with cool people. It's like, yeah we do eight shows a week. We're doing a show on Christmas day, but we're telling a great story and audiences will be there and I just wouldn't fit in at a desk.

BV: If you weren't acting what would you be doing?
NB
: I'd have a farm. I am into herbs and growing things and the cycles of the moon and maybe it's just a kick I'm on. I have my little windowpane herb garden and in the summer, I have my rooftop to make tomato and basil and make it happen. It all dies in the winter, honey.

BV: What have you learned doing 'A Free Man of Color?'
NB:
Generosity and vulnerability, comedy and wit from of all these people. I've learned things from George, our director. There are so many things that I've learned. It's just an experience that will forever be with me. The history of the play itself is a really important story to be told beyond my career. I think it is important it's being told right now and at this time with the political climate and [President] Barack Obama.

BV: How's it been working with Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def?
NB:
They have incredible skill and craftsmanship and they are extremely generous and there's no ego. They make it easy to jump in and play with them, and Jeffrey in the beginning could see I was nervous and would tell me to relax, especially because we have a scene where we roll around in the bed, and I was really nervous about it. But he was totally professional like, 'Child, this is easy, we can do it.' And he made it a lot of fun.

BV: Did Juilliard prepare you for your career as an actress?
NB:
I think they prepare you to an extent. Everyone's path is different; they give you skill, endurance and teach you how to work with people and by yourself, but thereafter all the business stuff is all you. That's like any school. They say this is how it's done and then you have to do it your way.

BV: Do you think your critically acclaimed role in 'American Violet' prepared you for 'A Free Man of Color?'
NB:
I shot 'American Violet' in 2007 and that was my first year out of school, and now in 2010, it feels like a distant dream, a fond dream. Having the responsibility of telling another type of historic and important story just sent me on my path for knowing what type of material I wanted to be a part of.

BV: And you were fortunate enough to costar alongside the legendary Alfre Woodard?
NB:
I think that's the first time I was star stuck. I was like, "I'm working with Alfre Woodard?" I'd be sitting behind her in the truck going to work and thinking, "I'm sitting behind Alfre Woodard," but all of these people are fabulous and they are humble and generous and helping me build and grow.

BV: After 'American Violet' came out there was a big scandal with the African American Film Critics Awards (AAFCA) and who really won the best actress award. Did that put a hamper on the work for you?
NB:
No, I was so blessed. I had just gotten out of school and just getting to explore that type of character was a gift. I was blown away to be considered for an award.

BV: Were you annoyed with how it happened though?
NB:
When they told me I got it, I was like "Oh, great," but then when they said, "Well, we're not sure" (laughs). I said, "If you're not sure, then I'm not sure. Actually, I'm good." I don't want to be a part of anything that is the slightest bit shady, so I removed myself from the situation. It's kind of funny. It wasn't the most positive press, but it got people talking about the film again, which was kind of cool.

BV: How was it working with Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Jill Scott?
NB:
Jill Scott is quadruple threat. She's amazing, and I really feel like I lucked up on that one. It was a rough part because we had to sort of be at each other's throats, but she brought light to the home every day and got us going. She was really just someone easy to get to close to quickly. I really enjoyed working with her.

BV: Were you surprised with the movie's success?
NB:
I don't follow a lot of that stuff. I kind of heard from my manager and was like, "Cool. Great. So, when's my next audition?" It's wonderful, but I'm glad people watched it because I thought the script was powerful and the book was great. It was just a wonderful story with black female characters at the forefront going through some complex issues. So, I said, "Hey, if people are watching that. I have a chance." But, I don't follow the write-ups and things. That will allow for more to happen on those types of networks.

BV: Are there any actors that you'd choose to model your career after?
NB:
It's always hard to answer that because it changes. One of the people I'd like to model my career after is Jeffrey Wright and Alfre. These people that I've gotten to work with have the blueprint and I got a little peek at it.

