Is Rev. Jackson an Obama supporter or not?

I can't figure at out times whether the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is truly a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama or not.

A couple of months ago he was busted for saying that Obama was "acting white" for his so-called refusal to speak out on the Jena 6 case. In fact, Obama did speak out on the case and was on record.

But yesterday, Jackson took all Democrats to task, except for John Edwards, for not addressing black issues.

In a column that ran in the Chicago Sun-Times, Jackson said: "the Democratic candidates -- with the exception of John Edwards, who opened his campaign in New Orleans' Ninth Ward and has made addressing poverty central to his campaign -- have virtually ignored the plight of African Americans in this country. The catastrophic crisis that engulfs the African-American community goes without mention. No urban agenda is given priority. When thousands of African Americans marched in protest in Jena, La., not one candidate showed up.

"Democratic candidates are talking about health care and raising the minimum wage, but they aren't talking about the separate and stark realities facing African Americans."

Now I get Jackson's position; he ran as a black candidate for president in 1984 and 1988, and we all knew he couldn't win. He ran as a "statement candidate" who had a tremendous effect on down ballot races.

But Obama isn't running to make a statement. He's actually trying to get the nomination. He's raised $80 million, and is now leading in the polls in Iowa, and is cutting into Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead in New Hampshire.

Now, Clinton and Obama have both made speeches, and issued policy statements on a variety of issues of concern to African Americans. So what in the world is Rev talking about?

Jackson mentioned education, poverty, the plight of black men and the criminal justice system in his column. I've heard multiple speeches from Obama and Clinton on those issues. So how are they not getting addressed? Now how on one hand can folks say he hasn't said a word about black issues, when the record disputes that.

I get why Jackson is making a mountain out of a mole hill. This is in his focus. But him becoming the story is ridiculous because right now, Obama has momentum, and when I turned on CNN on Tuesday, all I heard was Jackson criticizing the Democrat candidates.

After Jackson's "white" comment in South Carolina, he issued a statement reaffirming his support for Obama. And what did he do yesterday after his column? The same thing.

This back and forth with Jackson over Obama points to a serious problem, and frankly, it's one that Rev is going to have to deal with. He wants a much larger role in the Obama campaign, but Jackson has to accept the reality that Obama has to be careful as to this issue.

Like it or not, Jackson is a volatile figure outside the black community. And Obama has to clearly appeal to non-black voters for him to have any chance of winning the Democratic nomination. I concur that he has to speak to black issues - and have written as such - but he can't run as the "black candidate."

When the Democratic candidates, and specifically Obama, discuss healthcare, the Iraq War and the economy, does that not include black folks? At one point are we going to wake up and realize this?

Question of the Day: Do you believe that issues of interest to African Americans are being addressed by the Democratic candidates?

Clinton camp has problems doing their math

I just finished watching the ABC Nightline piece from Monday night on Sen. Barack Obama and anchor Terry Moran read a comment from the Clinton campaign that said if the junior senator from Illinois was elected president, he would have less experience than any president in the 20th century.

Here is what Deputy Communications Director Phil Singer wrote today after an Obama foreign policy speech:

"With the critical foreign policy challenges America faces in the world today, voters will decide whether Senator Obama, who served in the Illinois State Senate just three years ago and would have less experience than any President since World War II, has the strength and experience to be the next president. Senator Clinton, who has travelled to 82 countries as a representative of the United States and serves on the Armed Services Committee, is ready to lead starting on Day One."

Really?

George W. Bush was only in elected office for six years before he ran for president. He was elected governor of Texas in 1994 and won the presidency - OK liberal bloggers, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor - in 2000.

Obama is in his 11th year as an elected officeholder - eight years in the Illinois state Senate and in his third year as a U.S. Senator. Clinton is in her seventh year of elected office.

So the question has to be asked: Is the Clinton campaign struggling with their math or hoping we all can't add?

If the Clinton camp is saying state experience doesn't matter, does that apply to Bush, who never served on the federal level prior to coming to the White House; President Jimmy Carter, who was governor of Georgia before residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; and even her husband, Bill Clinton, who was governor and attorney general of Arkansas before being elected in 1992.

Make a decision, Sen. Clinton. Either state experience matters or it doesn't. History shows that it does.

I sent Singer an email asking for a clarification. I'll let you know if he gets back to me.

Good news for Clinton and Obama in Joint Center poll

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the nation's leading think tank on African American issues, released their "2007 National Survey of Likely Black Presidential Primary Voters" and it bodes well for Democratic frontrunners, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Background: The survey is a national survey of 750 black likely primary/caucus voters, and was done between Oct. 5 and Nov. 2, 2007. "Respondents were asked their views on important national problems, issues in the campaign, and candidates for both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. The survey methodology is described in an accompanying appendix. The Joint Center conducted the survey with the support of the AARP."

Here are the highlights:

- Clinton had the highest favorable rating of any presidential candidate with 83 percent of black likely voters. Only 9.7 percent saw her unfavorably. Of that, 86 percent of black women viewed her favorably and only 7 percent unfavorably. Obama? He drew 74.4 percent favorable and 10.1 percent unfavorable.

- Black voters aren't too high on the Republicans. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was tops among the GOP, but only 27.1 percent viewed him favorably and 42.7 percent unfavorably. The least negative among black voters? Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.

- Most important problem facing the nation? War in Iraq at 28 percent; healthcare came in at 20 percent; and jobs came in at 15 percent. Education was fourth at 10 percent. Interestingly, less than 1 percent chose immigration as "the most important national problem." This stands in stark contrast to the center's pre-2004 survey of black adults - "not likely voters," they said - that showed jobs and the economy tops and the war in Iraq second.

Clinton has been touting her experience as the most important factor in the race, but for black voters, that isn't the most important issue.

"A strong majority (63 percent) of black voters said what matters most to them in the presidential candidate is a commitment to change; less than a third indicated that a candidate's experience in elective office mattered most to them," according to the survey.

That should be good news to Obama, who has made change the leading focus of his campaign in an effort to distinguish him from Clinton.

Now when it comes to President Bush, "abysmal" was the word the Joint Center used to describe his ratings among likely black voters with "only 11 percent rating his work excellent or good, while 87 percent give him negative marks--including 58 percent who rate his work as poor. Black women voters (61 percent), those with more than a college degree (72 percent), and those making more than $75,000 (72 percent) were most negative toward the president."

Ouch!

When it comes to African Americans and their views about Democrats, it is no contest.

- "African Americans favor the Democrats over the Republicans on healthcare (75 to 11 percent), Iraq (72 to 14 percent), the economy and jobs (70 to 15 percent), terrorism and national security (60 to 23 percent), Social Security (72 to 13 percent), immigration (60 to 19 percent), taxes (71 to 15 percent), education (72 and 14 percent), and moral values (63 to 17 percent). Democrats are favored over the GOP even on the GOP’s signature issues of terrorism and moral values."

