But also in 1965, Malcolm X was killed. Malcolm X was the antithesis of King. Whereas King advocated non-violent opposition to achieve integration, Malcolm proclaimed separation, self-sufficiency and self-defense. Malcolm’s fame increased dramatically after his death, especially in the North which had long been integrated, but African Americans there were still shut out of the economic mainstream, and police violence was sharply on the rise.

Starting in 1964, America’s Northern cities in summer would, one-by-one, explode as Black communities fought back against the police and put businesses to the torch. Meanwhile, Black college students, fresh from civil rights campaigns, came streaming northward to organize and direct the growing, angry protests.

Said Stokley Carmichael after one particularly stormy demonstration, “This is the twenty-seventh time I have been arrested and I ain’t going to jail no more! The only way we gonna stop them white men from whuppin’ us is to take over. What we gonna start sayin’ now is Black Power!” Soon the organization which he led, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Comminttee (SNCC) became involved in a series of protests that were anything but. Around the same time Harlem Congressman, the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell railed against Black oppression declaring, “To demand these God-given rights is to seek Black Power.”

Before long “Black Power” became the slogan behind a broad-based, insistent push for equality, at any and all costs. The Black Panther organization came on the scene, armed themselves and engaged in battle with the police, even as they fed schoolchildren and encouraged literacy and self-expression.

Black writers formed the Black Arts Literary movement to inspire and document the dramatic change in attitude. They avidly fostered the then novel idea that “Black is Beautiful!” and thus was forever shed the terms “negro” and “colored,” as “Black” became the defining moniker. Meanwhile, Black students launched fiery protests on college campuses across the country demanding that the curriculum be broadened and their numbers increased.

The summer of 1967 became particularly tumultuous after Newark and then Detroit combusted in a prolonged, deadly conflagration. President Johnson immediately set up the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. Seven months later on February 29, 1968 it released its report concluding that “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” It also charged that “(t)he press has too long basked in a white world looking out of it, if at all, with white men’s eyes and white perspective.”

It identified racial discrimination in housing, education and employment as the primary causes of the upheavals. Martin Luther King hailed the report as a “physician’s warning of approaching death, with a prescription for life.” Five weeks later, however, Martin Luther King himself was shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee. There immediately followed spontaneous riots and rebellions in every major American city. Whereas in the past the uprisings were localized, now they took place everywhere simultaneously.

In an attempt to quiet what was shaping up as a Black Revolution, in the months and years ahead, Affirmative Action programs vastly increased the number of African Americans in college and in middle management positions in the economy and college authorities acquiesced to student demands for programs and departments of Black Studies. The Black Power movement ignited numerous other movements for equality including the Women’s Movement, the Native American movement, the Gay Rights movement and the Puerto Rican Liberation movement, just to name a few.

Over time, the protests eased as the Black middle class substantially expanded, but the poor and working class nonetheless remained, but shorn of their leading elements which had become incorporated into the mainstream. Eventually, Affirmative Action itself was eviscerated and though the Black middle class would protest, cut off from its base, its cries would fall on deaf ears. Meanwhile, police repression resumed and the prison population zoomed.

And so where are we today? Formal segregation is gone, access to the middle class has increased, but our cultural and psychological condition and confidence has waned. Where do we go from here, that is the question. Meanwhile, let us remember our past as we ponder our future. This essay is a brief reflection on those heady days when we  launched and piloted the Civil Rights movement which eventually morphed into the Black Power struggle. We still live in the aftermath and the shadow of those enduring accomplishments. When shall we rise again?  

It’s hard to know exactly what Dr. Dre is doing for the black community, but we all know where he made his greatest gift.  Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Lovine recently announced a whopping $70 million dollar donation to USC to create a new degree.   The program is one that pulls together liberal arts, graphic arts, business, music and technology.  Dr. Dre’s donation is the largest ever given by any African American in history, and the money is going into the hands of rich white people.

As I prepared to give the commencement address at Simmons College, a growing HBCU in Kentucky with a very rich history, I heard a story about a group of ex-slaves who pooled their money to buy four acres of land so they could educate future generations.  Without sacrifices like these, the school would not be giving so much to the community today.  The school’s president, Dr. Kevin Cosby, has not taken a paycheck for his work for the last eight years and readily speaks of how the school is located in one of the poorest districts in America.  He sees his contribution as a chance to lift up the community around him, rather than simply milk the community’s resources.

