The Latest from Hip Hop Wired – 10/7/10

Nas Tells Def Jam He's "Not A Slave", Wants Answers About Album Delay

FEATURES, NEWS

» By Tffhthewriter   Oct 7 2010, 11:05 Am

Comments 2 Tags def jam, Nas, Nasir Jones, Def Jam Recordings, La Reid, Tommy Mottola, Nas Writes To Def Jam, Nas Tells Def Jam, Nas Letter To Def Jam, Nas Tells Def Jam He's Not A Slave

Julissa Bermudez Does "Dime Piece" Shoot For Source Magazine (Behind The Scenes) [Video]

BANGIN CANDY, NEWS, VIDEO

» By Charlieblanko   Oct 7 2010, 10:25 Am

WATCH MORE HOT NEW VIDEOS HERE!!!

Comments 0 Tags Julissa Bermudez Does "Dime Piece" Shoot For Source Magazine (Behind The Scenes) [Video]

Black Judge Rejects Plea Deal For "White Boy." Says Black's Would Be Much Worse

NEWS, POLITICS

» By Jason Weintraub   Oct 7 2010, 10:22 Am

Comments 3 Tags black judge accused of racism, black judge racist, black judge rejects plea, Black Judge Rejects Plea Deal For "White Boy.", black judge rejects racist plea, black judge says plea for white boy is racist, judge racist

Michelle Obama Tops Forbes "Most Powerful Women" List

NEWS

» By Danielle Canada   Oct 7 2010, 10:07 Am

Comments 0 Tags michelle obama, Forbes, Michelle Obama Forbes, Forbes Names Michelle Obama Most Powerful Woman, Forbes Most Powerful Women, Michelle Obama Most Powerful Woman, Forbes Magazine

Chelsea Handler Denies Dating 50 Cent

NEWS

» By Danielle Canada   Oct 7 2010, 9:32 Am

Comments 0 Tags 50 cent, Chelsea Handler, 50 Cent And Chelsea Handler, Chelsea Handler And 50 Cent, Chelsea Handler Denies Dating 50 Cent

Toni Braxton Files For Bankruptcy, May Be $50 Million In Debt

NEWS

» By Danielle Canada   Oct 7 2010, 9:10 Am

Comments 0 Tags bankruptcy, Toni Braxton, Toni Braxton Files For Bankruptcty, Toni Braxton Bankrupt, Toni Braxton Broke, Toni Braxton Bankruptcy

Are Black Bosses and Their Employees at Odds?

NEWS

» By Danielle Canada   Oct 7 2010, 9:00 Am

Comments 1 Tags Do Black Employees Discriminate Against Black Bosses and Treat White Managers Better, the atlanta post

Black 6-Year-Old Comes Home From School Wearing KKK Mask [Video]

NEWS, POLITICS, VIDEO

» By Danielle Canada   Oct 7 2010, 8:00 Am

Comments 1 Tags KKK Mask, Child Wears KKK Mask, Dallas Smith, 6 Year Old Allowed To Wear KKK Mask, 6 Year Old Wears KKK Mask

What is the Future of Hip Hop? Dr. Boyce Video

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

What is the future of hip hop? I have our panel together to discuss the issue once again. They are the leading figures in hip hop, and I think you'll enjoy the conversation. To see part 1 one of the conversation, click here. To see part 2, click here.

 

Click to read.

Why Some Black Men Date White Women

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

First, I’ll start this article by saying, “just kidding.” I have immense loyalty to black women, and that’s all I’ve ever dated in my adult life.  But after reading the article “8 Reasons to date a white man,” I just had to respond for the brothers.   We know white men are just as imperfect as the rest of us.  But the idea that the author decided to put white males on a pedestal above black men without considering the challenges of being black in America had me fuming.  So, here are some reasons that those brothers who date white women might have decided to do so:

 

Click to read.