- "African Americans continue to identify strongly with the Democratic Party with 84 percent being self-described Democrats and 11 percent identifying with the Republicans; 54 percent of those surveyed described themselves as strong Democrats, while only seven percent were strong Republicans. In 2007, likely black primary voters were also strongly liberal in their political orientation with 41 percent describing themselves that way; 36 percent were self-described moderates and 21 percent conservatives. Conservatism has lost some of its brand strength among African Americans: In Joint Center surveys of black adults conducted during the late 1990s, between 35 and 40 percent described themselves as conservative in their political orientation."

Bottom line: Democrats have lots of good news in this survey, and the GOP has a lot of work to do. But it also bodes well for both Clinton and Obama, who are far and away the preferred choices among likely black voters.

Question of the Day: Do you agree or disagree with the assessment of the Joint Center survey?

Roland on CNN's Headline News at 4:30 pm CST today

Did you guys hear GOP candidate Mitt Romney rip Sen. Barack Obama last week for telling some high school students that he used drugs as a kid?

Well, I'll be discussing on CNN's Headline News today at 4:45 p.m. CST.

I'll go in detail on this tomorrow. You ought to hear the audio of J.C. Watts going off on Romney for having an all-white campaign team!

Oprah hits the campaign trail for Obama

After hosting a $3 million fundraiser a couple of months ago at her palatial California estate for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Oprah Winfrey will take her starpower to the people to see if it can bolster him in the polls.

The Obama campaign announced Sunday that Winfrey will tour Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina on December 8th and 9th. The two will hit Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa on the 8th and Columbia, S.C. and Manchester, N.H. on the 9th.

Political watchers have often stated that endorsement from celebrities mean nothing. But with Oprah, who knows?

First, she has never endorsed a candidate for office, and told CNN's Larry King that she is sure she won't do it again.

Second, no celebrity has her daily cache. Look, if Will Smith, Angelina Jolie or someone tosses their support, it doesn't resonate because we see them on the big screen once a year. But Oprah is beamed into our living rooms five days a week courtesy of her talk show; her website is hugely popular; and her magazine is a force to be reckoned with.

We know that she sells books, but can she sell Obama?

Frankly, I think Oprah gives Obama a heavy dose of media attention. When she shows up, so does the media. This will mean free exposure in a state where he has dropped $4 million already.

Oprah can also help Obama with women voters. That's her base, and she knows it. If she speaks at rallies where 10,000 to 20,000 folks turn out, Oprah can speak to the possibilities of an Obama presidency, and connect with women. Many have flocked to Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign because if elected she will be the first woman president. So Obama needs to cut into her huge lead in the most important voting bloc in the Democratic primary.

Some say Oprah can't help Obama. But if I'm him, I sure want her on my side and not on Clinton's.

Question of the day: Will Oprah have any effect on turning voters to Obama?

Roland's rules for the holidays

OK, folks. It's that time of the year. Thursday is Thanksgiving, and that means you've got some crazy, ignant relatives coming by.

So, every year on my radio show I give my listeners my rules for the holidays.

Here is the 2007 version.

Roland’s Rules for the Holidays

1. Shut up and eat. Don’t ask anybody who cooked what. Just fix your plate and sit down.
2. If you cook a meal, do it the traditional way. Look, some folks want to experiment on us. We don’t have time for that. If it’s macaroni and cheese, fix it like we know it! If you’re looking to “try something new,” do it on your own time…and with your own stomach.
3. Cheap is not better. If you’re asked to bring Coke or Pepsi, don’t come into my house with that off brand soda – y’all say pop here – that NOBODY ever drinks. All it’s going to do is make folks mad, force them to drink water, and take up space in my pantry.
4. If you are a baby’s daddy, don’t ask, “What’s for dinner?” Just bring your sorry behind over and see your kids. Also, DON’T bring your new woman.
5. If you can’t afford to buy your own movie ticket, don’t suggest a family outing. I can’t stand folks who LOVE to plan family outings, but when it’s time to go, they say their pockets are light.
6. My momma and daddy ain't your momma and daddy. When you see my momma, call her Mrs. Martin and call my daddy, Mr. Martin. You might be a son or daughter-in-law, but that ain’t YOUR momma or daddy. That’s mine. LOL
7. If your kid pops a squat, you have to change their pants. That ain’t my job. Take care of your kid!
8. When it’s time to pray, don’t pretend you are preaching your first sermon. Keep the prayer tight and right. I already love Jesus. That long prayer drives EVERYBODY nuts. Momma, do you HEAR me?!
9. You are not Michael Jordan or Donovan McNabb, so put the ball down. Every holiday we get these fools who want everyone to know they USED to be a sports star. OK, but you work at the Post Office, and not in the NFL or NBA. So it’s time to retire. Plus, we ran out of Icy Hot, and we don’t need to spend Thanksgiving in the emergency room because you got injured trying to be a damn hero.
10. Let the old folks do what they want to do. If your old uncle, grandfather or grandmother wants to sit in that corner chair and sleep through Thanksgiving, let ‘em! They old. They can do what they want. Just go on about your business and have a good day.

Michelle Obama to co-host 'The View' on Dec. 5

One week after raising eyebrows in her interview on MSNBC, Michelle Obama will get more national attention on Dec. 5 when she co-hosts ABC's The View.

In an item on the appearance today, the New York Post called her "controversial" and the "tough talking" wife of Sen. Barack Obama.

The move is a huge one for the Obama campaign, which is counting on Michelle to make inroads among women, especially black female voters. And with The View appealing to so many women, she could use the opportunity as a chance to advance the agenda of her husband.

By the way, Michelle Obama spoke today at South Carolina State University. The title of her speech? "A Challenge to Overcome."

Here is one report on the speech from TalkingPointsMemo.com. I'll post a copy of it shortly.

Another missing white woman, media goes nuts

Chicago area cop Drew Peterson might as well have his own prime time TV show considering the amount of face time he's gotten as of late?

You haven't heard of Peterson? He's the Bolingbrook, Ill. police officer many think caused the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy. He's asserted that she ran away with another man, but with some believing he killed his third wife - an autopsy revealed she drowned but a private autopsy conducted called it homicide - he has been on the burner for some time.

In Chicago, the story is getting wide play with front page coverage every day. His second wife says he beat her, and his first wife says he was a loving man. Today, his mom weighed in, saying she's angry with Stacy for running away and causing the family so much pain.

For me, it's just another white woman missing.

Don't get me wrong. I can't stand men who abuse their wives, and have never shown ANY mercy on someone who harms another. But can you remember the last time a black woman came up missing and we had breathless coverage? Peterson has been on the Today show twice; was on Good Morning America this morning; has been photographed for People magazine; and we get regular updates on all the cable shows.