If I could transplant Dr. Cosby’s brain into Dr. Dre’s body, black America would be changed forever.  Also, had those ex-slaves been naive enough to give all their money to the big white university down the street, the impact of their contribution would be minimal at best.  One of the reasons that black Americans struggle economically is because we’ve been locked out of economic opportunities, while massive institutions like USC hoard the wealth to protect their own (take a look at the very low percentage of African Americans they hire or admit as students).  Simultaneously, when we do have access to the resources necessary to begin our building process, we don’t feel inclined to support those who look like us.  That’s the difference between us and the Jewish community.

Another person who had something to say about the gift is Dillard University president, Walter M. Kimbrough.  Dr. Kimbrough was once the youngest president of any HBCU in the country and proudly considers himself to be a part of the hip-hop generation.   In an op-ed in the LA Times, Kimbrough openly asks Dre why he chose to give so much money to USC, as opposed to one of the struggling HBCUs that really could have used those resources:

I understood their need to build a pool of skilled talent. But why at USC? Iovine’s daughter is an alum, sure. And he just gave its commencement address. Andre Young — before he was Dr. Dre — grew up in nearby Compton, where he rose to fame as part of the rap group N.W.A. The Beats headquarters are on L.A.’s Westside.

Why? The Left has great disdain for traditional American values and desires to transform America into it’s dreamed Socialist/Progressive utopia. Calling an opponent to the Left’s agenda “racist” typically frightens and shuts them down.

On behalf of my decent and hard-working fellow Americans, I demand an apology from the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Democratic Party, Hollywood and the Mainstream Media. All of these self-proclaimed paragons of fairness and compassion are nothing more than liars; peddlers of hate and division. Each entity that I named is a cheering section and advocacy group, assisting the Left in the furtherance of it’s socialist/progressive agenda.

Somewhere in America’s recovery from the sin of slavery, the Left hijacked our well-intentioned Christian desire to achieve racial equality. The Left redefined “racial equality” to mean that minorities are never to be held responsible for their actions; minorities are entitled to endless government hand-outs via government confiscation and redistribution; opposing a minority on any issue is regarded racist and hateful.

O.J. Simpson’s attorneys successfully played the Race Card, changing the subject from Simpson murdering his wife. Baby murderer, Dr. Gosnell’s attorneys said his trial was about racism against a black doctor trying to help the poor. The Left is claiming that America’s outrage over Obama’s three scandals (IRS, Benghazi and AP) is rooted in racism against a black president. Whenever behavior by a black is indefensible, the Left plays the Race Card, expecting it to trump facts, truth, justice and logic. Innocent whites typically run to the tall grass fearful of being devoured by the all-powerful and all-consuming Race Card.

The Left plays the Race Card with impunity, intentionally attacking opponent’s First Amendment right to free speech. Victims of the Left’s unmerited use of the Race Card include Conservatives, Republicans and low-info voters – deceived to hate non-existent enemies; their brains infected with propaganda and misinformation.

Hollywood: Hollywood is notorious for promoting leftist agenda lies to low-info voters. For example: in a movie I was watching, actor Ice Cube delivered this line, “Tell the NRA to stop killing black people”. I stopped the DVD and threw the stupid piece of crap propaganda movie into my trash-can. The NRA does not target or kill black people. The irresponsible producers of this film spread their hateful lie to millions falsely accusing and slandering the NRA which simply defends our Second Amendment right to bear arms. Informed black leaders praise the NRA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RABZq5IoaQ

The NRA deserves an apology.

NAACP: Serial liars! Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond said the tea party is “admittedly racist”. Mr Bond, show us the communication that proves your claim. President Ben Jealous said he saw signs, “Lynch Barack Hussein Obama” and “Lynch Eric Holder”. A year or more later, America is still waiting for Mr. Jealous to show us the two signs. The Tea Party deserves an apology.