Bishop Eddie Long Update: Pastor Plans to Protest Bishop Eddie Long in Atlanta

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

A pastor at a church in South Carolina says that he is going to have a rally at the state capitol in Atlanta to demand that Bishop Long resign as pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
The pastor on the attack is Bishop Prophet H. Walker of the True Light Penecostal Church, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The pastor has become vocal in light of theallegations against Eddie Long, and says he wants to set the record straight.
"He has no right to assume the office of pastor of any Christian church," Walker said. "A pastor should be above reproach."
Walker has stated that he does not support homosexuality. He says that the rally will "support the integrity and character of the Christian faith."
When I heard about the protest being held by Bishop Walker, I wasn't sure what to think. I suspect that any intelligent person knows that there are going to be some members of the church who don't quite live up to the standards of the bible. Wait, I guess that would be almost everyone, since none of us are perfect. We also know of at least one preacher who might be accused of using the pulpit as an avenue for sexual opportunities (note the story I wrote about Pastor Steven Arnold earlier today).

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Video: Dream Hampton, Marc Lamont Hill Discuss Black August

I got a chance to speak with Marc Lamont Hill, a brilliant young professor at Columbia University, along with Dream Hampton. Marc is the host of "Our World with Black Enterprise," replacing the great Ed Gordon. Dream is a hip hop journalist, who was the first female editor of "The Source" Magazine. She has also helped to create award-winning films such as "I am Ali," and "Behind the Music: The Notorious B.I.G." I spoke with both of them in the studio about their work, and I think you'll enjoy the interview and become inspired by it.

 

Click here to watch.

Prominent Arkansas Pastor Resigns After Sex Scandal

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Bishop Steven Arnold, a prominent pastor in Little Rock, Arkansas resigned this week after admitting to an affair with a female in his congregation. He was the pastor at First Baptist Church, where he's had the post for 21 years.
Bishop Arnold's revelation to his congregation led to the church's Board of Elders accepting his letter of resignation swiftly and issuing a statement:

"It is with a heavy heard that we accept the resignation of our pastor. Under his leadership, we have experienced tremendous growth, both spiritually and numerically. We love and deeply appreciate all that he has done for us through God's enablement these past 21 years. In our efforts to curtail speculation and gossip, the Board of Elders made the decision to be more specific about what led to Bishop Arnold's resignation. But out of respect and sensitivity to the families and all that are involved, we will not release any more information other than this. We prayerfully hope that the public will show the same respect and be considerate of the feelings of family members and our church during this difficult time."

 

Click to read.

