Is Michael Eric Dyson being critical Obama, loving him, hating him, or holding him accountable? Dyson has joined a chorus of individuals in the black community asking for the President to show some love to his community. Dyson’s words have rocked the Internet. Click the image to watch his interview!
Click the image below to hear what Dr. Boyce Watkins has to say about the new credit card legislation signed by President Barack Obama:
“During this 3 year period (my time as a Masters student at The University of Kentucky), my political consciousness was forced to awaken itself. I eventually understood what scholars mean when they refer to “The society that created Malcolm X.” It was the racism of Kentucky and the Republican Revolution that created Dr. Boyce Watkins.
I began to write in the campus newspaper, simply telling the truth from the bottom of my heart. I wasn’t sure if anyone would pay attention, but everyone did. My articles, which came out every Monday, were a hit with the students. The majority of the White students hated my guts, and most of the Black students thought I was a hero. But I was just being me, as I began to use writing as a form of therapy to help me deal with the confusing world of racial inequality.
It was also during this time that I learned the benefits and short-comings of being “famous.” When you are in the public eye (even if the eye is tiny), your allies are as much a liability as your enemies, as people start to love you because you present a message that is consistent with their agenda. Your enemies learn to hate you based on false perceptions they have of you as a human being. We see everything in Black and White, but as a professor, I learned that most of our world is full of shades of gray if you are intelligent enough to see the various colors. That’s life, and I learned to deal with it. I learned to deal with the lies, the rumors, the haters, the friends, the girls, the hype and everything else.
I eventually learned that the best way to stay true to myself and to keep an honest voice is to spend as much time alone as possible. So, to this day, while there is certainly far more action in major cities than there is in my house, I spend a lot of time with Boyce. It is only by spending time alone that you can truly determine your purpose in this world and why God put you here. After episodes of continued reflection, I eventually realized that the reason I went through my experience as a campus writer is because I was being prepared for a bigger platform. There was even a part of me that knew the platform was coming: I bragged in my last column that in exactly seven years I would still be discussing important issues of the day, except I would be doing it on the national scene. It was precisely seven years later that I did my first national television interview on “Hannity & Colmes”, a show on Fox News and one I refuse to be part of again.
After my life-transforming experience as a graduate student, I learned a lot about money. However, the experience taught me a great deal more about life. In addition to learning about money, I learned far more about being a Black man in America. I knew, for the first time, that my PhD was not my own. It was a weapon and tool meant to be used for the advancement of those who put me here. I was not going to allow myself to be swept away by the selfishness bred in a capitalist society. Of course I wanted to make money, but even money is nothing more than a tool that should be used to achieve a more significant purpose. I learned from Martin Luther King that a man must be willing to give to something greater than himself and that a Black man must be willing to continue the struggle began by his ancestors. Sitting in my office mentoring 2 or 3 students each year, in my opinion, wasn’t a sufficient contribution. I wanted to reach as many people as possible. “
This was an excerpt from the forthcoming book, “Black American Money”, to be released July 15, 2009.
“Some argue that as long as institutional decision-makers are not racist or discriminatory, things will work themselves out. The effects of 400 years of discrimination will just “wash away”, like dirty trash on a beach front. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Saying that institutionalized racism will just “work itself out” is like saying that if you remove your foot from the gas of a moving car, the car will start moving backward. That’s not the way things work. America has a broad social, economic and educational infrastructure which was developed to support and sustain the dominance of White males over everyone else. Americans who support such systems do not have to inject additional racism into the system, for the system has been getting injections for the past 400 years. All they have to do to maintain the racial disparity caused by the system is to do what they do today: support the system, defend the system, believe in the system and fight for the system. That keeps racism alive.”
This is an excerpt from the forthcoming book “Black American Money: How Black People can Thrive in Capitalist America”, set to be released July 15, 2009
The death of Exodus Tyson, daughter of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, brings immediate tears to the eyes. As a single father of three daughters, my heart becomes heavy at the thought of losing any of my precious little girls. I also fear what might happen if I were to suddenly pass on myself. While the pain of death is severe and complicated, there is always a lesson to be learned from the experiences of others.
In this case, there is the serious and gut-wrenching task of planning for the possibility that you may have to bury your child. In the black community, such issues are compounded by the alarming death rates of black teens in the inner city, higher infant mortality rates and reduced access to health care for African Americans. In light of our unique experiences and circumstances, we must be careful and intelligent in our financial planning.