Congressional Black Caucus: Rep Andre Carson said the Tea Party movement would “love” to see black Americans “hanging on a tree”. http://fxn.ws/oNpeR0 How outrageously inflammatory and hate-inspiring is that? But most of all, it is a despicable lie. As a black conservative having attended over 400 tea party rallies on numerous national tours, I have only encountered being loved to death. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said a tea party protester spit on him. A tea party group offered a $15,000 reward for proof of the spitting. No one has claimed the reward. http://bit.ly/16Cw16v

CBC members claimed being called the n-word 15 times outside of the U.S. Capitol by tea party participants. Breitbart offered a $100,000 reward for proof of the incident. The reward has not been claimed. http://bit.ly/10IDDNv These are only a few of many lies the CBC has told about the tea party. The Congressional Black Caucus owes the Tea Party an apology.

The Democratic Party: U.S. president Jimmy Carter said opposition to Obamacare is motivated by racism against a black president. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,551503,00.html

Democrats have declared that disagreeing or opposing Obama on any issue is racist. Remarkably, the Dems expect us to ignore Obama’s unprecedented usurping of power over the private sector and his routine unlawful trashing of the Constitution. Think about that folks. For the first time in U.S. History, we have a president that non-submission to his will could destroy you. Constitutional patriots deserve an apology.

The Mainstream Media: ABC’s former White House correspondent Sam Donaldson said many on the right oppose Obama solely because he is African-American. Donaldson named Rush Limbaugh in his allegation. http://bit.ly/N349gL MSNBC’s Chris Matthews says “white supremacy” plays a big role in opposition to Obama. http://bit.ly/13mSopG

Such allegations from liberal MSM hacks are absurd and bogus. Let’s get real. Obama is the first Affirmative Action president; exempted from the traditional vetting process for one seeking the highest office in the land. Millions of white Americans could hardly wait to pull the level for America’s first black president; 40% now attend tea parties. Poor things…they naively thought electing Obama would relieve them of ever being called racist again.

Blacks are only 12% of the U.S. Population. So it took a whole lot of white votes to put Obama in the White House – two times. White America deserves an apology.

I am only one voice crying in the wilderness. Still, I feel compelled to shine the light of truth on how the American Left continues to abuse the American people via the unfair playing of the Race Card; solely to manipulate Americans into embracing an agenda contrary to that of our Founding Fathers.

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” Such is who we are as Americans. Ironically, the Left uses America’s morality against her by playing the Race Card; with great success. Despicable.

My fellow Americans, you are a great people; non-deserving of the abuse you have suffered from the Left. You deserve much better. Don’t hold your breath, but the American Left does own you an apology.

Staff Writer; Lloyd Marcus

Chairman of The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama.

Please help me spread my message by joining my Liberty Network.

Lloyd is singer/songwriter of the American Tea Party Anthem and author of Confessions of a Black Conservative, foreword by Michele Malkin.

But for those who want to think more deeply about the president’s speech and its inherent double standard (we’re not here to bash Barack, we voted for him too), I offer some food for thought.  Consider how people would feel if George W. Bush made this statement to the students at Morehouse College:

“Nobody cares how tough your upbringing was. Nobody cares if you suffered some discrimination. And moreover, you have to remember that whatever you’ve gone through, it pales in comparison to the hardships previous generations endured — and they overcame them. And if they overcame them, you can overcome them, too.”

On one hand, the statement (which came from President Obama’s speech) could be seen as an inspirational remark. But on the other,  we have to ask, should a standing president remind young black people that nobody cares about them? Sure, we know it’s true, the White House says almost nothing about the black unemployment crisis (as white unemployment has improved as a result of their efforts).  But I am not sure if a 100% white male could get away the statements that are overlooked from a man who is just 50% white.   I find it interesting how a slight change in the color of the  messenger can significantly modify the way we respond to the message and the kinds of messages we’re willing to tolerate.

Also, the statement above seems to say, “Look, stop complaining about racism, it’s not going to get any better.” But does the president say these same things to gay men who speak up about homophobia or women who speak about s****l assault? Please inform me if this is the case.

Imagine President Obama making this statement to a group of women:

“Nobody cares if you were molested by your dad. Nobody cares if you were raped by your boyfriend. Women have been getting raped and beaten for centuries and they endured. If they can overcome their assaults, then you can overcome yours too.” 

How would that work for a presidential commencement address at a women’s college?  I doubt it would go over very well.   Even if these remarks are being made by a woman, this person would have to spend a great deal of time fighting on behalf of women’s rights to earn the moral authority to make such a bold remark. It’s difficult to say that Obama has earned such authority among black men, for he rarely mentions racial inequality among the list of the nation’s leading priorities.