My Latest Tweets – Dr. Boyce Watkins

drboycewatkins1

1. What is the future of hip hop? I talked to the founder of allhiphop.com about it here: http://tinyurl.com/274hr8gabout 12 hours ago via web
2. Here's the clip of us on CNBC - this is a debate I had with someone from Bush Administration, Press Secretary: http://tinyurl.com/33gz4hkabout 16 hours ago via web
3. I'll be on CNBC at 11:30 am today if you'd like to see it.about 23 hours ago via web
4. Al Sharpton and I discuss the firing of Rick Sanchez from CNN:http://tinyurl.com/247mdzf8:58 PM Oct 4th via web
5. Is TI being treated differently from Lindsay and Paris?http://tinyurl.com/2urjgpq11:28 AM Oct 4th via web
6. It's good to see that Obama is changing around the Oval Office:http://tinyurl.com/32a7hrf7:48 AM Oct 4th via web
7. Why did CNN fire Rick Sanchez for speaking out against racism? It happens to us all the time: http://tinyurl.com/2aoaats3:40 PM Oct 3rd via web
8. Read the lawsuit against Bishop Eddie Long:http://tinyurl.com/2uo4k4d9:55 PM Sep 30th via web
9. Acid in face hoax woman pleads guilty: http://tinyurl.com/2csb5jk8:52 PM Sep 29th via web
10. Eddie Long accuser says sex happened on church grounds:http://tinyurl.com/2epcmg66:20 PM Sep 29th via web
11. Meet Dr. Boyce Watkins on MSN's "The Invested Life":http://tinyurl.com/2v3ab8x9:28 AM Sep 29th via web
12. Eddie Long accuser calls him a monster and a predator - amazing video: http://tinyurl.com/368ncev11:51 PM Sep 28th via web
13. Anderson Cooper embarrassed the heck out of the CBC and Eddie Bernice Johnson: http://tinyurl.com/32fv78v3:29 PM Sep 28th via web
14. Black leaders are quiet about Bishop Eddie Long:http://tinyurl.com/3a2kphk12:25 PM Sep 28th via web
15. Rev. Sharpton and I are discussing Eddie Long. He has an interesting perspective. Sharptontalk.net10:55 AM Sep 27th via web
16. Bishop Eddie Long addresses his congregation:http://tinyurl.com/36c9mb26:41 AM Sep 26th via web
17. Former NBA star might be going to prison: http://tinyurl.com/2avtx4l3:17 PM Sep 25th via web
18. Poll: less than half of African Americans think Bishop Eddie Long is gay - http://tinyurl.com/2fpa7u88:51 AM Sep 25th via web
19. Bishop Eddie Long to step down as pastor on Sunday:http://tinyurl.com/23q9qbk12:52 PM Sep 24th via web
20. I am standing against accused racist Joe Price who wants to be Sheriff here in Syracuse - suspicious deaths of black people under his watch6:20 AM Sep 24th via web

Dr. Boyce Video: What’s Wrong with Hip Hop Part 2

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

If you're anything like the rest of us, you are probably sick and tired of much of the hip hop you hear on the radio. This is not to say that there aren't artists who produce quality music, but there are quite a few who show nothing less than complete disrespect for themselves, black women and the entire African American community. I'm a fan of hip hop, but not a fan of stupidity, especially when these images are teaching young brothers how to be black men.

 

Click to watch

Dr. Boyce on CNBC: Why Are Corporations Not Hiring?

 

Click here to watch

Dr. Boyce and Al Sharpton Discuss the Firing of Elliot Spitzer

 

Click here to listen

Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss CNN's Firing of Rick Sanchez

Click to Play

Boyce Watkins and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss CNN's Firing of Rick Sanchez. ;

Dr. Boyce: TI Might Go to Prison, But Would Lindsay or Paris?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

It's being reported that the rapper T.I. (aka Clifford Harris) has a probation revocation hearing coming up on October 15. The rapper was arrested for drug possession with his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. The incident occurred on September 2 of this year, and they were allegedly in possession of Codeine, Ecstasy and Marijuana, which was uncovered in what police say was a routine traffic stop.
I spoke with someone who is familiar with the case against T.I. I asked him if T.I. was going back to prison. He said that while he isn't sure what the rapper's fate will be, there is an inherent contradiction in his case. While we can almost expect that T.I. will be punished for his latest violation of the law, the same can't be said for other celebs, like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. Both of these young women have been arrested time and time again for one offense after another. In each case, they are typically given a slap on the wrist.

Click to read.

Obama Needs to Continue to Redecorate the White House

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

President Obama appears to understand the value of cleaning house. After letting go one of his top economic advisor, Lawrence Summers, Obama saw the departure his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. He is also expected to make major changes in the National Security Council over the next year. By losing some of the baggage of the last two years, the president is presenting a restructured slate to energize Democratic voters and prepare for a Congress that will look dramatically different after the November elections.

Obama's interim replacement for Rahm Emmanuel, Pete Rouse, is the right person for the job at this point. He understands the culture of the Senate, which is going to be critical as the Obama administration starts to find ways to pass piecemeal legislation to keep campaign promises. With the Democratic majority likely to be gone after the November elections, the president needs a plan.