I don't want to see any woman come up missing, but it sure as hell would be nice if my brothers and sisters in the media would show the same level of compassion for African American and Hispanic women. But maybe since the traditional missing women might resemble the wives, daughters, nieces and sisters of those in decision-making positions, that might explain the coverage.

And that still isn't justify it.

Marches can work today - if there is follow-up

Friday's march around the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. was successful in that thousands showed up to voice their displeasure with the lack of resolve on the part of the Bush Administration to prosecute high profile hate crimes cases.

When I was on CNN on Saturday, anchor Fredricka Whitfield asked me whether marches actually have meaning today or if they just make lots of noise. I can certainly understand the question because it is a tactic that civil rights leaders have used for years, and today's generation believes that it's outdated and ineffective.

I understand their sentiment, but disagree.

Marches are only as effective as the participants taking the action beyond that day. If you don't follow-up, then all you've done is march around and gotten some exercise. But a march does have the intended effect of raising the consciousness of people on an issue, drawing attention and allowing you to build on that momentum.

Early anti-Iraq war marches weren't massive, but as it continued, more people aligned themselves with the marchers and we now see a majority of the nation want to see our troops home.

What has to happen now is for organizers of Friday's march to keep the pressure up externally, and then press those internally for substantive policy changes.

Keep in mind that the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 was all about pressuring President John F. Kennedy and Congress to pass civil rights legislation. They didn't gather in the hot August sun to have a picnic! Event today, marches in the former Soviet Union, Poland and Pakistan is about demanding change.

What the Rev. Al Sharpton and others must do is deliver results. Otherwise, the people will simply be let down after another exercise of futility.

Justice Dept. rally in DC about to begin

Sorry for posting late. It has been a busy morning!

I arrived at Freedom Plaza this morning to set up for my radio broadcast from the nation's capital for the Justice Department rally being organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton

Today's march is a follow-up to the Jena 6 rally on Sept. 20, as well as other smaller events.

People from all over the nation are flooding into the plaza, which sits in the shadow of the Justice Dept.

Pastors, activists and others from around the nation are here. Sharpton said that his group had 102 buses from Chicago, NY, Atlanta and other places travel here.

The plan? To march around the Justice Dept. Seven times, much like when the fighters from the Bible walked around Jericho and the walls came tumbling down.

The Rev. Frederick D. Haynes of Friendship-West Baptist Church is speaking now and he said their goal is "to make noise until the walls of the Justice Department come tumbling down."

I'll have more reports throughout the day.

Question of the Day; Do you think today's march will have an effect on the Justice Department and force them to be more pro-active in prosecuting hate crimes?

Roland to broadcast radio show from D.C. on Friday

The Rev. Al Sharpton is leading a rally at the U.S. Justice Department on Friday, and I'll be on hand to broadcast my radio show.

A number of morning radio show hosts, including Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey, will be doing their shows from Freedom Plaza, located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

So if you're in the DC area, swing on by and say hello!

By the way, the march will commence at noon and will go to 2 p.m. Sharpton says they will march around the Justice Department seven times. Just like the walls of Jericho, it's time for the walls of racial prejudice to come tumbling down!

Four states should not decide the presidential candidates

The nation's two political parties have done a pretty good job over the years of keeping voters in line by deciding the order in which states will vote on their presidential candidates.

But that respect for tradition -- Iowa and New Hampshire have always been first in line -- has gone out the window, and the Republican and Democratic national committees have struggled to keep order.

Folks, this cat is out of the bag, and it's never going to be the same again. And frankly, it shouldn't.

I've listened to many of the pundits this election season remark that if Sen. John McCain doesn't win New Hampshire, his candidacy is toast. Former Sen. John Edwards has put a lot of the emphasis on Iowa, and the prognosticators say that if he doesn't bag the state, he might as well hang 'em up. Michelle Obama has said on the campaign trail in Iowa that if her husband doesn't win that state, the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama is also toast.

As a result, we've seen many states jockey for position by moving up their primaries. Michigan, Florida and others have seen their state officials change the law to force their primaries to the top of the election calendar so that they might have a greater say in who is president.

These moves have led both parties to threaten to strip the rogue states of delegates to the national conventions.

While these changes have created a huge mess for the campaigns -- they are not sure exactly when the voting will take place -- I must admit that I'm on the side of the states. It is grossly unfair for the first four states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina -- to pretty much decide the presidency. But in all honesty, it boils down to the first two.

If a candidate doesn't do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, the media attention turns away from them, and then the political dollars dry up, and the packing begins.

Yet this is no way to choose a president. Fine, I know all about that tradition crap, but honestly, no one should have such a stranglehold on the process. Four years ago I made the point that with Iowa and New Hampshire being overwhelmingly white, you've pretty much blown off the views of blacks and Hispanics.

Instead of having one primary or caucus one week and another the next, why can't five states vote each week during January? That means by the end of the month, we will have nearly half of the states make their choice for president, and we can have a much better idea what the will of the American people is. That will no doubt cause the campaigns to raise more money to run a national campaign, but hey, you've got to have a trade-off.

Or, we could have a national primary so everyone votes. If your state primary is in March or April, and all the candidates have dropped out, how are you having your say? If it works in the general election, why not the primaries?

Iowa and New Hampshire residents want to keep saying it's about tradition. I think it's about money. The TV stations, newspapers, hotels, restaurants, sign companies and other businesses make a ton of dough off these candidates, and they don't want that cash cow to feed others.

Americans want fairness, and there is nothing fair about less than 10 percent of the states in America choosing the next president for the rest of us.

Question of the Day: Are you satisfied with the current presidential primary system or is it unfair to the other 46 states?

Values divide in black America is real

Chris Rock turned a lot of heads with his comedic routine, "Niggas vs. blacks" (Click here for video). Folks were laughing out loud at his nearly 8-minute riff on the difference, but when whites would come around, all the black folks would say, "Hush. We've got company."

When Ed Bradley interviewed Rock on 60 Minutes, he asked his mother about the comment, and she agreed with her son. You should have seen the look on Ed's face!

This issue of hard working black folks having problems with trifling and lazy black folks has been around for years, but research is now validating what we've all known for years: there is a values divide in black America that is only widening.

This is detailed in a study done by the Pew Research Center titled, "Blacks See Growing Values Gap Between Poor and Middle Class" (Click here for synposis and here for full report).

Juan Williams, a political analyst for FOX News and NPR, wrote about this in today's Washington Post.

"Over half of all Americans -- people of all colors -- believe that the values of poor and middle-class blacks are becoming more different," Williams said. "When the question is limited to black people, the answer is even more definitive: 61 percent say values are now more different between middle-class and poor blacks. The perception of a class divide in black America has increased nearly 20 points since a similar question was asked of black people in 1986."

We've seen this played out with Bill Cosby's shout-outs and the uproar it has provoked. But why the uproar?

Some see this as a class divide. But I do believe it's a values divide. You can be well-to-do and have the same feelings about education and hard work as someone without means.

