Obama, Edwards go after Clinton with gusto

With the average voter spending five minutes a month - total, and not consecutive - on the presidential campaign, I won't assume that you watched last night's Democratic presidential debate on MSNBC.


But it was clear that former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama, needing to knock Clinton off kilter as the frontrunner, took dead aim at her, and did a very good job at it.


Clinton has been so on the mark in all the debates that she has come out sharp. But last night, whether it was providing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in New York or the release of documents when she served as First Lady, Clinton was unclear in her answers and sometimes confusing.


Obama and Edwards used her dancing to their advantage, questioning her word, which is huge because one of the big negatives against Clinton is her credibility.


The Clinton camp will certainly take notice of what the punditry has to say, and expect her to smooth out the rough edges, but it would be wise for Edwards and Obama to keep the pressure up if they want to make a dent in her huge lead in the polls.


Question of the Day: Do you find Sen. Hillary Clinton to be a credible candidate and do you trust her at her word?

Black America loses 2 Black CEOs

Merrill Lynch's announcement today that Stanley O'Neal has retired as chairman and CEO following last week $8.4 billion write due to the subprime crisis, coupled with the soon-to-be retirement of Time Warner Chairman and CEO Dick Parsons, means that half of the black CEOs nationwide are gone.


Of the Fortune 500 companies, African Americans only head six, including Ken Chenault at American Express; Aylwin Lewis, Sears Holdings Corporation; Ronald A. Williams, Aetna; and Clarence Otis, Jr., CEO of the Darden Corp., which owns restaurants including Red Lobster and the Olive Garden.


The rarefied air of the corporate CEO has long one that blacks have been unable to breathe. In fact, history shows us that very few have ever risen to that level. Franklin Raines was named CEO of Fannie Mae in 1999; Lloyd Ward, CEO of Maytag Corp. in 1999; and Ann Fudge was named chairman and CEO of Young and Rubicam brands in 2003.


That's it.


While some think that we have crossed a certain threshhold by this many black CEOs, it's important to remember that in the history of America, we've only had nine blacks to serves as the head of Fortune 500 companies, all coming in the last eight years.


Some may think that having only four African Americans left - Parsons is scheduled to retire next year, and Newsweek is reporting it could come as early as next month - is no big deal.


But it is.


Having Africans Americans ascend to these levels is a witness to others that they, too, can reach that point. Second, these black CEOs have used their power to serve as major fundraisers for black causes, and offered their voice on the importance of African Americans in corporate America, as well as serving on boards.


It would wonderful for us to arrive at the point where if a black CEO steps downs or is fired, it's no big deal.


Sad to say, we aren't there yet. And now the exclusive club that Chenault, Lewis, Williams and Otis belongs to will need some new recruits.

Texas college prez fed up with saggy pants, athletic gear

Mike Sorrell knew he had a big problem when corporate recruiters came to Paul Quinn College in Dallas, and the dress of the students left something to be desired.


Sorrell said many of the students showed up in clothing that was clearly unsuitable for a job interview, and he didn't want to run off prospective employers.


So, the president of the private, 600-member-student body banned jeans, tennis shoes, wife beaters, bandanas during school hours, and told students to put on some dress shoes, slacks and collared shirts.


Don't think Sorrell is some old head. He's a 40-year-old professional who wants to see black students succeed. But he told me that somebody has to teach students that what they wear around friends isn't acceptable at their work environment - school - and if it's his job to teach them, fine.


It was funny because as I conducted the interview with Sorrell on my WVON-AM radio show in Chicago, I had some sweats on. But see, I already have a job, and have been professionally employed since I graduated in December 1991.


Sorrell is right on the money because far too many young folks think that when they see Russell Simmons in jeans, a hat and tennis shoes that they can do the same. Well, I recall seeing P. Diddy walk into a club in Washington, D.C. with jeans on, but if I wore a pair of Levi's, I would be standing on the wrong side of the velvet rope.


This was one of the issues raised during the men only panel I hosted at this year's Essence Music Festival. Lyfe Jennings was talking about the importance of kids being allowed to develop their own style, but the Rev. Conrad Tillard of New York made it clear that what Lyfe wears onstage is a uniform or costume, whereas black kids can't get away with that stuff in the workplace.


Sorrell's decision may seem harsh. We all loved wearing sweats in college and rolling to class as casual and comfortable as possible. But when some folks don't know the time and place for their clothes, then the grown folks must make the decision for them.


Question of the Day: Do you agree with Mike Sorrell, the president of Paul Quinn College in Dallas, who banned athletic shoes, sweats, jeans, wife beaters and bandanas from the daily attire of students during school hours?

Does a national blackout day on Friday make sense?

Over the last couple of days I've gotten a few emails regarding a call for a national blackout day on Friday, which calls for African Americans to not spend any money in order to send a signal to the federal government.


The call was issued by Warren Ballantine, a lawyer who hosts a show on Syndication One Radio Network.


In his call, Ballantine wants African Americans to abstain from spending to show the economic importance and power of our people.


The idea sounds good, but I just don't know how you measure such a day.


When the Montgomery Bus Boycott was launched in 1954, the call was made for black folks to not ride the buses. When they rolled, you could look through the windows to see if the message was being heeded. When Hispanics/Latinos marched against immigration reform, a number of businesses shut down for lack of workers. Again, that was easy to measure.


But there is no such way to measure whether black folks don't spend any money on Friday.


I also don't get the purpose behind it. Any boycott has to have a precise meaning and then have a desired goal. What is the goal, just to get the government's attention? Don't pay your taxes and see if Uncle Sam pays attention to you!


I like Warren and the idea is noble, but it is fundamentally flawed. Some have said that black businesses would be hurt. Hell, we heard the same thing during the Civil Rights Movement.


Any sort of protest must be clear in its call and conviction, be followed by an action plan, and then have a desired goal. I've yet to see the blackout day have any of this.


Question of the Day: Will you support the National BlackOut Day on Friday?