I’m done talking about President Obama for the day, but I encourage those who aren’t afraid of facts and truth to consider what I’m saying.  Barack is a politician, I accept that.  But to somehow consider him to be an extraordinary asset for the advancement of black people might be a bit misguided, since the evidence of his sacrifice for the African American community just doesn’t exist.   He’s really just a darker, cooler version of Bill Clinton who graced us by speaking at Morehouse College.

Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition.  For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.

If we use our common sense, we will have more common cents. Using our common sense will cause us to do what other groups are doing, and as our forebears did in this country: pool our resources and support one another.

Common sense tells us to look around and see the dire straits our children are facing in this country and start compiling some common cents to help them meet and overcome their current and future economic challenges.

Common sense teaches us that we must not do anything that will subject us to the misery of incarceration and the profiteering of this nation’s prison system; we must give our youth alternatives, especially economic alternatives, to their negative behaviors.

Common sense should have taught us that discrimination still exists in financial institutions, and using our common cents we can overcome much of that discrimination by collectively leveraging our resources and supporting our own financial institutions. (When you ask why we need Black owned banks and credit unions, also ask the same about Korean banks, Cuban banks, Polish banks, Chinese banks, and all the others that exist in this country.)

Common sense dictates that we utilize our common cents to fund our own initiatives, first, and then look to others to support them – support them, not control them. Having common cents would also increase our ability to defend ourselves against local political issues that are not in our best interests; our common cents can be used to fund ballot initiatives, finance the campaigns of candidates who will work on our behalf, and pay for research, analyses, and recommendations that can be used to make informed voting decisions.

Common sense instructs us to pursue our self-interest in a society that is rapidly becoming more polarized. Common sense tells us that we do not control the major political and economic games; but in order to assure a win every now and then we must use our common cents. Economics runs this country; common sense tells us that.

If we use our common sense we will also use our common cents to create and sustain an economic foundation from which to operate and on which to build even more common cents’ initiatives. We must use our common sense the way our ancestors did, as they quickly caught on to the system they faced and immediately went to work building their economic resources to purchase their freedom and that of their relatives and friends. Freedom still ain’t free, y’all.

Looking back on our progress for the past 50 years, common sense shows us how far we have come relative to the strategies we chose to pursue and the leadership we decided to follow. Common sense says several of our leaders have done marvelously well, but as a whole Black people are still stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder, a ladder with rungs that begin at the halfway point. We must figure out how to get to the halfway point by adding our own rungs to the ladder.

Utilizing our common sense would move us away from individualistic thinking and toward common cents strategies. We must change our minds, raise our level of consciousness, and put positive action behind our rhetoric.

We must be willing to use our individual God-given gifts, to contribute to the uplift of a people who have suffered more horrendous treatment, both physical and psychological, than any people in this country. Common sense tells us that. How else are we going to prosper? How else will we achieve economic empowerment? How else will we be able to positively impact the futures of our children?

If common sense is not common then I guess I can understand the paucity, or lack of common cents initiatives among Black people. But I don’t believe Black people are short on common sense. How did we survive in this country? How did we progress in the face of adversity and even death? Why are we still here? How have we retained our sanity? How could there have been a Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma – and all the other Black economic enclaves across this country?

Our great-grandparents could not have done all they did without possessing a tremendous amount of common sense that, in turn, directed them to accumulate a great deal of common cents with which to take care of their business? So, what’s up with us?

Written By James E. Clingman

Official website; http://www.blackonomics.com/

The Pros Of Protein Shakes

PRO: For people who don’t have time to get their protein intake through food or want a quick recovery drink after a workout, protein shakes are a good alternative, according to nutritionist Keri Glassman, R.D.

What’s more, protein can aid in weight loss. Recent research published in the journal Cell found that digested proteins create a chain reaction in the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems that leave you feeling full hours after eating. That long-lasting satiety helps you eat less later on, which can mean a lower-or at least a steady-number on the scale.

While protein shakes can definitely benefit your body, there are some rules you need to follow to make sure your shake isn’t just setting you up for failure.

5 Protein Shake Rules You Should Always Follow

Make Sure There’s Enough Protein In It. Is what you’re drinking actually a protein shake? elebrity dietician Ashley Koff, R.D. That means one with healthy and adequate sources of this important nutrient. “Make sure you’re not compromising on quality, so look at what the source of protein is,” suggests Koff.