In fact, we discussed this for nearly two hours on my radio show and one caller brought up Good Times. He said the values of James and Florida were the same for middle class families, even though they lived in the projects.

Look, I lived in the same house with my parents, three sisters and one brother. And I call tell you that like many of you, I have at least one sorry family member, and I can't get with her values. The laziness, unwillingness to work hard, comb the hair of her four daughers, feed them properly and educate them pisses me off. Same house, same parents, same siblings, different values. And it has nothing to do with me writing for Essence and being on CNN. I don't like sorriness, and it's evident that she loves it.

In black America, we simply have folks who don't have the same view about faith, family, raising our kids, respect for others and other values issues. There is a growing group of people who believes that "keeping it real" means acting a damn fool. They also assert that is what it means to be black.

I'm sorry. I don't condemn someone who has less than me. And I won't condemn someone who has more than me.

But if your values are different than mine, understand, we will be at odds. Even if our skin is the same.

Question of the Day: Do you believe there is a class gap in black America or a values gap?

Michelle Obama doesn't hold back on issue of race, husband's campaign

I've long maintained that Michelle Obama is the best weapon her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, has in his effort to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

Like most candidates, their spouses play a critical role in serving as their chief surrogate.

Obama's interview on MSNBC was an important one because instead of running away from the critical issue that is preventing a number of African Americans from embracing her husband's candidacy, she took it head on.

In an interview with Mika Brzezinski, news anchor for the network's Morning Joe program, Michelle Obama said the following (You can watch the video here):

BRZEZINSKI: The polls are showing your husband is trailing Hillary 46% to 37% in the African-American community. What is going on here?

OBAMA: First of all, I think that's not going to hold. I'm completely confident. Black America will wake up and get it, but what we're dealing with in the Black community is just the natural fear of possibility. You know, when I look at my life, you know, the stuff that we're seeing in these polls has played out my whole life. Always been told by somebody that I'm not ready, you know, I can't do something. My scores weren't high enough. There's always that doubt in the back of the minds of people of color. People who have been oppressed and haven't been given real opportunities that you never really, that you believe somehow, someone is better than you. You know, deep down inside you doubt whether you can do it because that's all you've been told is, no, wait. That's all you hear. And you hear it from people who love you, not because they don't care about you, but they're afraid. They're afraid that something might happen.

BRZEZINSKI: It's interesting you say that, excuse me, because a stewardess yesterday, 52-year-old African-American and I asked her if she was interested in Barack Obama and if she would vote for him and she said, like this, (sigh) "I don't think so because he probably can't win because he's black".

OBAMA: That's right. That's right. That is the, that's the psychology that's going on in our heads, in our souls. And I understand it. I know where it comes from. And I think it's one of the horrible legacies of racism and discrimination and oppression.

On my radio show today, I had a blogger, Kevin McCullough, who wrote a piece ripping Obama. He even penned it with the headline: *NEW* Race Pimp Michelle Obama: Whites keeping Blacks from voting OBAMA!

What I tried to explain to McCullough is that Michelle Obama wasn't blaming whites, she was speaking to the real issue of self-doubt among African Americans.

He countered that young blacks called his New York radio show saying they don't have doubts, but believe they can do whatever they want.

But it's clear that McCullough missed the boat on the black voters. First, the prevailing fear is really there among older African Americans. Where does Sen. Hillary Clinton's black lead come from? Mostly older black voters.

In his column, McCullough tried to use Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to counter Obama.

"Sure she might be couching it in 'generational effects' of blacks being told they aren't good enough. But that didn't seem to stop Condoleeza Rice from speaking 6 languages fluently, becoming an accomplished concert pianist, an Olympic competitive figure skater, the Provost of Stanford University, and oh yes - the first ever black female National Security Advisor AND Secretary of State."

But I quickly reminded him that in Marcus Mabry's book on Rice, Twice as Good, her father, John, refused to even participate in the Civil Rights Movement because he never thought whites would change. So Condoleeza Rice benefitted from the work of other African Americans, despite her fathers fear of change.

Hell, when I was in high school, and word got around that I was going to attend Texas A&M University, one of the teachers at Jack Yates High School came up to me and asked if I thought I was prepared for A&M, and then countered that I should go to Prairie View A&M University first.

I said, "Hold on! Are you telling me that this school hasn't prepared me for mostly white A&M, so I need to go to black PV?"

See, doubt. Fear.

Like it or not, this is exactly what Obama is speaking about. African Americans need to confront our fears of success. Of going to the next level. We can't hold on to the doubts that have held us back for years. It's time to let that go.

And just go for it.

Roland on AC 360 tonight on CNN

Hey, folks!

I'll be chatting with Anderson Cooper and political commentator David Gergen regarding the Obama-Clinton duel this weekend in Iowa. I'll be on at the top of the hour, around 10 p.m. EST.

Coroner: West death surgery-related

Amid reports that the mother of Kanye West died from complications as a result of cosmetic surgery, an official with the Los Angeles coroner's office said it was from "complications of surgery."

The Associated Press reports that Lt. Fred Corrall said a full autopsy will be done by Wednesday.

They also said the publicist, Patricia Green, is backing away from her earlier comments.

Publicist confirms Kanye West's mom died after 'cosmetic procedure'

One day after the news broke regarding the death of Dr. Donda West, the mother of hip-hop star Kanye West, her publicist tells CNN that she died following a 'cosmetic proceudure.'

CNN.com says "Patricia Green, the publicist for Dr. Donda West, did not give details about the procedure or exactly what the cause of death was."

The death of Donda West, 58, was clearly a shock to her son, but also to the Chicago State University community where she taught for 31 years in the English department, and later became chair of the department.

Haki Madhabuti, a longtime professor there and the founder of Third World Press, the publisher of "The Covenant With Black America," was so stunned by her death that he wouldn't even come on my radio show on Monday to discuss her life and legacy.

Many of her former students called into my show today to express their thoughts about West, who raised and nurtered Kanye, serving as his manager and then later CEO of his branding company.

But the death of West also raises some critical questions that people must ask themselves: is cosmetic surgery worth risking death over?

Remember Adrienne Brown? She was the wife of James Brown, who died in January 1996, two days after undergoing liposuction surgery. But an autopsy on her determined that pain-killing prescriptions, combined with taking PCP, contributed to her death.

It's important to remember that when anesthesia is being used, that has life or death consequences. Major surgery, whether it's a heart operation or cosmetic, endangers the life of the patient. There are many stories where patients go in with routine surgeries, only to not survive.

As we move forward, more details will emerge over the death of Donda West. But it is necessary to ask whether cosmetic surgery is worth losing your life.

Question of the Day: In light of the death of Donda West, would you still consider having cosmetic surgery?

Mother of Kanye West passes away

WGCI-FM in Chicago is reporting that the mother of Kanye West, Dr. Donda West, has died.