Georgia court orders Genarlow Wilson freed

Genarlow Wilson is headed home after the Georgia Supreme Court ruled this morning in a 4-3 decision that the 10-year sentence he was handed down for having consensual oral sex with another teen constituted cruel and unusual punishment.


Here is how the Atlanta Journal Constitution characterized the ruling:


"The court's 4-3 decision upholds a Monroe County judge's ruling that the sentence constituted cruel and unusual punishment under both the Georgia and U.S. constitutions.


"The majority opinion said the sentence appeared to be 'grossly disproportionate' to the teenager's crime and noted that it was out of step with current law.


"Wilson was convicted in April 2005 of aggravated child molestation for having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl at a 2003 New Year's Eve party in a hotel room. He was 17 at the time."


Wilson's case drew international attention because of the sentence. But also the state of Georgia's efforts to keep him in jail. The issue of race certainly came into play. Wilson is black, but also Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who fought to keep Wilson in jail as a matter of law.


The AJC said Supreme Court Justice Leah Ward Sears, writing for the majority in the opinion, said: "Although society has a significant interest in protecting children from premature sexual activity, we must acknowledge that Wilson's crime does not rise to the level of culpability of adults who prey on children ..."


She later added: "...for the law to punish Wilson as it would an adult, with the extraordinarily harsh punishment of 10 years in prison without the possibility of probation or parole, appears to be grossly disporportionate to his crime."

Record execs condone bad behavior

When rapper T.I. appeared in a federal court last Friday in an effort to get out of jail, a litany of record execs were on hand pledging to put up the more than $1 million to get hiim out.


Wow, such good corporate citizens.


Now you and I both know that this would NEVER happen to us. I do work for CNN, TV One Cable Network, WVON Radio in Chicago, and of course, Essence. But if I was busted on trying to buy machine guns and silencers, do you think ANY executive with these companies would show up in court and say, "Sure, we'll put up the money so he could get out?"


In the words of Whitney Houston, "Hell to the naw!"


What these executives should have been doing is telling T.I. BEFORE he landed in trouble that he needed to change his lifestyle. They should have been telling him that they will not condone his behavior nor subsidize his illegal activities. They should stop accepting these wanna-be gangsters and their infatuation with "Scarface" and make it plain that this is a business with shareholders, investors, and one that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.


If I owned stock in any of these companies, I would be howling that company money is being used to bail out a thug. But you see, we know the deal. The moment T.I. is released, these labels will usher him into the recording studio, and have him drop 50 to 100 songs, so if he goes to jail, they can still keep releasing CDs.


If you want to keep it real, this bail money is nothing but an investment for them. They are protecting their investment in T.I. And trust me, they'll get a return on that investment. Whether he's in jail or not.


Question of the day: Should record execs put up the bail money to get T.I. out of the jail?

10.26.07 Quote of the Day

"In the business world I always strove to learn as much as I could."


Jackie Robinson, first black Major League Baseball player


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

10.25.07 Quote of the Day

"Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life."


Denzel Washington


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

AKAs supporting sorors displaced by Cali fires

Email sent to Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists, from Barbara A. McKinzie, Centennial Supreme Basileus, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Item was initially posed on the listserve of NABJ.


"The images of fires blazing in California and forcing people from their homes are painful to see. But it is even more devastating for those caught in the eye of this firestorm. This catastrophe has hit our sisterhood as scores of our Sorors in the fire-raging areas have been evacuated. Their lives are now in limbo.


"The news reports dramatically underscore the peril in which these sorors -- and 350,000 others -- find themselves.


"Soror Lavonne, Far Western Regional Director, informs me that over two dozen sorors in the San Diego region have either been displaced from their homes, or are on notice to evacuate immediately. One Soror in the Los Angeles area has been forced to leave her home.


"It is a daunting dilemma because one's life hangs in the balance.


"The purpose of this e-mail is to ask you to put these sorors in your prayers as they go through this crisis of uncertainty. Losing one's home and facing the unknown will test anyone's resolve. We need to reach out to these sorors in prayer, comfort and with our treasure.


"We are establishing a disaster fund for Sorors impacted by this disaster. As Alpha Kappa Alpha women have always been first responders, we must respond by donating to this fund. Please make your checks payable to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., denote CA fire in the memo section, and forward to the Corporate Office. As we continue to monitor the situation, we will present checks to those severely affected by this emergency.


"Meanwhile, may God comfort you in the knowledge that the strength and support of our sisterhood will overcome any disaster. Ultimately, we vow to be a lifeline to those impacted during their immediate crisis and into the future."

Roland on CNN.com at 11 am EST today discussing marriage

Hey, folks! I've got a column on CNN.com called "Saving marriages must be a priority."


So on my weekly segment on CNN.com, I will be discussing readers' comments on the topic.

McClurkin: I don't crusade against homosexuality

Gospel artist Donnie McClurkin, under assault by the gay and lesbian community for alleged comments denouncing homosexuality, says he has never crusaded against homosexuality.


In an article in today's Chicago Tribune, McClurkin spoke about the issue, which is threatening to rupture the relationship between Sen. Barack Obama and his gay supporters, some who want the gospel singer removed from the slate of singers this weekend at a series of concerts on the candidate's behalf in South Carolina.


McClurkin, in an interview with entertainment critic Kelly Carter, said: ""I don't believe that even from a religious point of view that Jesus ever discriminated toward anyone, nor do I. Most of the things that were said were totally out of context and then other things weren't true."


He later added: "There's never been a statement made by me about curing homosexuality. People are using that in order to incite anger and to twist my whole platform on it. There's no crusade for curing it or to convert everyone. This is just for those who come to me and ask for change."


Click here to read the full story.

Obama pressed by gays to dump McClurkin, Mary Mary

The one thing you'll learn about politics is that you can't please everybody, and even when you're trying to do something good, you can still tick off a lot of people.


That's the case a series of gospel concerts Sen. Barack Obama planned to launch around South Carolina with gospel stars Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary.