How do you plan for your child's death? Is life insurance even necessary? Let's break it down and figure it out together.
In today’s news, 100.3 “The Beat” in Philly asks whether or not a comedian was insulting Michelle Obama by making jokes about her height and the way she looks. Click the image to listen!
John Calipari coaches at my alma mater, The University of Kentucky. It’s very telling that this so-called “educational institution” would hire a guy like Calipari to coach its players. Calipari is not about education. He is only about basketball. Hopefully, Kentucky will learn a lesson from hiring an alleged cheater to interact with their student athletes.
Click the image to read the story.
The frantic search for Bonnie Sweeten and her 9-year-old daughter - which began after she called 911 Tuesday to report that they had been kidnapped in Bucks County - ended yesterday at Walt Disney World.
Sweeten, 38, and daughter Julia Rakoczy were taken into custody at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa about 8:40 p.m., the FBI said. Sweeten was being held by authorities in Orange County, Fla., and her daughter was safe.
Sweeten will be extradited to Bucks County, where she faces charges of making a false report and identity theft, both misdemeanors. The investigation is continuing into possible theft charges, said Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry.
Julia Rakoczy's biological father, Anthony Rakoczy, of Feasterville, will go to Florida today to pick her up, Henry said.
Over the last week, Sweeten withdrew $12,000 from several bank accounts and used a coworker's driver's license to travel, Henry said.
The stock market talks with money: it tells you what it thinks about corporate decisions by how the stock price moves. If the price goes up, the market likes you. If it goes down, investors are angry. The market likes Ursula Burns. Ursula's appointment as CEO of the Xerox Corporation led to a 2.2% one day increase in the company's stock price and applause from Xerox shareholders around the world. In addition to inspiring the market, Burns has energized an army of black women and men by becoming the first black female to ever take the reigns of a Fortune 500 company.
With the recent announcement that Burns will take over Xerox on July 1, the company has surpassed a milestone for black women that is long overdue. Even without regard to all the Xerox copies that will be made during her time as CEO, Burns will surely be creating copy cats of her own within the black communty. Young women everywhere are inspired by Burns' achievements, and she is now a part of history. But what does the promotion of Burns say about the state of black women in corporate America? Have we hit the finish line?
"This occassion is unequivocally, a cause for celebration," says Dr. Kendra Harris, Assistant Professor of Marketing at North Carolina Central University. "That said, this kind of 'first' nearly a decade into the 21st century is a sad testimony to systemic lack of awareness of the talent among the ranks of minority women."
Continue reading Dr Boyce Money: First Black Female to Run Fortune 500 Company
Q: What do you stand for?
A: I stand for fairness and doing what is right. I am not a Finance Professor who happens to be black, I am a black man who happens to be a Finance Professor. There is a great deal of inequality in America that runs along racial lines. This is due to the fact that our country has built a 400 year social, financial and educational infrastructure that promotes the advancement of one group over the other. It is my job as a public scholar to challenge this imbalance and work to find solutions to these problems. My primary tools of choice are education and economic empowerment. I work hard to teach youth, especially African Americans, the value of being highly educated and the additional value that comes from becoming Financially independent and empowered. Those were the choices that changed my life and gave me the freedom and strength to express myself honestly, creatively and (some think) intelligently.
I also want to challenge the NCAA to rethink the way it treats college athletes. As a Finance Professor, I am not sure how we can justify earning millions for our coaches and administrators, while allowing the sources of labor (the athletes) and their families to live in poverty. This is wrong and unAmerican, for capitalism should give us the rights to freely negotiate our wages. When we engaged in our campaign on CNN, ESPN and CBS to challenge the actions of the NCAA, people thought I was trying to attack them. The truth is that I don't enjoy attacking anyone, I only want to fight for fairness. One thing that my students have always said about me (whether they love me or hate me) is that I am fair. I call it for what it is.
Q: Your work can be controversial, why do you do it?
A: I ask myself that question every single day! Personally, I believe that the role of the black scholar in America is to work hard to uplift our communities. Our intellect is needed, and in addition to engaging in scholarly research that lies in dusty academic journals, we should become active in our communities and throughout the world. I believe strongly in the concept of Scholarship in Action. The thing about Scholarship in Action is that it requires the combination of intellect, creativity, curiosity, commitment, passion and courage that stands at the root of all true genius. I do not consider myself a genius, but I wake up every day thinking "I am one day closer to my last day on this earth. How can I get the best return on my investment?" That is what keeps me going.