Make Sure You’re Using The Right Kinds Of Protein. It’s best to rely on whole food sources of protein whenever possible versus highly-processed forms. Organic soybeans, whole pea, sprouted quinoa, hemp, sprouted brown rice and egg whites are all excellent, healthy protein sources for your shake.

Make Sure You’re Not Using Too Much Protein. When it comes to the amount of protein you should get, more is not always better. Ideally, you want six to 15 grams of protein in your shake. Some will have as much as 20 to 30 grams, but there’s no way your body is going to absorb all of that, notes Koff. Likewise, anything less than six grams is not a decent source of protein.

Make It Yourself Whenever Possible. How can you be sure of what you’re getting? One easy way is to make them yourself. But when a blender, your favorite milk and some fresh produce are not available, pre-packaged shakes or restaurant ones can be a convenient option-just be aware of the ingredients, particularly preservatives and sugar.

Don’t Forget About Portion Sizes

Portion control is also key for healthier drinks. A super-sized protein drink, no matter what the ingredients are, will not necessarily be good for your body, and may end up causing weight gain.

“Many protein shakes have as many calories as a full meal, and some could even have a whole day’s worth,” warns Glassman. “Keep in mind: Are you using a protein shake as a post-exercise snack or as a meal replacement? Take note and monitor what you are drinking.”

Written By Lanesha Townsend

The president’s message consisted of the same themes that I recall hearing from my grandmother:  You have to work twice as hard to get half as much if you are black in America, and racism is no excuse for you to give up.  I agree with this message, and I share similar messages every single day of my life.

The president’s decision to speak in ways that he knew would resonate with Morehouse men and their older black parents was an intelligent political move, without question.   The president’s speeches tend to be more conservative when he speaks to African Americans (I even noticed his use of the word “Lordy” early in the speech), and this is a good fit, since black people are also very conservative. The truth is that many African Americans would be Republicans if the party would just stop being so blatantly racist.

Another thing about black people is that many of us suffer from the low self-esteem that tends to afflict oppressed individuals.  We’re not much different from the housewife who believes her husband wouldn’t have had to beat her if she had not burned the cookies.  When her husband is out with other women, she is simply thankful that he took the time to pay the rent.   She’s ecstatic about any form of acknowledgement from her husband whatsoever, and when he berates her, she knows that she deserves it.  To some extent, she comes to embrace her oppression as the natural order of things, and the tranquility of her marriage is built upon the idea that his views, needs and status are superior to her own.

When President Obama graces us with his presence, we are simply honored that he took the time to even acknowledge us.   Any symbolic gesture, no matter how scant and meaningless, becomes precious to us, because for some, there is no greater achievement that any black man could aspire to than to get validation from white people.  Had President Obama passed on the presidency and taken a position at an all-black school and educated thousands of black children, we would have considered it to be a wasted opportunity.  Why would such an important man spend his time with us?  The political harmony between black America and the Obama Administration is a carefully-designed relationship in which our job is to shut up and cheer for anything the administration chooses to do with our votes.

Part of this asymmetric partnership with the Obama Administration is that we are actually HAPPY when the president berates us.   We like being told that we don’t try hard enough and that the reason so many of us struggle is because we have come to embrace an inferior set of habits and cultural norms.   We ENJOY the abuse, because deep down, many of us have bought into the myth of white superiority as much as white people themselves.

So, when Obama comes to Morehouse and says, “Stop using racism as an excuse and start taking more responsibility,” we LOVE it.  We also nod our heads in agreement because for the educated elite, Obama isn’t talking about us.  He’s talking about “them.”  You know, those n*ggaz who keep getting sent to prison, who can’t get jobs, and who are killing each other in the street.   They deserve their plight because they don’t work as hard as the rest of us, at least that’s the logic. It’s easy to grab onto the simple answers:  Black men love their kids less than white men do, black women are only capable of raising incompetent children who eat Popeye’s chicken for breakfast, and black people are slightly less human than whites, thus prone to more criminal activity.