But it's their views on homosexuality that has led gay activists and their supporters to denounce Obama, and even call for him to disavow their support of his candidacy.


Critics such as the Human Rights Campaign, the National Black Justice Coalition and others have expressed their disappointment with the concert, with some calling for him to cancel it outright.


The Obama campaign responded with the following statement: “I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country," Obama said in the written statement.


"I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."


Here is the difficulty for Obama: McClurkin and Mary Mary are extremely popular among African Americans, and he is trying to increase his lead among black voters in South Carolina, who make up nearly 50 percent of the Democratic primary voters.


Second, the gay and lesbian constituency is huge in the Democratic Party, and they are not going to let the issue die down.


Lastly, African Americans are largely against homosexuality, and their numbers even exceed whites.


It is not a position that I envy, but a reality is that Obama has to walk this tightrope, like any other candidate. In fact, it's not shocking that he would have folks support him who he might disagree with on other issues. All the candidates are in that position. Individuals who have endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton are also opposed to homosexuality, and if we look at the endorsements of other candidates, we'll find the same.


In the end, I don't believe that Obama will cancel the concert. He may choose to speak on the issue from the stage, or allow his statement to speak for itself. Normally, a controversial supporter would choose to back out, citing a need to not allow the event to overshadow the larger issue of the campaign. But with all three performers being ripped for their views on homosexuality, that means no concert.


We'll keep an eye on this one. It is sure to heat up.


Question of the Day: Should Obama cancel the gospel concert because of the views on homosexuality of Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary?

10.24.07 Quote of the Day

"The issues in the 1950s were very simple, whether you sit in a restaurant or whether you can vote...Now we have to find a way to simplify very complicated issues, and we haven't been able to do it yet."


Joseph Lowery, civil rights activist


Source: African American Quotations by Richard Newman

10.23.07 Quote of the Day

"Young people should never accept a limit on their horizons. In fact, older people shouldn't either. Learn everything there is to know."


Gordon Parks


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

Tyler Perry's 'Married' is all that

Despite the fools sitting next to me talking throughout the whole damn movie, I LOVED "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?"


For years African Americans asked for and demanded quality films that tell our stories, that frankly, can be universally applied. It didn't matter that all the characters were black. In fact, it reminded me of "The Big Chill," where all the characters were white.


But do you know what I REALLY loved? Perry didn't fall for the usual cliches that we find in "black movies."


1. No rapper was cast. Hollywood has a way of demanding directors cast a rapper in order to make the film marketable. Since he is his own man, Perry cast actors, and not rappers impersonating rappers.


2. None of the men married a white girl. Hey, if that's your thing, go right ahead. But all too often, a typical story line involves a brother marrying a white woman, and then the other women in the group have to deal with that dynamic. Again, Perry didn't fall for the easy drama, and instead fleshed out characters that people can readily identify with.


3. Jill Scott's character was perfect. We all know the drama some sisters deal with when it comes to their weight and their man. Again, the usual director will try to run out and get the finest, hard bodies he could fine, sex up the poster and sell the movie with a shot of stilettos and fish net. No, Perry shared the real pain that women confront when they put on pounds in marriage.


4. Men actually gave a damn about their marriage. Tyler Perry and Malik Yoba didn't play chronic playas. In fact, they were upstanding brothers who cared about their marriages, and didn't make it all about sex. Sure, Perry was not happy that he wasn't get any on the regular, but what he desired was time and attention - intimacy - with his wife.


'Married' brought in $21.3 million in its opening weekend, making it the top box office draw in the country. It came in second during its second week, scoring $12.1 million.


If you haven't seen it, go. In fact, tell a friend. With 50 percent of the nation's marriages failing, this movie should be used as a starting point in our discussion of marriage. What it says is that love and commitment are vital to any marriage lasting, especially when life hits you with a right hook.


I would also encourage folks to organize viewing parties, and hold discussions after the movie. You never know, you might save someone's marriage!


Don't sit on this movie and wait for it to come to DVD. Spread the word and celebrate a wonderfully crafted story that is timely and contemporary.


Questions of the Day: Have you seen the film? If so, and you're married, what did you take away from the film? Was there a particular couple you identified with?

10.22.07 Quote of the Day

"The real radical is that person who has a vision of equality and is willing to do those things that will bring reality closer to that vision."


Bayard Rustin, civil rights activist


African American Quotations by Richard Newman

Barack Obama’s black wakeup call

If the advisers around Sen. Barack Obama want to continue to delude themselves into thinking they have lots of time for black voters to get around to figuring out their candidates record on issues they care about, then the latest CNN poll surely must be the kind of slap in the face to bring them back to reality.


There was a general assumption when Obama announced for the presidency that he was going to garner a lion’s share of the black vote. In a normal presidential election, sure. But with Sen. Hillary Clinton in the race, the reality of the affection – real and perceived – that black folks have for the Clintons is clearly what has her storming out to a strong lead over Obama.


According to the CNN poll, Clinton leads Obama among black registered Democrats, 57 percent to 33 percent. Black women are backing Clinton to the tune of 68 percent, and 25 percent for Obama. Black men favor Obama 46 percent to 42 percent for Clinton. The poll has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 6.5 percent.


On multiple occasions when I’ve interviewed him, Obama has reassured folks that his track record speaks for itself. He says with Clinton being on the national stage for 15 years, she has longevity. But he said he’s confident black voters will come around the more they know about what he has done. That’s nice and sounds good, but what the Obama campaign has clearly refused to recognize is that black voters are emotional, and you must speak to their core in order to reach them.


Obama has at times spoken passionately about issues blacks care about – the war, education, civil rights, social justice issues – but all too often he has avoided engaging in a way that touches the consciousness of black voters. Voters have told me that he’s sometimes sterile and not offering the kind of passion they desire.


But there are other reasons why black voters have been ambivalent about an Obama candidacy, and it’s clearly having an affect on him being able to build momentum to challenge Clinton.