One of Kanye's writers, Rhymefest, who often went to their home when both were neophytes in the music game, said that Kanye called him from London at 10 a.m. CST today to tell him the news.

Miss Info, a gossip celebrity for Atlanta's Hot 97, broke the news on her blog that Donda West died in Los Angeles, and that Kanye is on his way back to the U.S. from London. AllHipHop.com says she died last night.

The Associated Press reports that no cause of death has been released. West was 58.

It was just a month ago that I talked with Donda West on my WVON-AM/Chicago radio show regarding the raising of her son and her new project. The former longtime chair of the English Department at Chicago State University recently published a book, Raising Kayne: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star. It was co-written along with journalist Karen Hunter (Click here to read an excerpt from the book).

Dr. Donda West was formerly the manager for Kanye, but at the time of her death was CEO of West Brands, LLC, which manages all businesses related to him. She also served as chair of the Kanye West Foundation. Read her brief bio here.

O.J.'s 'If I Did It' isn't worthy of my money or time

When O.J. Simpson announced a deal with ReganBooks that he was penning a book laying out how he would kill his wife "if" he did it, I certainly thought he was nuts.

Who in the world writes a book saying how he would have killed his wife and someone else? Especially when you're raising the two children you had with their mother?!

But then the family of Ron Goldman got involved, all hell broke loose. They were able to take the book from Simpson and the corporation he set up to reap the benefits of the book, and of course, Judith Regan, the force behind it, was fired by News Corp.

So, the Goldmans moved forward and published the book. This morning I had Kim Goldman on my radio show, and was adamant that their mission is to make O.J. satisfy the $39 million judgement against him when he was found guilty in civil court.

Even though that's their right, frankly, I don't care about the book. I don't care about O.J. I didn't watch a single minute of the wall-to-wall coverage yesterday of his preliminary hearing in the case where he's accused of leading armed men in stealing his memorabilia. And I know the Goldmans want to make him pay when the big bill from the civil court, but I just don't see how my life would be obsessed by everything O.J. does.

Then again, I didn't lose a son or a brother.

That's their right. But I won't be contributing to the civil bill by paying for this book.

Question of the Day: Would you purchase "If I Did It: Confession of the Killer" by O.J. Simpson?

Clinton camp accepts blame for media blackout at Chicago rally

After reaching out to the Clinton campaign concerning the drama over the Chicago rally yesterday featuring former President Bill Clinton, they accepted blame for the miscommunication.

Traci Blunt, a spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign, said the confusion over the rally, and the failure to not allow the media in, was theirs.

“It’s a mea culpa on our part,” she told me. “We should have opened it up to the press.”

She added that with the number of people in attendance, especially in Obama’s backyard, “we would have loved to showcase that.”

Hey, no waffling or side stepping there. Just own up to it and move on. Good move.

Update on Clinton's black Chicago rally

Fever in the funk house!

The phone lines have been burning up all morning on this "rally" for Clinton.

Bishop Tavis Grant, president of the Chicago-based 21st Century Alliance of Progressive Leaders, was the chief organizer of the event. In an interview on my radio show on WVON in Chicago, Grant admitted that the appearance by former President Bill Clinton was indeed a rally for the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Now, what's interesting is that the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Clinton said he wished the organizers didn't exclude the media from covering the event, yet Grant told me that "a collective decision" had been made by his group, the office of President Clinton, and the Sen. Clinton campaign, that the media would be excluded.

So, is President Clinton trying to have it both ways? He tells the media he wanted them in, but his "office" determines that the media shouldn't be invited.

Can you say double talk?

The rally has caused consternation in the black community because Obama is the sitting U.S. senator, and enjoys huge support in the state.

In a column by Mary Mitchell of the Sun-Times, a publicist came out and told the media who was in attendance. Among the list? Bishop Larry Trotter, senior pastor of Chicago's Sweet Holy Spirit Church and Presiding Prelate of the United Pentecostal Church of Christ, a national body that oversees 1,500 churches and ministries.

But Trotter came on to the show hot, saying he was invited because Grant is a member of his church, but is a huge supporter of Obama.

For everyone not from Chicago, you also must understand why this is sensitive.

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to focus on slums and poverty in the North, he focused on Chicago. But the city's leading black ministers slammed the door on him, telling him to go back to Georgia. See, in this city, the political machine runs everything, and there was no greater machine in this nation than that of Mayor Richard J. Daley, the father of the current mayor, Richard M. Daley.

Daley had the city's black community under his thumb, and he controlled whatever took place. The ministers shut King out of their pulpits, and only one allowed him to speak.

King often said that the Negro in Chicago is a "peculiar Negro." He even suggested that if they were able to win over the Negro in Chicago, they could win the hearts of minds of Negroes all over America.

This is a city with 1.2 million African Americans, the second-largest collection of black people outside the continent of Africa. There are more African American millionaires in this city than any other.

The real issue is that a native son, Obama, is reaching for the White House, and you have a collection of folks, mainly black ministers, who will smile in his face, who sought his support for projects as a state senator and then a U.S. senator, celebrated him being elected as the only black to the U.S. Senate, and now don't return the favor when he's running for the White House and trying to become the first African American to call that place home.

As King said, the Chicago Negro is a "peculiar Negro."

Clinton's black Chicago supporters scared to show their faces

Ooh, it's a little funky in Chicago this morning!

The first Negro president, Bill Clinton, was in town yesterday and an event billed as the "People's Rally" was held on the South Side at a ballroom in the historic Bronzeville (Y'all know I think calling him the first black president is dumb as a doorknob).

But guess what? Organizers wouldn't let any media in!

Now, taxpayer dollars were spent to have Chicago police officers block off streets, and they even moved reporters off public sidewalks and forced them across the street, according to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell.

"Media weren't allowed on the same side of the street where people scurried from the parking lots and jumped out of cabs to walk up a red carpet and pass through a well-guarded entryway," Mitchell wrote.

"Uniformed police officers ordered photographers and reporters off the public sidewalk and sent them across the street, where they took their posts in front of private residences. That put shouting distance between us and the people who were coming to hear Clinton talk up his wife's candidacy."

Now, Mitchell's fellow comrade, Sun-Times political repoter Abdon Pallasch, wrote "The rally was closed to the press. One organizer admitted some in the largely African-American crowd might have been squeamish about being outed as a Hillary Clinton supporter in Obama's hometown. Bill Clinton said he'd have opened the meeting."

See, that's weak. The guy who is the headliner says he would have had it open but he hides behind the organizers. If Bill Clinton would have said, "Hey, let the media open!" the doors would have swung open.

But the real issue they have is that many of them, especially black ministers, suck up to Obama when they are looking to get goodies for the areas around their churches, but then don't want to support him.

Look, if you are black and support Sen. Clinton, fine, go right ahead. But don't seek to duck and run when the former president comes to town and then try to call it a "People's Rally." Clearly, the people there didn't want other people to know what they were up to.