Some days are tougher than others, like when people confuse black love with white hatred. I learned from the lives of Martin Luther King and others that people will always confuse the two. For the past 20 years, most of my students and classmates have been white and I spent much of my childhood in a white neighborhood. So, to be honest, I know as much or more about white culture than I do about black culture. So, like Barack Obama, my mixed background helped me realize one thing: We are all human and we all make mistakes. The problem is that in America, the mistakes of black males are interpreted differently than the mistakes made by others. My work has, in part, been meant to point out this contradiction.
With Ursula Burns being recently appointed as the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company, the Black community had a lot to say. Most importantly, Black women and men in academia, law, and the professional world shine light on various points of view that should be considered as the nation celebrates the achievements of Burns and the Xerox Corporation.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux – President of Bennett College for Women:
“Glass ceilings are shattering and sisters are celebrating this amazing milestone. After the dust clears, let’s focus both on the glass ceiling and the sticky floor that suppresses the wages and salaries of most working women.”
Dr. Mary Stoddard, Attorney at Law – Stoddard, Parks & Associates, PLLC:
“Having the first black female CEO of a Fortune 500 company is greatly past due. The value of a segment of the population that has been the fundamental cornerstone to the growth and development of this country is long due our nation. Because one black female has been bestowed the job, that does not remove the many who are qualified and denied the opportunity because they are a black woman.”
by Dr Boyce Watkins
About a week ago, I received a call from a radio show host who was practically screaming through the phone. I wasn't sure if she was in labor with her first child, running from a mass murderer, or had just seen Denzel Washington in her bathroom shower. I figured that whatever she was screaming about, it had to be important.
When the radio show host informed me of the source of her discomfort, I was ready to scream myself. The black unemployment numbers, while typically absurd, had reached (in TSA language) threat level orange. During the month of April, while white unemployment nation-wide rose by only .1% (to 8.0%), black unemployment rose by a shocking 1.7% (to 15%). This means that black unemployment grew by 17 times more than white unemployment and is nearly double the rate of white America. Yes, it's time to be alarmed.
Unemployment has dropped in 21 states. The US is starting to see scant signs of an economic recovery (I'll admit that my stock portfolio is no longer on life support). The stock market has risen dramatically over the past 2 months and could be even more bullish after this week. Yet, black America is getting hammered relentlessly by the economic downturn. Not trying to bother you President Barack Obama (I know you're kind of busy with that whole North Korea thing), but do you have anything to say about this?
Continue reading Dr Boyce Money: Barack Obama and Alarming Black Unemployment
by Kim Lampkins
When it comes to President Obama 'cutting' funds to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) ... Oh NO, he DIDN'T!
www.thescsucollegian.com
Contrary to the internet chatter stating otherwise, the Obama administration education budget DOES NOT cut funds to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 
North Carolina A&T
An AP headline and story sparked outrage last week with accusations that President Obama had "turned his back on black college students." The writer says Obama 'cut' budgets, when in fact the Obama administration increases funds to HBCU's.
FSU.COM
The blogosphere has been absolutely rabid with criticism of President Obama's proposed education budget, and what's been described as a "cut" in funds to over a 100 of the nation's federally recognized HBCU'S--Historically Black Colleges and Universities. At issue, a temporary 2-year grant created by Congress in 2007 to supplement the already existing Title III provisions. On the issue, the shouts of "hold the President accountable" are ricocheting throughout cyberspace! On this issue,my voice is not part of the chorus.
Background:
** Title III: The program helps eligible institutions of higher learning to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.
**In 2007 Congress passed sweeping legislation to make college more affordable for students across the nation, via the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. (CCRAA) As part of this landmark piece of legislation 170-million dollars (85-million each for fiscal years 2008 and 2009) was targeted for 105 HBCU's via Title III. The funds were part of an overall 510-million dollars included in an over 18-BILLION dollar piece of legislation. Hispanic, Native American and other minorities institutions also benefited from this 510-million dollar provision to help offset years of underfunding.