The Chief of Staff is arguably the most powerful person in the White House next to the president. He/she makes the president's schedule, decides who gets to meet with him and serves as his gatekeeper. For people of color, a person like Rahm Emanuel can be very dangerous, since there are some in Washington who feel that Rahm could care less about black and brown communities.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins: NAACP Does One Nation March – Was it Successful?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The One Nation March took place this weekend in Washington. Saturday, thousands of Americans gathered together to march for jobs, equality and education. The concept of the march is a very good one, and I am sure the execution was extraordinary. I have to say, however, that the marketing of the event left much to be desired.
In fact, I am willing to bet that as you read this article, you knew almost nothing about this march. Perhaps you heard a whimper or two about it, but you probably haven't heard NAACP President Ben Jealous on the airwaves speaking about the event. You probably haven't seen very many news stories on national media outlets about the march. If you google search the term "One Nation March" and click on the news section of google, you see a few articles in places like News Busters and The Sky Valley Chronicle.

 

Click to read.

Scholars Talk about the Black Church and Homosexuality

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Jeff Gardere – AOL Black Voices

Dr. Jeff Gardere and I both agree that the recent gay sex scandal of Pastor Eddie Long has opened a chasm in the black church and the black community that needs to be filled with discussion and most importantly, understanding. The relationship between the black church and the black community is one that begins for most of us as children and never ends. It is time to begin a conversation that can heal a lot of people.

My Take – The Black Church
The black church is one of the deepest and most significant institutions in the African American community. Anyone who struggles with a problem in their lives is encouraged to turn to the church for answers. If you want to know why you made it through your surgery, got a better job, or found a way to get off crack, there's probably a church on your corner willing to provide you with a convenient explanation. The church is in our blood and our pastors are our spiritual fathers.
Many black folks understand the church before they ever even understand God. This socialization puts a psychological stranglehold on us: Many of us are taught to condemn those who are different, whether it is because they are gay, not baptized or simply believe what we don't believe. Some accept a life of hypocrisy, since the idea of being marginalized by the church is far worse than the challenge of maintaining a double life. We learn how to twist and manipulate the bible to help us explain away every socially deviant behavior and moral imperfection.

 

Click to read.

CNN’s Rick Sanchez is Punished for Talking about Race

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Rick Sanchez was the coolest brother on CNN. No, he wasn't a brother in the technical sense of the word, but he's the closest we might get on CNN for quite some time. Rick was the host of "Rick's List," a daily CNN show that featured the latest and most relevant news and commentary. As a Cuban American, Rick related to the world in a way that was unique and authentic. He cared about issues that affected the poor and minorities, and he used his platform for a productive purpose.
Why am I talking about Rick Sanchez in past tense? Because he was fired by CNN this week.

 

Click to read.

8 Reasons to Date a White man: What?

Stay tuned for more topics, comment or write us at editors@madamenoire.com if you have suggestions!

I am married to a Black man—dark-skinned, 100 percent cocoa. To me, there is nothing more physically beautiful on this earth. Notice I said physically. Outside of that, there are plenty of more financially, intellectually and emotionally stable options. It’s time to taste the unknown. There are just too many—too many bright and beautiful single Black women waiting for their Black prince charming, only to see more and more of them riding off with their porcelain-skinned beauties.

My question is what are you waiting for—a baby and no ring? Black men are obviously seeing a lot in others they like. As an open-minded woman, I can tell you from experience some things about white are right. In no particular order, here are the reasons you should be giving vanilla a chance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wilmer Leon: Does the President Listen to Gangsta Rap?

by Dr. Wilmer Leon

During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, President Obama was asked about his musical preferences, he replied in part, “My iPod now has about 2,000 songs,…There's still a lot of Stevie Wonder, a lot of Bob Dylan, a lot of Rolling Stones, a lot of R&B, a lot of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. …A lot of classical music. …my rap palate has greatly improved. Jay-Z used to be sort of what predominated, but now I've got a little Nas and a little Lil Wayne and some other stuff, but I would not claim to be an expert…”

Soul, folk, rock, R&B, jazz, “A lot of classical”, and some rap; sounds like a fairly diverse musical palate.  This represents the musical tastes of a number of American’s of the president’s generation, especially those with school age children.  Diversity is good, unless you are reading the Fox Nation website.  According to the Huffington Post, Fox Nation took this description and briefly posted the headline, “President of the United States Loves Gansta Rap” with photos of tattoo laden Nas and Lil’ Wayne thrown in for “flava”.