Roland on AC 360 tonight on CNN

Hey, folks!


I'll be with Bill Bennett and Gloria Borger tonight discussing the endorsement of Rudy Giuliani by the Rev. Pat Robertson.


We'll also talk about the Sen. Hillary Clinton gender play, as well as former President Bill Clinton stepping up his attacks on her Democratic rivals.

Pat Robertson shows he cares more about politics than God

The endorsement today of GOP candidate Rudy Giuliani by the Rev. Pat Robertson shows that as a leading social conservative, he cares more about his party than his God.

For years, Robertson has railed against homosexuality, gay marriage and abortion, yet he is willing to stand next to a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage candidate, and give him a ringing endorsement.

Here are some of Robertson's greatest hits:

ABORTION: “We cannot continue to murder unborn babies by the millions in America without sooner or later incurring the wrath of Almighty God and destroying everything we have decent in our society. Because if you can murder a baby when he’s viable at 21 months, weeks, you can also murder him after he’s born. And you can murder an old person who’s in the way. And that’s exactly what Adolph Hitler did, and that’s where we’re moving in this country...And it incredible that those who claim to be liberal have got blood on their hands. They’ve got this desire to murder.” 700 Club, March 21, 1990 (Courtesy of People for the American Way)

HOMOSEXUALITY: "The radical left is doing everything they can to destroy the moral fiber of America. They want to do away with the family. I am absolutely persuaded one of the reasons so many lesbians are at the forefront of the pro-choice movement is because being a mother is the unique characteristic of womanhood, and these lesbians will never be mothers naturally, so they don't anybody else to have that privilege either." 700 Club, May 18, 1993 (Courtesy of People for the American Way)

In these bites, Robertson makes it clear how important these issues are, but he's always blaming the left. Now he's standing with a guy on the right and it's all good?

See, the religious right is being exposed because for years, they've made it clear that the social issues matter most. But I've always contended that it's the party - Republicans - that they are most concerned with. And when faced with a candidate who doesn't follow their doctrine, they will choose the party over principle.

And that's what Robertson is doing.

In April, when I hosted the CNN special, "What Would Jesus Really Do?" I interviewed the now deceased Rev. Jerry Falwell. And he said then that he would rather have someone in the White House who is focused on national security than being a Sunday school teacher. Even then, that was an indication how he was leaning.

But check out conservative and Mr. Family Values Gary Bauer told The National Review Online. He's considerably lukewarm on this issue of Robertson's endorsement.

“Those leaders who are endorsing are going through the same thought process that a lot of conservatives around the country are wrestling with, which is that whatever one thinks about the field, it’s clear to everybody that a Hillary Clinton presidency with Democratic control of the House and Senate would be a disaster no matter what kind of conservative you are.”

So now we know the deal. Evangelical leaders like Robertson don't put their faith first. It's clear they would rather line up with the party than the prophetic one, Jesus.

Mega-ministers lifestyles the focus of influential U.S. Senator

Private jets. Expensive toilets. Costly conference tables. Riding in style in Rolls Royces and Bentleys.

Those are some of the complaints that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) says he has received from members of a variety of congregations as well as outsiders. As a result, he has fired off a letter to the leaders of six TV evangelists, demanding they answer his questions regarding their finances.

If you think this is no big deal, you are dead wrong. This is a MAJOR issue that could have national ramifications.

Grassley is targeting the ministries of televangelists Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Bishop Eddie L. Long, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Randy and Paula White.

First, WHY it's good.

The explosion of the prosperity gospel over the last several years by mega-churches has ticked off a lot of people, rubbed many in the ministry the wrong, and led those who are involved to slap others as being jealous or not fully enjoying the fruits of God's rewards.

But as gangster Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) told his brother in American Gangster, what you wear and drive is too flashy and brings unwanted attention.

Instead of talking about the gospel, far too many pastors spent their time talking about the planes and helicopters they own, the vacations to exquisite and exclusive locales, multiple mansions, and big "love offerings" that some would say might make Jesus blush.

Here is what we've seen recently:

- the St. Louis Post Dispatch ran a series of stories on her ministry, including what she has spent on the poor.
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution filed a report on the insider dealings involved Bishop Eddie L. Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and his personal ministry. The story was posted on the website of the National Committee for Responsible Philanthrophy.
- The Tampa Tribune has written about the financial issues facing Pastors Randy and Paula White, who announced last month they are getting divorced. Read "Of Faith, Fame & Fortune."
- 20/20's John Stossel has often gone after the likes of TBN, Benny Hinn and others. Watch his report here.

And if there is one person who I have issues with, it's Hinn. I can recall a few years ago when he was asking his TV viewers to send in money for a major healing center in Dallas. He implored them to do so because God gave him the vision. But he later decided not to because a fellow TV evangelist, James Robison, told him it wouldn't be a good idea. Now if God said to do it, why would he listen to Robison? And what happened to the money? The Dallas Morning News asked that question in this article.

Why this is TROUBLING.

Primarily because the federal government should stick its nose out of the business of churches.

Grassley has questions, but look, the IRS is the body that determines if agencies are following the law as to their tax exempt status.

Grassley is questioning the expenditures of Joyce Meyer Ministries, but she sent this email out today:

"JMM continues in its desire to be transparent, and has posted its 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 audited financial reports on the ministry website. Also available for viewing are the 2004, 2005 and 2006 annual reports. (www.joycemeyer.org)

"Following a recent Internal Revenue Service tax inquiry, during which the IRS requested extensive financial information for the years 2004 to 2006, the IRS found that JMM continues to qualify for tax exemption. The October 10, 2007 letter from the IRS to JMM stated:

"'Thank you for providing information about your organization's activities during the period January 1, 2004 through December 31,2006, in response to our recent church tax inquiry concerning your continuing exempt status under section 501(c)(3) and non-private foundation classification under 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code.

"We used the information you provided to determine whether you meet the requirements for exemption from Federal income tax. We determined that you [Joyce Meyer Ministries] continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax under IRC section 501(c)(3)."

Now, if the IRS had issues, don't you think they are big and bad enough to check it out?

This can potentially have a chilling effect on churches because ANY politician who is ticked off with a church - maybe one where a pastor endorsed his or her rival - could use their influence to demand the records of a church.

Remember, some accused the Bush Administration of using the IRS to go after some churches that were vocal opponents of the Iraq War. Read "IRS Reviews Church's Status" in the Washington Post.

I'm very concerned about the excessive lifestyles, BUT if church congregations are not at all upset with how their tithes and offerings are being used, then it's not really my business to worry about it. My focus is on the two churches I belong to - Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and Brookhollow Baptist Church/The Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas.

Question of the Day: Should Sen. Charles Grassley investigate the finances of the six mega-churches?