1. The belief that white voters will not accept him so a vote for Obama will be a waste. Forget the fact that there are thousands of black elected officials in the country. African Americans running for the White House are not the norm, especially one with his credentials. This is a real concern, and one that can’t be overlooked and dismissed easily.


2. Obama will be “taken out” if he wins. The New York Times had a piece over the weekend where a black woman essentially said her way of protecting Obama from harm is by not voting for him. Sounds nutty, but again, it’s real, and its been said many times. I’ve heard this fear factor time and time again, and it speaks to the fears of blacks that America has not advanced enough to be comfortable with a black man in the White House.


3. Obama the policy wonk doesn’t mesh with black voters. This is not to suggest that black voters don’t care about issues – they do. But Obama has a certain emotional detachment that has turned off black voters. You can’t find one major “moment” where black voters have enveloped him and showered him with love. I was highly critical of his performance at the June debate at Howard University because that was his crowd. And he failed to ignite the room. One HUGE Obama supporter told me that his daughter went to the event backing him, and came out loving Clinton.


So what now, pack or go home?


No. He has an opportunity to make a move, but it must be done now.


First, the campaign must stop being afraid to put Michelle Obama on the road and let her rip. She has to be his major weapon in appealing to black women.


Second, having Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement is one thing, but they must get her on the road. It will also help that he tout other black women who are backing him. Recently, former Young and the Restless star Victoria Rowell was stumping for Clinton in South Carolina, and other high-profile black women have been out front supporting her.


He just picked up the endorsement of Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, and only the second elected black governor in history. He’s a former top Clinton administration official, but his state has a small black population, so that really doesn’t help him with black voters.


Lastly, Obama must forget the national polls and focus solely on South Carolina. Nearly 50 percent of the Democratic Party primary voters are black, and research shows that 40 percent of black women haven’t made up their mind in the state. Even though research conducted by Clinton reveals that Obama’s message isn’t resonating with blacks, research done by the Obama camp shows that when black women have met and been engaged by Obama, he has been able to convert them into supporters.


Bottom line: Low black support means Obama is toast.


If his campaign keeps playing it safe, hoping not to alienate white voters, he’ll likely be on the campaign trail next fall.

But he’ll be stumping for Clinton.

10.18.07 Quote of the Day

"Before you can understand what I mean, you have to know how I lived or how the people I'm talking to live."


Tupac Shakur, rapper


Source: African American Quotations by Richard Newman

Nation's only black governor to endorse Obama

This e-mail blast was just sent out by the Obama campaign:


Boston Globe – Political Intelligence - Patrick will endorse Obama, not Clinton


By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff


Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will endorse Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, giving the Illinois senator a much needed boost in New Hampshire and help blunt Hillary Clinton's courting of African-American leaders.


Patrick and Obama talked briefly today and aides began working out details for a large public rally in Boston next week. Patrick's political organization today sent out emails to its list of 40,000 workers and supporters, telling them of his decision to back Obama.


Patrick, the nation's only black governor who is considered a rising star in a new generation of African-American leaders, also called Clinton today to inform her of his decision. He has strong ties to her and former President Bill Clinton, in whose administration he held a top justice department post. Both Clintons lobbied him for his endorsement.

Another Day of Atonement, another speech

I got an email from a colleague at CNN asking me about last night's speech by Minister Louis Farrakhan in Atlanta on the 12th anniversary of the Day of Atonement, which celebrates the 12th anniversary of the Million Man March.


Here is what I wrote:


"What Farrakhan has said is nothing new. Those of us who gathered in Washington, DC 12 years ago knew the same damn thing. We knew black men were an endangered species. We knew that the rate of black men going to jail was ridiculous. But we also know full well that for some black men who have the economic means – T.I. And Michael Vick – they still do STUPID things that put them in position to go to prison.


"Farrakhan led the Millions More Movement two years ago, and outlined a long litany of issues for black America. I was there. On stage. No more than 50 feet from where he spoke. We talked before the event in an interview.


"But what we got 12 years ago, and two years ago, and last night was more rhetoric and NOT an action plan.


"So, 5,000 black people gathered last night to hear Farrakhan. Did those 5,000 sign up to vote in the next election? Did those 5,000 decide on the spot to begin to go into our schools to mentor children? Did those 5,000 decide to go into their pockets and contribute to the Black Disaster Fund that Farrakhan announced two years ago, with the stated goal of raising $5 million, which was never met?


"What these events amount to are rhetorical orgies. People come, get off, and go home satisfied, and no one else gets to participate in the ecstasy of the moment.


"What is needed is an action plan. No, what is needed are workers. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Last night there were 5,000 potential laborers, but were they challenged – AND DIRECTED – to go out and collect the harvest?"


As an addition, I believe that a call to action by Minister Farrakhan is needed. But we have had many of those. What we now need is a Call to Work. We have had enough summits, seminars, workshops, conferences and events to keep us busy for years.


We KNOW the problem. But are we willing to work towards the solution? We saw upwards of 60,000 gather in Jena, La., but will 10,000 black men step up to protect their neighborhoods in Philadelphia? Will we see 500 to 1,000 black people rise up to mentor and tutor our children in troubled schools? Will we patrol the streets to get them to stay in school, just 50 years after whites fought to keep us out of schools?


A Day of Atonement? Sure. It's time to atone for our failure to act on our problems.

Brothers must take to the streets to end crime

The police commissioner in Philadelphia, Sylvester Johnson, has proposed something that I have been longing for a black man to do for quite some time.


Tired of seeing young black men kill themselves to no end, Johnson is calling for 10,000 black men in Philadelphia to commit themselves to patrolling the city's streets in an effort to end the warfare.


Johnson will launch his initiative on Sunday, and he is calling it "Call to Action: 10,000 Men, It's a New Day." The chief wants the group of black men to contribute three hours a day over a 90-day period.


This is the kind of direct action that is needed.


But it's not new.