Fast forward:
When the Obama Administration's Fiscal Year 2010 budget was released last week, many were dismayed that this 2-year supplemental grant--85-million dollars each year--was not extended beyond its expiration date. Many, in my viewmischaracterized this as a budget 'cut'. It was, in my view, mischaracterized as a sign of President Obama's indifference to Black college students and HBCU's. I didn't buy it!
In an effort to find out how HBCU officials were interpreting the news, I spoke with a Title III Administrator at an HBCU in the northeastern U.S. This official acknowledged that he, "never expected to receive the extra funds past the 2009 expiration date." He said, "It was understood that they were temporary grants for 2008 and 2009."
He was however, concerned that the budgetproposal submitted by President Bush in June of 2008 did NOT include the extra funds, but had actually cut traditional discretionary funding by 85-million dollars, while using the temporary Congressionally mandated grant funds to make up the difference. He was concerned about how that proposed cut would pan out beyond 2009.
Our conversation took place Tuesday (5/19) before he saw the actual numbers in the Obama administration education budget; however he learned the answers today (Thursday 5/21) after receiving and reviewing the budget.
Via email this HBCU official writes: "I just reviewed a copy of President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Education. In that request, President Obama is recommending $296,595,000 for the HBCU and HBGI (Historically Black Graduate Institutions) programs and an additional $85,000,000 for the CCRAA in fiscal year 2009 that begins on October 1, 2009.
As I indicated previously, it was understood that the CCRAA grant is a two year grant, the first award received in Fiscal Year 2008.
President Obama’s budget for FY 2010 shows increases in the appropriations for HBCU ($250,000,000) and HBGI ($61,425,000); together, this request represents a $20,830,000 increase in the appropriation over the preceding year.
How can this be interpreted as not supporting Black Colleges? Someone is sorely misinformed about the President’s support. What President Obama has initiated, so far, indicates more than ever that he supports Black Colleges."
End of email
Still, there is a move a afoot on Capitol Hill by UNCF officials and others to have the temporary grant made permanent. Requests have been made to House and Senate Approriations Committees for a line item increase in the budget. UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax states, "I'm confident that if the request is made, President Obama will not reject it."
I close with this: I understand the calls to hold the President accountable, we should absolutely hold all of our elected officials accountable. But WHO was holding then President Bush accountable when HE proposed to decrease the HBCU's budget and make up the difference with funds from the Congressionally mandated College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)? That budget proposal basically amounted to a proposed misuse of funds. IMHO 
www.howard.edu
Even in the current job market, getting a pink slip doesn't always lead to long-term unemployment - especially if you're willing to do the extra legwork it takes to get hired these days.
When David Hudson was laid off from his computer programming job, he sharpened his skills, did his due diligence and took full advantage of the resources available to him.
Hudson, 40, was lucky enough to get a heads up before his employer gave him the ax. He was notified in early February that his firm would have to make cuts and his last day would be March 6. He made sure to use the time wisely.
"I put myself in the place of the employer," he explained. "What would the employer be looking for, what would catch their eye?"
U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law on Friday sweeping reforms that restrict credit card interest rates and fees, marking a victory for Democrats trying to help recession-weary consumers and a setback for banks seeking to retain sorely-needed revenues.
The law is expected to hurt profits of major card issuers such asCitigroup Inc, Bank of America Corp, JPMorgan Chase & Co andCapital One Financial Corp. Banks say the changes may cut the flow of credit to consumers because it will make it more difficult for issuers to set rates based on the risk their customers pose.
"With this bill we are putting in place some common sense reforms designed to protect consumers," Obama said at a signing ceremony at the White House.
"We're not going to be giving people a free pass and we expect consumers to live within their means and pay what they owe. But we also expect financial institutions to act with the same sense of responsibility that the American people aspire to in their own lives," he said.
Dr Boyce Watkins
While we might want to get on Morehouse College for the recent shooting incident, one has to clearly understand that Morehouse is not the only university with its share of dirt on campus. Harvard University is now in the middle of it’s own violent incident, in which a student was shot and killed in a Harvard dorm. The victim, who is not a Harvard University student, sold drugs to Harvard University students.
According to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone: "The common denominator between the Harvard students, the suspect and man who is dead, the common denominator was drugs and money."