Roland on CNN.com at 11:10 am EST discussing Clinton, gender

Following my post on Essence.com yesterday, I've got a column on CNN.com today on the comments by Geraldine Ferraro regarding Sen. Hillary Clinton and the gender card.

But check me out discussing some of the reaction on CNN.com today. Just click live video and watch me do my thing!

And if you hurry and respond to the CNN.com column, we can possibly include your comments in our roundup!

Holla.

Former VP candidate Ferraro plays gender, race card

"Game recognizes game."

That phrase certainly sums up my feelings regarding some recent comments advanced by a big supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In an interview with the New York Times that ran on Monday's front page, 1984 Democratic VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro made some comments in her defense of Clinton after last week's attacks during the presidential debate aired on MSNBC.

"John Edwards, specifically, as well as the press, would never attack Barack Obama for two hours the way they attacked her. It's O.K. In this country to be sexist. It's certainly not O.K. To be racist. I think if Barack Obaba had been attacked for two hours - well, I don't think Barack Obama would have been attacked for two hours."

She later said, "We can't let them do this in a presidential race. They say we're playing the gender card. We are not. We are not. We have got to stand up. It's discrimination against her as a candidate because she is a woman."

Excuse me? How in the hell is Clinton being discriminated against?

She is leading all polls. She has raised more money than all the other candidates. She is leading likely GOP challengers in the polls, and Ferraro is mad because she's getting criticized? Give me a break!

Remember former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun? She ran for president in 2004, but no one went after her. Why? Because she¹s a woman? No. Because she was so low in the polls it served no purpose. The frontrunner always has a bullseye on their back.

It is insulting for Ferraro and other Clinton supporters to decry the fact that she is being pressed on her policy decisions. I've always thought it was stupid when folks talked about her pantsuits, her steely demeanor, willingness to mix it up with adversaries, and the notion that she should have been one of those first ladies who just focused on beautification projects.

But now that she is getting some heat, Clinton is coming off as the woman who cries, "don't hit me because I'm a girl."

And shame on Ferraro for injecting race into this. Do you recall Clinton calling Obama "naïve" for saying he would meet with Iran, Venezuela and Cuba with no pre-conditions? Did he respond by saying, "don"t hit me because I'm black?"

All women should be disgusted with this blatant play on gender. What does it say to women that you fight all these years to be seen as an equal, but when the heats comes, you want to fall back on you being a woman?

Look, we all know this is politics. When Clinton went to Wellesley and decried the "all boys club" of presidential politics, she was making a clear gender issue. She tried to clean it up by saying they are attacking her because she's the frontrunner, but that was after the fact.

Sen. Clinton, you want to be president, fine. If you win, you will be the first woman, and that will be wonderful. But tell your surrogates to cut the race crap. None of the men running have shown they are sexist. And none are racist.

You want the job, earn it. Go through the fire like the men. But stop playing the victim. It's unbecoming of a commander-in-chief.

Question of the day: do you think Sen. Hillary Clinton is playing the gender card, and is it fair to criticize her policies?

Denzel rocks the nation with 'American Gangster'

With the infectious sounds of Jay-Z's Heart of the City playing in commercials touting the movie, many of my friends and radio listeners couldn't wait for Denzel Washington's American Gangster to hit the movie theater.

It looks like they weren't alone.

Gangster was the number one movie over the weekend, pulling in $46.3 million. It was the largest opening box office for Washington and Russsell Crowe, both Academy Award winners.

My wife and I attended a screening in downtown Chicago, and it was clear that the movie was going to be hot. First, it was showing on three screens. We attended the 9 p.m. show and folks were already in line for the 11 p.m. screening!

Now, prior to the opening, I read a ton of reviews and stories on the movie, including a piece in New York Magazine that was the basis of the big screen version of the life of Harlem heroin king Frank Lucas. The performances of Washington and Crowe were widely praised, with some even saying both would take home another Oscar.

But I must admit, I wasn't bowled over by Denzel's role. Maybe part of the problem was that it was so understated, and not over the top. He certainly captured the coolness of Lucas, but when reading the Mark Jacobson article from New York Magazine, "The Return of Superfly," the life of Lucas was so riveting, that you wanted to see more of that on the big screen (Then again, the real life daughter of Lucas - no children were shown in the movie - said watching Denzel play her dad was eerie because he was spot-on).

When I caught Training Day during a screening at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Orlando, Fla., it only took the first 10 minutes for me to turn to my wife and say, "He just won the Academy Award."

But maybe that's what the role required. Washington was so out of control and manipulative in Training Day - which is so unlike his other characters - that it took you by surprise.

Next time, I'll just ignore all articles and not read so much on the film, and enjoy the freshness of it.

Question of the Day: Did you catch American Gangster over the weekend? If so, what did you make of Denzel Washington's performance?

'Dog's' private thoughts has him in serious trouble

I listened to the vile conversation between Duane "Dog" Chapman, the bounty hunter who has cultivated a cult following, and his son, regarding the latter's black girlfriend on the National Enquirer website.

It was clear that Chapman had no problem using the N-word, and he wanted his son to ditch his girlfriend for fear that she would overhear him and his family using the N-word and recording them and leaking to the Enquirer.

Apparently the son beat him to the punch.

Chapman didn't waste time issuing an apology and embarking on the Forgive Me tour. First he said he would be meeting with his spiritual adviser, who is an African American. And apparently he reached out to the Rev. Al Sharpton, who wrote him back. TMZ.com has snagged a copy of the letter.

But instead of joining the chorus of folks who believe that his show should get the boot from A&E, I have a different view. I think A&E should discipline Dog, but not end his show, Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Why? Because what we were privy too were personal thoughts on a private call on a family matter between Dog and his son.

I can't wait for the emails to come tumbling in, but Chapman wasn't operating within the capacity of his job. Furthermore, it doesn't shock me that there are white Americans who privately use the N-word.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy that he would order his son to end the relationship. But let's stop trippin. There are lots of white folks who rip black folks in private. And there are lots of black folks who rip white folks in private. There are lots of women who dog men in private. And there are lots of men who do the same to women.

What this episode shows us is that the personal hatred that exists within so many people must be dealt with and confronted.

Duane "Dog" Chapman is having to walk the plank because his son was angry with demanding that he lose his black girlfriend. You know black family members who have told their children to lose the white girl or else.

Duane, go get some help. You'll need it to repair your career. But first, go apologize to your son. The love he shares with his girlfriend is more important than what you think. And you owe him that if you're a real man.

Question of the day: Should Duane "Dog" Chapman lose his successful TV show because of his racist rant? Or do you consider it a private matter?

CBS' Public Eye not happy with CNN's noose special coverage

I read with interest Matthew Felling’s public rebuke of CNN over the focus on nooses in America. Clearly he was bothered that we chose to provide several discussions on the topic, which is tied to our special tonight.