 

Click to read.

Eddie Long Court Documents: What are they actually Saying?

Click here to view one of the lawsuits filed against Bishop Eddie Long.

Prof Duchess Harris: President Obama’s Report Card

by Duchess Harris

On Friday September 17, The Washington Post reported that “Black Scholars [were] to debate how to hold Obama ‘accountable.’ I was fortunate enough to be one of several Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commissioners to engage in this dialogue at the 40^th Legislative Annual Congressional Black Caucus Conference.

To give some background, in 2008 at its State of the Black World Conference in New Orleans, the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW) announced a new initiative: the Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission (SCPAC), named in honor of the first black woman elected to Congress and the first black woman to seek the Democratic nomination for president.

Richard Adams, Chairman of the Board of IBW and Convener of the Commission said:

Click to read.

Why Do Black Athletes Go Broke? Let’s Figure Out Why

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I am participating with MSN in a project called "The Invested Life." The program represents the launch of a series of web-based episodes that teach the fundamentals of investing to regular, everyday people. I've worked on the show for months, and I'll be engaged in the project for the rest of the year. It's been an interesting jump into the world of film making, with scripts, production schedules and all that good stuff. I've gained a newfound respect for how hard real actors and actresses actually have to work.
A guest on the show is a man named Winfred. Winfred is a former NFL athlete who found himself done with sports and trying to make sure that his wealth lasted until retirement. He made an interesting point that for many athletes, the challenge of retiring young with virtually no skill set can be a one way ticket to the poor house. As a man who is concerned about the plight of the black athlete, I constantly see men who've traded away their entire educational future in exchange for a very short and meaningless life of glamor in professional sports.

Click to read.

Black News: Acid in Face Hoaxer Goes to Court

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Bethany Storro made national news when she claimed she was the victim of a random attack. Storro told police that an African American woman walked up to her and suddenly decided to throw acid in her face. Storro received the sympathy (and financial contributions) of people all around the world. Even Oprah cleared a slot for her on her show.
It turned out that Storro was lying, making herself the latest in a long list of people who've falsely claimed that a black person attacked them. Her face is now blotched and red, where police say she allegedly put acid onto her own face, perhaps in a quest for attention. The story is quite sad, actually.

 

Click to read.

Accuser Alleges Bishop Long Had Sex on Church Grounds

by Dr. Boyce Watkins – Syracuse University 

Most of you may have read the story about Jamal Parris, the latest and most vocal ofBishop Eddie Long's accusers. Parris and three others have stepped forward to file a lawsuit against Long in state court for allegedly coercing them into having sex. Well, another bombshell has hit the room, and this one was also delivered by Parris.
Parris told WAGA-TV in Atlanta that he and Long engaged in numerous sex acts on church grounds, both before and after morning services. He also said that they would perform numerous sex acts in Long's home, car and office at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
The four accusers claim that Long traded sex acts for cars, clothes and other material possessions. The sex scandal against Bishop Eddie Long seems to get just a bit deeper every single day. At this point, Long doesn't just have to worry about the ethical implications of committing adultery and being accused of engaging in homosexual sex. He also has to deal with accusations of pedophilia, since the public is not yet aware of how old the young men where when the alleged sex acts occurred.

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce joins MSN’s “The Invested Life”

 

Click to watch Dr. Watkins’ episodes.