BV: You have another film coming up called 'My Last Day Without You.' Talk about that.
NB:
I did a film this summer where I play an up-and-coming singer who falls in love with a German businessman, and we go about this crazy day. That's all I can say about it without telling the entire story. I got to work and come home to my place at night because it was a Brooklyn film. It was kind of fabulous.

BV: What career advice did you not receive that you'd give to an up-and-coming actress?
NB:
I'm a little uptight, and I would say have a good time. If you aren't having a good time, don't do it. Follow what feels right for you.

BV: Do you have a dream role?
NB:
I would love to do it so bad that I can't say it out loud, but hopefully it happens.

BV: Do you want to star in it or produce that dream role though?
NB:
That's something I think everyone that I'm friends is interested in doing now because I think they realize that in order to have any power over what you're doing, you have to have your hands in the pot behind the scenes. It's definitely something I am interested in, but right now I have to understand what I'm doing now to get the full perspective.

BV: Do you have any one movie you think should be nominated for an Oscar?
NB:
I haven't really seen that many movies this year. I'm going to look through this interview and say, "What did I say?" There were a lot of great performances, but I'm going to be kicking myself in 20 minutes.

BV: Have you written your own Oscar speech?
NB:
An Oscar speech? Are you crazy? I'm just trying to get a job. No! No!

BV: It doesn't seem like you've had trouble with that though. Has it been hard getting a job?
NB:
It hasn't been and, knock on wood, I thank my creator and hope that I can keep it going. I actually have a job coming up in February with an interesting director, Steve McQueen, that we're shooting in the city. I can't talk about it until it's official. Things are happening, and I'm happy about that, but I'm not writing Oscar speeches.

'A Free Man of Color,' starring Nicole Beharie, is now playing through Jan. 9 at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
On the big screen, he's best known for voicing the character of Darth Vader in the 'Star Wars' franchise, but Mississippi-born James Earl Jones is an accomplished stage actor. Over his career, he's won seven Tony Awards since his 1969 breakout role in 'The Great White Hope.' Some of his notable performances include Oberon in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' and more recently as Big Daddy in the 2008 revival of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.' In October of 2010, he returned to the stage in 'Driving Miss Daisy' opposite Vanessa Redgrave.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
It takes some serious vocal chops to be the youngest winner of 'American Idol.' Given that's how Jordin Sparks got her start, it would come as no surprise that the 'No Air' singer would nail the role of Nina in the musical about growing up in Washington Heights, 'In the Heights.' Sparks made her Broadway debut late summer of 2010.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
After years of toiling on TV shows and films, acclaimed actors Ernie Hudson (of 'Oz' fame) and LaTanya Richardson Jackson (previously seen in 'The Fighting Temptations') made their Broadway debuts in the critically acclaimed revival of the August Wilson play 'Joe Turner's Come And Gone,' which opened at the Belasco Theatre on April 16, 2009. The story is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house circa 1911 and features a colorful cast of characters played by Chad L. Coleman, Roger Robinson, Aunjanue Ellis, Andre Holland, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Arliss Howard, Danai Gurira, Michael Cummings and Amari Rose Leigh.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
Fans of Disney's 'High School Musical' franchise headed to Broadway to check out Corbin Bleu's Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical 'In the Heights.' The 21 year-old thespian, who is a native of Brooklyn, New York and trained under Debbie Allen's tutelage, took over the lead role of Usnavi in the spring of 2010.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
Hollywood heavyweight Cedric The Entertainer joined Tony Award nominee John Leguizamo and Academy Award nominee Hayley Joel Osment in a November 2008 revival of David Mamet's classic play, 'American Buffalo,' which played a short riun at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway. Following three small-time crooks who wax philosophically about society while conspiring to steal a rare and valuable coin from a neighborhood collector, the Oscar Joyner produced production marked the funnyman's debut on The Great White Way.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
'American Idol' Season 1 finalist Tamyra Gray blazed a new trail on Broadway when she revamped the look of lead character Mimi, a drug addicted HIV positive spitfire in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical 'Rent.' It wasn't the first time around the track for the former Georgia pageant queen; she previously starred in the Indian inspired outing, 'Bombay Dreams.'