What really got me going was this line: “But in keeping tabs on the other cable networks, I didn’t see any coverage of the Noose Crisis in America. (And a search on TVEyes showed no mention of the word “noose” on Fox News or MSNBC today or yesterday.)”


Of course, he did have the decency to note our “prerogative and news judgment.” But that was a backhanded way of doing it.


As a CNN Contributor, I’m glad we don’t play follow-the-pack and choose to run stories that others run with. There have been a number of issues recently dealing with nooses, and some have found the negative reaction by African Americans and others to be no big deal. This generation really has no understanding of the nation’s history with lynching and the terror it struck all across the country, especially the South.


Now, Felling seems to be insulted that there would be several segments tied to the special that were on different shows. Is he somehow shocked by that? It is a common practice to do that. If there are major news events, news organizations will typically have coverage leading up to that. Does he actually want us to believe that there has never been a story on The Evening News that is a pre-cursor to a report on 60 Minutes? If ABC has a special on that night, and we see segments tied to it on on Good Morning America and World News Tonight, is that somehow out of bounds? No.


What Felling should have done is just come out and say, “Hey, I don’t see the big deal with the noose incidents, no one else finds this to be newsworthy, and CNN is paying too much attention to it.”


That’s really what this is about.


Well, Matthew, that was the feeling of a lot of news organizations regarding the Jena 6 story before it became a national one. It was guys like me with a local radio show in Chicago who was on top of it five months before it went national. And when black national radio hosts blew it up, it got even bigger.


I can recall in 1995 many local papers blowing off local meetings held by Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan for black men only that were attracting upwards of 10,000 people, and saying it was no news at all. And then when 1 million showed up in the nation’s capital for the Million Man March, dumbfounded editors across the nation asked, “How did we blow this one?”


When Congressman Harold Washington upset incumbent Jane Byrne and Cook County States Attorney Richard Daley for the Democratic mayoral nomination in 1983, a group of journalists on TV – all white – looked at each other and said, “How did we miss this?” Then they looked around the table and said maybe because of the makeup of those around the table. But black journalists like Monroe Anderson were trying to let their editors know of the importance of the story, but no one was listening.


The noose special is not an issue of black and white. What it boils down to is what news decisions are made and how to focus those resources. I often look at other networks, magazines and newspapers and wonder why they chose to make a topic a special report, and would love to hear them expound on the reasons.


Overlooking issues is often done in media because there is a pack mentality. People still live by the notion that if it was in the New York Times and the Washington Post, then that must be the top story. Well, maybe there is a great story in the Miami Herald, or on a blog, or from a local radio station, that is compelling and interesting. It’s our job to stop doing what everyone else does and focus our resources on stories we think are important to the viewers or readers. And if that means providing opportunities on different shows to highlight an issue, and then explore further in a special, so be it.


I’m sure many thought the special CNN did on the Jena 6 story was unnecessary in light of our all-day coverage. Some could have said it made no sense to present an intensive look at the story when we covered it all day. But maybe Felling thought that was fine since all the other media covered the rally, so that provided justification for our wall-to-wall coverage. Or maybe he figure that was nothing but a disguise to help the viewing of our special. Well, it did end up being the most-watched hour on cable news that night.


Here’s to hoping a few more people find the noose special of interest. Matthew, we won’t mind you tuning out to watch CSI. You won't be missed.

Martin on CNN's The Situation Room today

Man, they got a bruh working today!

I'll be joining Wolf Blitzer today on The Situation Room at 7:30 pm EST.

I'll be with Jack Cafferty and another guest.

Martin on Sharpton's radio show today

Hey, folks. Just got a call to do Rev. Al Sharpton's nationally syndicated radio show today to discuss the sagging pants issue.

Since I can't stand baggy pants, you know it will be a hot topic!

I will be on at 3 p.m. EST.

Martin on CNN.com at 11:10 a.m. EST today to discuss National Blackout Day

Hey, folks.

You have time to weigh in on the topic. I have a column posted on CNN.com. Check out it and leave your comment. We just might read it on the air!

Commentary: Stop complaining, start doing something

Obama: I was right not to drop Donnie McClurkin

I just finished talking to Sen. Barack Obama on my Chicago radio show and he reiterated that he was absolutely right in not dropping gospel singer Donnie McClurkin from a gospel tour in South Carolina, despite protestations from gay supporters.

Time for me to go back on the air, but I'll share more details of the conversation, including him targeting Sen. Hillary Clinton over her changing positions on a variety of issues.

Listen to my interview on this topic, the fear of black voters voting for Obama, and his stepped up attacks on Sen. Hillary Clinton with Sen. Obama on WVON-AM/Chicago's "The Roland S. Martin Show"

NAACP disavows hate crimes march for Megan Williams

The details of the kidnapping, rape and torture of Megan Williams have been recounted on this blog, and it's pathetic to even think of how she was abused and nearly killed.

On Saturday, supporters of Williams will lead a national march in Charleston, West Virginia, against hate crimes to raise awareness about her case, but to also call on state and federal officials to file hate crimes charges against the six whites accused in her case.

The effort is being led by the Black Lawyers for Justice, co-founded by Malik Zulu Shabazz, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney.

In an interview this morning on my radio show on WVON-AM in Chicago, Shabazz said that he decided to get involved because it was clear that others were not stepping up to the plate to assist Megan and her mother.

Shabazz said that upon her release from the hospital, prosecutors slapped her with a charge for allegedly writing a $32 hot check to Domino's Pizza. He said they were successful in getting that dropped, calling it heinous that she would be treated like that after the ordeal she endured.

But Shabazz was equally critical of the NAACP and a group of local ministers in Charleston, West Virginia, who disavowed the march and said they wouldn't participate.

According to an Associated Press story, "The Rev. Audie Murphy, NAACP branch president for Logan and Boone counties, said his group will continue supporting Williams, 'but not within this march.'

"'The NAACP is not against hate crimes being charged; we're just saying we respect the decision of the prosecutor to later on have the freedom to do so. We do believe that some of what the perpetrators (had) against Megan, it was hate crime, but we want them to be prosecuted under the laws.'"

In addition, the AP says, "Last week, the Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance - including some who had supported the idea of a march in the past - said they wouldn't participate and would urge their congregations not to join. The ministers said they would consider planning a separate rally on behalf of Williams."

Apparently the history of Shabazz has rankled some. A graduate of Howard University, he is a leader of the New Black Panther Party, and was the understudy to Khallid Muhammad when he led the group. Muhammad was the former national spokesman for the Nation of Islam who garnered headlines with his denunciations of the pope at a speech in New Jersey.

Shabazz made it clear that others are supporting the march, including the Rev. Al Sharpton; Charles Steele, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and NOI Minister Louis Farrakhan.

He also said other ministers in the city have opened their doors to him and will encourage their congregations to endorse the march so that the story of Megan Williams remains on the minds of the nation.

Question of the Day: Do you endorse a national hate crimes march in support of Megan Williams?