I once rented a movie starring Forrest Whitaker called "Deacons of Defense." They were a group of black men who refused to have the black community terrorized by the KKK during Jim Crow and they armed themselves in an effort to protect their wives, children and property. Groups of men under the same banner did the same thing all over the nation, and they were able to fend off these bands of thugs who wanted to do harm to black folks.


We just have to be honest and admit that we have roving bands of thugs that are doing the same as the KKK. They look like us, are our kids, are our brothers and sisters, and they need to be dealt with. Oh, sure, the cops must do their part, but why is it that citizen patrols are seen as what whites do?


If you have groups of 100 or 200 men standing on street corners, you aren't going to find cats willing to sling their dope and be so brazen about it. They will keep moving, and we must put them on the move.


Today's question: Are you in support of black men banding together to fight crime and take back our communities?

10.17.07 Quote of the Day

"Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it."


Joe Clark, educator


Source: African American Quotations by Richard Newman

10.16.07 Quote of the Day

"Health is a human right, not a privilege to be purchased."


Shirley Chisholm, member of Congress, New York


Source: African American Quotations by Richard Newman

The mindless nature of celebrity magazines

I was just walking by the office of a CNN colleague and observed her perusing one of the many celebrity magazines on newsstands today.


My radio listeners know I can't stand such fare because I'm always ripping them, but I decided to ask her why she does it.


"Hey, I've got some serious stuff on my mind, and this just takes me away for a laugh," she said.


"But who cares if a celebrity is sunbathing or going to Starbucks?" I said.


"You're right," she said. "But it's thoughtless stuff."


And to be honest, she's right. We all need our escape from a lot of wild and crazy stuff in this world, and maybe such magazines do offer that kind of escape. But I don't really like them because of the methods by which they get the photos.


It's sickening to watch celebrities being followed down the street as they go shopping, or even see their cars surrounded by papparazzi. Really folks, I don't care that much about what they are eating and drinking.


While many of us seek a great escape from the nuttiness of life, really do think for a second what the person on the other side of that lense has to go through. Ponder for a second the mad rush to catch them picking their nose or looking haggard coming out of the house.


For me, I say just sit and meditate a bit or even go take a walk outside. If I need to get away so bad, I'll do anything - as long as it doesn't involve me being a voyeur into the life of someone else.


Question of the day: Do you read celebrity magazines as an escape or do you really care about every detail of a star's life?

T.I. could be facing a long T.O.

So, what do you think is better, sitting in a monstrous house with enough rooms to house an NBA team, or being confined to a jail cell with no privileges whatsoever?


For rapper T.I., that's what he faced this weekend after he was dropped by federal agents this weekend in an effort to buy three machine guns and silencers.


His attorneys have been quick to say there are two sides to each story, as well as others yelling entrapment, but can you really be entrapped into beeing flat out dumb?


Federal agents say one of T.I.'s bodyguards was trying to buy the guns, and when he was arrested, became a cooperating witness. When T.I. made it clear he wanted the guns on Saturday, the dropoff was established, and that's when he was busted.


I'm sorry, folks, I just don't get these guys like T.I. They grow up broke as hell, sell drugs, go to jail, and when given the chance to leave the gangster life, they stay in it!


Associates of T.I. said they warned him to swear off the illegal life, but clearly he refused.


Even if he is able to wiggle out of the machine gun/silencer charge, he is a convicted felon and is not supposed to have any guns in his possession. But the cops found several in his home.


It's just dumb, pure and simple. What's the purpose of having bodyguards if you choose to pack your own machine gun?


T.I. is innocent until proven guilty. That's the court of law. But just the idea that he's sitting in jail on gun charges shows that common sense is not as common as it used to be.

10.15.07 Quote of the Day

"Too many people fear change. They cling to the familiar old shoe even if it cuts off circulation to their toes."


Wally "Famous" Amos


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

Martin on CNN's 'Out in the Open' tonight

Just wanna keep you folks abreast of what's going on.


I'll be on CNN tonight around 7:45 pm CST discussing some recent comments by Fox News anchor John Gibson on his radio show regarding the school shooting in Cleveland.


MediaMattters.org has been all over it. He said he knew the shooter in the case wasn't black because the shooter shot himself, and that blacks don't do such a thing.


http://mediamatters.org/items/200710110004

Decision to send Mychal Bell back to jail not a surprise

After spending nearly nine months in jail, Jena 6 defendant Mychal Bell is back behind bars after a judge said he violated the conditions of his juvenile convictions.


The move has angered the Rev. Al Sharpton, Bell's lawyers and other supporters, but we have to be honest here: the moment you put yourself in the hands of the criminal justice system, it's no longer up to you.


Now, because Bell was convicted as a juvenile for simple battery, we don't have all the details surrounding the case. But I do know from experience that when a judge says that if you violate your probation or sentence, the possibility does exist that you can go to jail.


I remember when then-Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin plea bargained on drug charges. The judge, Manny Alvarez, told him that if he broke any laws, Irvin could come back to his court and be sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison. For as long as Irvin was on probation, he didn't do a single thing to get in trouble with the law.


Like it or not, Mychal Bell is not a completely innocent child here. He does have a history. And that history is now rearing its ugly head.


I wouldn't doubt that payback is playing a role here.


Attorneys thought they were headed to court for a standard hearing. Instead, state District Judge J.P. Mauffrey Jr. slapped Bell with 18 months in jail on four different counts.


He has also ordered Bell's parents to pay all court and witness costs.


Like I said at the conclusion of the rally, this story has a long way to go before it's over. It's very unfortunate that Bell is back in jail. But I've said it once and I'll say it a thousand times, if you stay out of trouble on the small stuff, you likely don't land in jail on big stuff.

It’s time for voters to get their heads in the game

Forgive me for being a bit cranky. A week ago I had three wisdom teeth removed, and with all the prescriptions and tight stitches, I’ve been unable to do any radio and TV this week, and that has me all wound up.