But here’s the issue.  Telling black Americans to stop using racism as an excuse allows President Obama to create a set of excuses for his own significant, even embarrassing, lack of action to help alleviate the clearly documented, undeniable, legislatively-enforced poison of racial inequality that continues to impact our society.   As he tells the Morehouse men to take more responsibility for their own lives, the mirror of personal responsibility should also be turned on the most powerful black man in the history of the world to use his massive platform to help confront systematic racism that affects us all.

The “Super Negro Theory” is a commonly-held belief that if all 40 million black people would simply make straight As, never ever break the law in a minor way, work 80 hours a week and make no mistakes, could overcome any form of racial oppression.  “If Colin Powell can rise out of the projects and become head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then you should be able to do the same,” said the successful black man to a class of 2,000 high school kids.

The point here is that black people are the only group of people who are severely punished for being average.  If a young black male grows up in a neighborhood where he might get shot everyday on the way to school, the educational system is dilapidated, he is being racially-profiled on every corner and there’s no food in the house, we expect him to be able to rise to extraordinary levels of focus and capability to overcome all of this.  Sure, a few kids can be born and raised in the violent chaos of South Central LA and go to Harvard, but statistical theory clearly says that a large percentage of these kids are going to end up dead or in jail. 

The point is that the “Super Negro” theory may apply to that rare kid who can leap systematic oppression in a single bound, but you can’t expect that same degree of personal power and focus to apply to 40 million people.  Unfortunately, some of our kids are going to be average, which for black people, is analogous to being pathetic, lazy, ignorant, trifling and worthless, thus giving white people an excuse to mistreat you and Obama an excuse to ignore you.

The best way to confront racism in America is through POLICY.   I can’t tell you how many hard-working, law abiding black doctors, lawyers and professors I meet who are discriminated against in the workplace.   Most studies show that when black kids make the same mistakes as white kids, they are more severely punished both in the schools and the courts.  There are a pile of studies which show that kids who are traumatized by living in violent neighborhoods with horrible schools and no jobs are far more at risk than those who do not.  So, why do we allow any politician to speak as if these issues don’t affect our outcomes?

Similar to the man who tells his wife that she needs to lose a few pounds, she also has the right to ask her husband why he himself is obese.  When he sleeps with other women, she can use that as her explanation for why another man was in her husband’s bed while he was at work.  The point here is that every single mandate that President Obama is putting on the men at Morehouse College (and those who could not be there) to “man up” and stop making excuses must be applied to a president who has continuously used Republican racism as his excuse for contributing almost nothing to fight the curse of black unemployment, mass incarceration, educational inequality, workplace racism and all the other social ills that we face every single day of the week.

Here’s another memo for the president:  You’re not just half black, you’re also half white.  So, as you speak to African Americans and tell them to stop using racism as their excuse for a lack of achievement, I encourage you to give similar speeches to your white “brothers and sisters,” telling them the same things.  The fact is that the Obama White House has a much more sympathetic ear when whites complain about 7 percent unemployment than it does when black Americans complain about 14% unemployment.  This is patently and undeniably unfair, and even the president knows it.

Hence, this lopsided approach to racial inequality does not give Barack Obama the moral authority to come into a room full of black people and talk about what’s wrong with us.  Chris Rock, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan or Harry Belafonte, could make these very same statements and have credibility because they are not afraid to speak the same way to whites.  My mother could talk about me like a dog growing up because I knew that after the criticism was over, my mother would go into the world and fight others who sought to do me harm.  Black men must openly question whether or not their president is truly willing to go to bat for them as quickly as he’s willing to go out and fight for the gay community.  Please don’t get angry with me for stating the facts, we must openly confront the nonsense.

This, folks is racism 101.   I’m not sure if the Morehouse Men applauded the message or not, but they also hosted the rapper “2 Chainz,” who had them all reciting the chorus “All I want for my birthday is a big booty hoe.”  So, needless to say, these poor brothers are getting a series of mixed messages, but the consistent message is that if a black man has enough power, then any rhetoric, no matter how distorted, is reshaped so that it seems to make sense.  But this speech doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins 

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition.  For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.

Overview

This case gained notoriety when it hit the headlines back around 2007. The case and subsequent conviction was based on a flawed statue that made it a felony for a minor to engage in oral sex with another minor – while if those two individuals were to engage in actual intercourse it would only have been considered a felony. Upon conviction Mr. Wilson was sentenced to ten years in prison without probation and his case wound its way through the court system and his sentence was ultimately overturned on the basis of it being “cruel and inhumane” given the circumstances of the act itself and the laws that were on the books at that time.