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
Patti LaBelle joined the cast of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Fela!' on Sept. 14, 2010. The Grammy Award-winning diva took over for Lillias White, who originated the Broadway role of the African musical pioneer's mother. The musical's big-name producers, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith came out to cheer on Patti for her first performance.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
Having already criss-crossed the world as a member of the most successful girl group of all-time, Destiny's Child, and appeared on Broadway replacing Toni Braxton as the title character in 'Aida,' in 2003, Michelle Williams took her return to The Great White Way seriously. She first played the lead role of Roxie Hart across the pond in the West End production of 'Chicago' in July of 2009 before shaking it up on Broadway.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
Academy Award winning film veteran Morgan Freeman made a return to The Great White Way in April 2008. The last time the 'Million Dollar Baby' actor appeared on the Broadway stage before: 1988's 'The Gospel at Colonus.' As Frank Elgin, the Memphis native took on a roll traditionally played by a white actor in the Mike Nichols-directed revival.

Black Famous Faces In Theater

Black Stars Light Up The Great White Way
Hip-hop superstar Sean "Diddy" Combs won rave reviews as Walter Lee Younger in the 2002 revival of the classic play 'A Raisin in the Sun.'

Black Famous Faces In Theater

 

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Ironically, The Tea Party Created $1 Billion in Earmarks in 2010

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Tea Party Caucus

"No more business as usual in Washington!"

"No more unnecessary government spending!"

These were the rallying cries of dozens of Tea Party-affiliated politicians who won their respective House and Senate races last month. Despite these political assertions, all sorts of Tea Party promises were broken on the government spending front in 2010 by members of the Tea Party Caucus in Congress before the midterm elections:

Members of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus may tout their commitment to cutting government spending now, but they used the 111th Congress to request hundreds of earmarks that, taken cumulatively, added more than $1 billion to the federal budget.

According to a Hotline review of records compiled by Citizens Against Government Waste, the 52 members of the caucus, which pledges to cut spending and reduce the size of government, requested a total of 764 earmarks valued at $1,049,783,150 during Fiscal Year 2010, the last year for which records are available. ...

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), for one, attached his name to 69 earmarks in the last fiscal year, for a total of $78,263,000. The 41 earmarks Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) requested were worth $65,395,000. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) wanted $63,400,000 for 39 special projects, and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) wanted $93,980,000 set aside for 47 projects.

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) takes the prize as the Tea Partier with his name on the most earmarks. Rehberg's office requested funding for 88 projects, either solely or by co-signing earmarks requests with Sens. Max Baucus (D) and Jon Tester (D), at a cost of $100,514,200. On his own, Rehberg requested 20 earmarks valued at more than $9.6 million.


The earmark thing isn't really a surprise, because compromise on this issue has been a point on contention within the GOP since Obama took office. And yet, 40% of the earmarks tied to the stimulus package that the GOP decried as a colossal waste of taxpayer money went to.... wait for it.... Republicans. I've never quite understood why any politician would be against rewarding the very people who put him/her in office with common sense projects like highways, community centers, and schools. For every Bridge to Nowhere, there are a thousand examples of money well spent. But hey, a promise was a promise. And despite putting up a united front to "fight porkulus," the Tea Party Caucus has already done a sleight of hand by doling out goodies to their home states, even while promising to fight pork during midterm campaigns.

There's also the small matter that some of these same Tea Partiers who promised to reign in government spending are eerily silent about the President's compromise with the GOP that's going to add an additional $900 billion to the oh-so-crucial deficit (more than the much derided stimulus package), thus making rich people even richer. Where are the protests? Where is the outrage? Where are the misspelled, quasi-racist signs?

So again, promises of "a new day in Washington" have been revealed to be more of the same ole' Washington. Congrats Tea Party Nation, you did it. What exactly "it" is, remains to be seen.


Jay Anderson is a freelance writer from Washington, DC, whose work has been featured in the Washington Post and on NPR. When he's not busy talking smack here, he runs the award-winning blog AverageBro.com. Follow him via Twitter @AverageBro.


 

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