But I gotta get a few things off my chest, and none is more important than this ridiculous sentiment that people don’t have time to worry about the presidential race, and that it’s too early to spend an inordinate time worrying about the candidate.


Folks, that’s about as dumb a comment as any I’ve heard.


Oh, I know we’re all so busy with our lives, children, marriages, jobs and all that stuff, but really, does it make sense that we spend more time fantasizing about our dream car, rather than investigating who the next president of the United States will be?


You might say that I get paid to be wrapped up in all of this stuff. And while that might be true, I’m not checking Politico.com every five minutes and Tivo’ing all the Sunday morning news shows. But when I see research that suggests the average person spends five minutes a month – total – on the presidential race is crazy!


Here we are in a war that is costing $275 billion a day, and we don’t have any clue when it will end, and we have more things to be concerned with?


President George W. Bush vetoed a healthcare bill that would have cost about $35 billion annually, but the Republican-led Congress passed a prescription drug bill a couple of years ago that cost $100 billion more than advertised. Hey, maybe had we gotten the full truth then we could pay for the state’s children’s health program.


We’ve got an illegal immigration problem that is out of control. The borders aren’t secure, big business is grabbing as much cheap labor as possible, and our attention is more on whether to buy a 45-inch or 50-inch HDTV for Christmas?!


For three hours a day on WVON in Chicago, I host a daily radio show, and try to give people as much information as possible. Why? Because in a year, we’ll be voting on the friggin’ President of the United States! You know, the person who can decide if our troops invade another country or not?


But the presidency goes beyond just the war. Anyone thought of the Supreme Court? I’m reading a great book by my CNN colleague, Jeffrey Toobin, called “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court.” Even though the U.S. Senate votes on the confirmation of a justice, it is the president that chooses one of the nine most important jobs in the world.


Some expect the next president to choose three jurists. And with the court on the cusp of having a solid conservative majority, evangelicals and conservatives are salivating at the chance of overturning Roe vs. Wade. That could also drive liberals and women to the polls to push their candidate into the White House.


What I’m trying to say? This next election has huge implications, and we should all be more actively engaged. With candidates running a year ahead of time, spending millions of dollars, and offering more policy positions, websites and talking points than ever before, NO ONE can suggest they never had a chance to really get to know Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, former Sen. Fred Thompson, and former Gov. Mitt Romney.


Each and every person should be asking their friends, family, church members, and yes, co-workers, where they stand on the presidential race. If someone says, “I don’t know much,” point them in the right direction.


It would be great to see upwards of 70 or 80 percent of Americans casting votes in the national election. But we’ll never get there if people don’t care.


And for that person who keeps saying, “My vote doesn’t count,” then I say, “That’s a bunch of crap.” Whether it’s a U.S. House or Senate race, or even the White House, the evidence is there that a few hundred votes here or there can make a huge difference.


The first primary begins in January. That’s also when Fox’s “American Idol” returns to the airwaves. The winner of that show gets a recording deal. The winner of the presidential election is the leader of the free world.


Which do you think is more important to the future of your children?

10.11.07 Quote of the Day

"I have always approached practice as kind of a proving ground, especially with rookies. They might have seen me on television, read about me...and might think they know what I'm all about...I want them to know (it) isn't gossip or rumors. I want them to know it all comes from hard work."


Michael Jordan


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

With guns in abundance, school shootings will be a part of American life

News reports coming out of Cleveland detailing the wounding of four people by a 14-year-old student is the kind of shockwave that no parent wants to feel.


My wife and I don't have any kids, but we have nine nieces and three nephews (with another due in a couple of months). And in the back of mind is the reality that one day I might turn on the TV one day and see one of their schools surrounded by cops and terrified parents.


Whenever it happens the likely reaction has to do with school security and troubled students, yet what is the most consistent is the simple number of handguns in our society.


And we are a violent culture. According to the FBI, there were a total of 1.4 million violent crimes in the U.S., namely murders, rapes, robberies and assaults.


With more than 300 million Americans, some might consider that to be a small number, but if you are a victim, it's a big problem.


Violence looms in everything that we do. It permeates our movies, on TV and in video games, and we have to simply own up to it. We can't keep messing around and pretending that it's no big deal and let's just move on and forget about it.


Those who love guns must admit that the Second Amendment is needed, but damn, do you really have to own 20 guns? Don't give me that crap that an Uzi is needed to hunt. Yes, we can have restrictions.


Parents, you want your kids to have all the freedom in the world, but if lockers are randomly searched, you're upset. If our schools are put on lockdown, we complain about metal detectors and the cost. Fine. So how do we protect our children?


If we aren't going to limit the guns; if we want to have our buildings free and open; then something has to give.


I've accepted the reality that Americans will never lose it's infatuation with guns. So what we have to do is put as many protections and barriers as possible around us and our children in order to feel safe.


Feedback question:


1. Do you own a gun?


2.Do we need to go further in limiting guns in the U.S.?


3. Should metal detectors be mandatory in all schools, no matter the size?

10.10.07 Quote of the Day

"People ought to listen to their hearts. The voice of truth is there all the time, telling us where to go, how to do it."


Deynce Graves


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

Are black women feeling Obama?

He has the great smile, smooth demeanor, and gorgeous wife, but will the ethnicity of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) come in second to the gender of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)?


A lot of political watchers talk about the importance of the black vote in the Democratic primary, and that is certainly the case. But it is women voters that will decide who gets the nomination.


Women make up 60 percent of all Democratic primary voters, and with a woman on the doorstep of breaking the glass ceiling in the White House, women across the country and aggressively hyping the campaign of Clinton.


Emily's List, the top female political action committee, has thrown its full weight behind Clinton. As it stands, Obama is some 40 percentage points behind Clinton in the polls when it comes to women, and he's going to have to make a strong move to close that gap.


One place where he can do some serious damage is South Carolina, where 40 percent of black women are undecided. Considering African Americans make up nearly 50 percent of Democratic primary voters, when they do, this race could be over.