The laws themselves were as a result of this case amended. Mr. Wilson’s case gained media attention and quite a few persons of note lent their support to his case including Tom Joyner who personally backed Mr. Wilson’s entry into Morehouse College where He graduated this past Sunday with honors.

Ebony Vs WAOD

This story first reared its head via social media channels, namely Twitter and Facebook when there was a story published about Genarlow Wilson that purported to demonstrate his overcoming the adversity surrounding his involvement in that case. The backlash as a result led to a campaign which targeted ebony sponsors and advertisers and led to the story ultimately being pulled off the Ebony.com site.

Amid much gnashing of teeth and bickering on Twitter and Facebook The argument that Genarlow Wilson’s crime was not properly addressed and that the “victim” in the case did not receive justice was a common theme and many were incensed at the idea that a convicted “rapist” was allowed to go scot free.

Twitter Bursts Into Flames

Just when it seemed that story had died out or at least had been sent into retirement, the Morehouse graduation this past weekend managed to be the impetus for those who were engaged in the original slugfest to bring it back to the fore front. Although this time around, it appears to be much uglier and volatile than before.   The recent article can be found here including tweets from various people known to the blogosphere and Twitterverse.  The vitriol that has come from this most recent piece is somewhat disturbing if not outright slanderous. Making inferences about someone being a child molester simply because they support Mr. Wilson is a little over the top if not way out of bounds.

Second Chances

I am not going to rehash the right vs. wrong of this case it has been done to death already.  There was a crime committed for which the offender served his time as the court dictated.  So the question now becomes why is that not enough? IF the 17 year old served his time and is  now moving on with his life  including seeking higher education and graduating with honors from a prestigious educational institution, why all the animosity. Should Genarlow Wilson have donned sackcloth and ashes and retreated to live the life of a hermit because of his actions back when he was 17?

The New Age/Self-Help meme has always been about not giving up and perseverance so when a young black male manages to transcend a negative incident in his life at what point do we acknowledge that?

There is no support for rape culture or those who wish to abuse or mistreat women and are incapable of understanding our value. There is however appreciation for someone who faced extremely negative circumstances and managed to turn his life towards a positive outcome. Especially when so many are not able to.  Have we become so twisted as a society that this is actually the wrong thing? Is the new meme now that once you make a mistake you are eternally doomed to an existence of punitive daily acts of contrition or do you have to shed blood to satisfy the angry crowds?

Just wondering?

Kindly advice – before you jump on any side of this or any other issue you might want to apprise yourself of the facts before speaking out publicly. In this case the court transcripts are factual documents that outline the case and the outcome.

Check them out (——

1. Go for what you really want.

Don’t downsize your dream before you’ve even attempted it. Go directly for the type of job you want while simultaneously being flexible. It is a challenging job market, but it is not impossible. Remember the phrase, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among stars.” It applies here. Don’t allow fear to keep you from going after what you really want.

2. Place is more important than position.

Landing a job in your field sometimes means landing a job that is beneath your skill level. But if that job puts you in the right environment, you can make connections and be ready when the right opportunity opens up. Be willing to pay your dues by getting your foot in the door, then show your employer your energy, dedication and ability. You may get an opportunity to move up once you’ve proven yourself.

3. No one owes you anything.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from leaders in today’s organizations is that too many young people have a sense of entitlement. Experience is a great teacher. Soak up all the knowledge you can. Get a mentor. Listen more than you speak. Don’t expect a promotion or raise because you show up and do your job. That’s what you’re paid to do. Employers don’t owe you appreciation, more money or a bigger job title.

4. Build a foundation for where you want to be ten years from now.

Know where you want to be in five years or ten years. If you’re not living your vision, you’re probably living someone else’s. So have a vision for where you want to go so you don’t wander aimlessly in your career, only to find yourself frustrated later because you didn’t aim high.

5. Build a life, not just a career.

Work hard, yes, but also play hard. Think about what you want for your personal life. Don’t live to work, work to live. When you consider jobs, think about the lifestyle you want to lead – do you want to be on call 24-7? Do you want to live near family or do you really not mind moving across the country or around the world? Are you willing to live far away for a few years, but plan to move back to your current area? Will your job give you time for a life outside of work?