Obama's political team says they have a robust strategy to reach out to women, but for some reason, it's not breaking through.


Sure, this is October and we've got three months before the first primary. But he's going to have begin to make some positive movement up the polls or the Clinton coronation talk will get stronger and stronger.


Feedback question: Will you support Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama for president? And if you are leaning to Clinton, what must Obama do to capture your vote?

10.9.07 Quote of the Day

"Anyone who needs an alarm clock to wake up is not an entrepreneur."


Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

Black men strangely quiet about Isiah's sexism

Maybe it's all the medication I'm on after having three wisdom teeth pulled on Friday, but I'm still peeved about Isaiah Thomas.


In a deposition in the recently concluded sexual harassment lawsuit, Thomas said that he would be highly offended if a white man called a black woman a bitch, but not feel the same if a black man did it.


What was amazingly surprising was the relative quiet that black men exhibited in the wake of the comment.


There is no doubt that black men are notorious when it comes to the dissing of sisters, and are willing to make up excuses to justfiy their behavior.


Brothers, trust me, this isn't an attempt to curry favor with the sisters. I don't need that. It's simply called reality.


Early in my marriage, my wife told me a story that blew me away. Our church in Houston was visiting another church - a traditional one where women are subserviant to men - and she was going to sit on the front row. At that point, a male minister from the church approached her and said, "Women don't sit on the front row here." A male minister from our church walked up to him and said, "Brother, this is Rev. Jacquie Hood. She's a staff pastor and the right hand of our pastor."


Dude put his hand in Jacquie's face and said, "I don't care who she is, women don't sit on the front row here!"


The women of the visiting church were so embarassed for my wife that they made room for her on the second row.


Now, remember, this happened BEFORE we got married. I told Jacquie that if they ever happened now, get bail money, because I would have kicked homeboy's butt!


This is just one example of the kind of ridiculous behavior that black men exhibit.


There is no doubt that black women should fight the sexism directed at them by black men, but it's brothers who should also step up. We shouldn't be silent when it happens. We can't just brush it off as insignificant.


Isaiah Thomas should have been called out, and prominent black men should have put him in check. There is no such thing as sexism and sexism lite.


Isaiah, you are dead wrong, and so are those brothers who excused his behavior.

10.8.07 Quote of the Day

"(When my job was eliminated) I started my own enterprise...which...guarantees me ownership of my voice and opinions."


Barbara Reynolds, journalist/ordained minister


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

Marion Jones deserves all the scorn in the world

She captivated the world with her stunning speed, grace and infectious smile.


Marion Jones had America in the palm of her hand as she headed to Sydney, Australia trying to make history by winning four gold medals. She came up short - she won three - but did bring home five overall.


She was feted from coast to coast, and raked in a ton of money in endorsements.


Today, she will stand before a federal judge in New York and plead guilty to lying to federal agents who investigated her and other athletes using steroids.


She admitted to using steroids in a letter she sent to friends and families, as first reported by the Washington Post, that she did indeed use steroids. This admission comes after she has steadfastly denied - over and over - that she never used any performance enhancing drugs, and instead relied on her God-given abilities.


But we should have known this day would come. The moment she got in bed with rogue trainer Trevor Graham, the fall of Marion Jones was waiting to happen.


Anyone in the track world knows that Graham has cheated for years. He was the track coach behind Ben Johnson, who set a world record in the 100 meters, beating Carl Lewis at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, only to be stripped of his gold medal later.


So when Jones decided to join Graham's camp, she set herself up for this day.


When it was announced a couple of months ago that Jones was essentially flat broke, I didn't feel any sadness. She earned her money fraudently because she lived a lie.


And it didn't have to be that way. She was a talented woman. A high school track and basketball star, she helped North Carolina win the woman's NCAA basketball championship.


Now her reputation is in tatters and she will no longer be considered along the same lines as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Babe Zaharias and Florence Griffith-Joyner.


She should have used the words of the late ABC anchor Max Robinson, who told a group of Howard University alumni in 1988 to never, ever lose your integrity and credibility. Because in the end, that's all you've got.

10.5.07 Quote of the Day

"Why work for the man? Why not you be the man?"


Smokey Robinson to Berry Gordy


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

We must become more aggressive in combatting breast cancer

I can tell it's October because as I flip through magazines, drive down the highway and see the billboards, and watch the TV commercials, I'm seeing pink ribbons everywhere.


The symbol is known internationally as the ribbon that signifies breast cancer.


A lot of times we see the reminders, but still move throughout the day, pushing things off until they become an emergency.


That should never be the case with your health.


Look at Robin Roberts. Here is a woman who has a great job as co-anchor of "Good Morning America," makes a ton of money, has great health benefits, and when she performed a self breast exam in the shower, admitted that ordinarily she would have thought nothing of it.


But the previous week longtime GMA film critic Joel Siegel died after a long bout with cancer, and she said his health fight caused her to go to the doctor. Five days later, she was in surgery.


For far too many African Americans we go on about our lives as if nothing is going to happen. And when it does, often times it's too late because the disease has spread.


Black women get breast cancer at a lower rate than white women, but die at a higher rate. Lack of treatment and other disparities are the cause, and it is a downright shame.


Learn your family history. Perform an annual exam more than just once a year. Just don't ignore your health.

10.4.07 Quote of the Day

"The way to cure poverty is with money. And the way to generate that in a community is with business."


Bob Johnson, founder/CEO, Black Entertainment Television


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

10.3.2007 Quote of the Day

"You can win if you got the heart and tenacity and soul to keep on trying."


Miles Davis


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

Looks don't matter: Sex harassment is about power

As I ripped Isaiah Thomas this morning on my radio show for being convicted of sexually harassing a former female Madison Square Garden executive, one of my male callers remarked that he didn't know what the NBA Hall of Famer was doing since the accused was unattractive.


Man, did that set me off!


First, whether you think Anucha Browne Sanders is lovely or not, that doesn't matter. The issue is simple: sex harasssment is wrong and can't be tolerated in the workplace.


The caller's statement is typical of some folks who somehow think that a woman's looks determines a man going after them. No, this is about power. And it's important that men and women recognize that and not just blow it off as something else.


The value of Sanders lawsuit is that it certainly will give other women a stronger sense of self to stand up and speak up against such rabid behavior. And hopefully put men like Thomas in their place by showing that when you berate women, call them out of their name, and then seek to have them fired, you will pay.

Martin debates black-brown divide on CNN.com today at 12:30 pm EST

Award-winning journalist and CNN contributor, Roland S. Martin, will debate columnist Ruben Navarette today at 12:30 p.m. EST on CNN.com.


This is the second "Sound Off" broadband discussion Martin has participated in, which is weekly feature on CNN.com. The purpose is to engage CNN.com readers on the hot topics of the day involving email, video and audio chats.


If you want to have your question addressed, read Roland or Ruben's column on CNN.com and respond in the "Sound Off" area of the site.

Former MSG exec wipes smile off Isiah Thomas' face with sex harassment win

Isiah Thomas is the man with the $1 million smile.


But that wasn't enough for a New York jury to declare Thomas and Madison Square Garden guilty of sexually harassing a former black female executive.


The three-week trial was filled with all kinds of nasty testimony, was led by Anucha Browne Sanders, a top marketing executive who alleged she was fired from her $260,000-a-year job for rebuffing the sexual advances of Thomas, who is team president and head coach. She sought $10 million.


She says Thomas frequently cussed her out, even referring to her as a "bitch" on numerous occasions. He said he never did, but did offer during a videotaped deposition that he was offended when if a white man called a black woman a bitch, but didn't feel the same when a black man did it.


Talk about stupid.


Madison Square Garden officials say they will appeal the decision.


But it's clear that the trial has done significant damage to the reputation of Thomas, who admitted trying to kiss Sanders.


The team was held liable for the verdict, and the jury deadlocked on whether Thomas was personally liable.


While the court made it's decision, I would hope NBA Commissioner David Stern comes down hard on Thomas and the Knicks. No female executive should be subjected to what Sanders says happened, and if the NBA fines athletes for their off-the-court behavior, they should do the same for team executives.

10.2.07 Quote of the Day

"You can win if you got the heart and tenacity and soul to keep on trying."


Miles Davis


Source: "The Soul of Success: Inspiring Quotations for Entrepreneurs" by Janet Cheatham Bell, editor of Famous Black Quotations

10.1.07 Quote of Day

"Black America is called upon to stand as the protagonist of tolerance, of fair play, of justice, and of good will. Until white America heeds, we shall never let its conscience sleep. For the responsibility for the outcome is not ours alone. White America cannot save itself if it prevents us from being saved."


James Weldon Johnson, 1934


Source: "And don't call me a racist!" A treasury of quotes on the past, present, and future of the color line in America. Selected and arranged by Ella Mazel

Clarence Thomas expresses his deep frustration with affirmative action

I've never given a damn what white folks thought.

In fact, I've never really given a damn what blacks folks or anyone else thought.

Although I've never used the exact wording, I truly concur with the motto Quincy Jones and Ray Charles lived by: "Not one drop of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me."

If only Clarence Thomas had learned this early on.

Thomas, the only African American Supreme Court justice, has broken his silence in speaking with the media to promote his book, "My Grandfather's Son." The book is his effort to weigh in on his contentious U.S. Senate confirmation hearing that blew the door off sexual harassment after a former aide, Anita Hill, accused him of just that prior to his appointment.

It was a controversial hearing that left Thomas embittered, and he lays it bare in the 289-page book.

But what caught my attention was his explanation for his absolute hatred today for affirmative action.

I was glad to see him express his view because I have long suspected - and told individuals who know him well - that he endured a traumatic experience that solidified his views.

Thomas says when he applied to Yale University, he had no issue with his race being considered, fearing that it wouldn't hinder him. But upon graduation, he felt the subtle sting as some questioned his grade, and essentially his intellect.

"Now I knew what a law degree from Yale was worth when it bore the tain of racial preference. I was humiliated - and desperate," he wrote.

I've heard the same argument made before, and frankly, that's a self-esteem issue.

No, really. When you truly know your talents, you really don't care if the person across the table makes an assumption based on race. What Thomas seems to forget is that had he NOT gone to Yale, he likely would have never had any of those interviews!

But even before affirmative action, whites would ignore African Americans, judging them as inferior. So did Thomas think that somehow overnight, that was going to change?

As a result, because he was personally humiliated, he has chosen to deny what he was was afforded to others. He got a Yale degree with race being considered, but now he says that's wrong?

I guess what I could do is be suspect of every white person by thinking they got where they are because of white privilege or the legacy of having a father get you into college even though you have suspect grades. President George W. Bush, anyone? He has admitted to the "old man" knocking on a few doors to hook up his son. I wonder what Thomas would say to former President George H.W. Bush about using legacy preference to get him into college? Does Thomas thinks that's bad?

Instead of carrying around a burden, mad because he wanted whites to accept him as being so smart, he should have just gone to a therapist to deal with his issues. But, no! We now have to deal with his drama.

To me, that's sort of like a judge who gets taken to the cleaners by his wife in a divorce, and chooses to penalize every woman that comes into his court. Dude, keep your personal hangs-up outside the courtroom!

What Thomas refuses to acknowledge is that we have all have to deal with whites who questioned our intellect. So what's new? What his grandfather, and my mom and dad made clear is that when you work hard and show you have the skills, you can certainly make it.

And for those who doubted your intellect, then make 'em pay by showing them whose boss.

I guess Thomas's grandfather didn't instill in him how to have a tough enough skin to deal with the haters.

Mine did, and I'm thankful for that.

Question of the Day: Do you agree with Thomas that affirmative action hurts African Americans by forcing others to question their intellect and abilities?