This incident is a reminder that, no matter what campus you’re on, student behavior can be out of control. The culture of drugs, alcohol and other ridiculous behavior should not be considered a fundamental part of the college experience. The book “Smashed” chronicles the life of a former Syracuse University student, as she spent 4 years drinking herself into poor health. There is also the Duke University rape scandal from 3 years ago, in which everyone wondered if a woman was raped, but no one wondered why there were 19 year olds having drunken stripper parties.
I try to explain to students in my book, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College”, that college should be a lot of fun. But students should be encouraged to be responsible, and not let off the hook for every stupid thing they do. I have friends in law enforcement who express frustration that students arrested for drunk driving are protected by their parents and not held accountable for their actions. I also find myself irritated by the rapper Asher Roth, who wrote a song “I Love College”, in which he describes college as a place for drinking, partying and irresponsible sex. The rapper Roth describes his perspective clearly with the lyrics, “Drink my beer and smoke my weed….Pass out at 3, wake up at 10, go out to eat and do it again.” Don’t get me wrong: sex can be great, and so can other forms of leisure activity (I’m not here to judge or put myself on a pedestal). But we are doing our young people no favors by presuming that excessive sexual promiscuity, experimenting with drugs and binge drinking are good things. THEY-ARE-NOT.
Sorry dawg, I’m not with that. College is a great place to get an education, but it is also a great place to catch a venereal disease, become an alcoholic, get raped, get arrested, die from a drug overdose or die of alcohol poisoning. Sorry to put it that way, but that’s as real as I can get.
If you are sending your child to college, make this clear: College is a great place to have fun, but responsibility is a requirement. Hold your children accountable, and we must also hold any university accountable for accepting irresponsible behavior as simply a “part of college life”.
Consider me radical for saying this, but college is a place to be educated. Everything else should be secondary. Don’t let your kids fall victim to the ignorance.
Houston Baker was at the first one-day Celebration of Black Writing party 25 years ago, when he was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Today, Baker, 66, is a distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University, whose latest book, "Betrayal: How Black Intellectuals Have Abandoned the Ideals of the Civil Rights Era" advances his reputation as a no-holds-barred cultural critic.
In his book, Baker contends that many of the black public intellectuals who appear on network and cable television talk shows have essentially turned their backs on poor African-Americans.
"They are saying if people are in a bad place - if they are impoverished and disproportionately imprisoned and racially-profiled and killed in drive-by shootings - it's a result of bad behavior," Baker said in a telephone interview last week.
"It has nothing to do with municipal or state or federal laws and policies such as those that put some drug users in rehab and others in prison."
Among the black intellectuals that Baker is most sharply critical of are well-known conservative writers and thinkers such as Hoover Institute senior fellow Shelby Steele, Manhattan Institute fellow John McWhorter and comedian Bill Cosby, who has criticized poor black parents, Baker said, "for the way they talk and dress when they probably don't have two quarters to put together."
Dr. Billy Hawkins, University of Georgia
A typical error Black academics make is to believe that the academy is open and accepting of new ideas and insights. They initially welcome us with open arms, but we soon find out that the shelf life of this welcome is brief and that their minds were never really open and accepting. I have come to think of it in terms of the structural deficiencies and inability of these institutions to sincerely assimilate fresh new perspectives and energies into their paradigms. Therefore, in the context of the phrase “new wine in old wineskins” the evolutionary Messiah, Jesus Christ, informs of the perils of progressive thinking within an archaic system.
Dr. Boyce Watkins lack of tenure at the University of Syracuse speaks to this issue and to the broader issue of how Predominantly White Institutions are more conservative and myopic in their agendas, curricula, and missions than they are progressive and bastions of forward-thinkers. The tenure process has always worked as a mechanism to temper and corral the radical embers that spark change from the status quo and challenge previous preconceived notions. Inherent in the tenure and promotion process are prescriptions for appropriate behavior and academic inquiry. Speaking truth to power is not one of the prescriptions rewarded in this process, especially if you are a Black professor.
From the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Today there are more than 33,000 African Americans teaching full-time at colleges and universities in the United States. But the progress into faculty ranks is so slow that, at the current rate, it will take about a century and a half for the percentage of African-American faculty to reach parity with the percentage of blacks in the nation’s population.
Over the years this journal has given major attention to institutional efforts that bring more black students to their campuses. But of equal importance to the progress of blacks in higher education is the presence of black faculty.
Black faculty members are important role models and mentors to black students. A critical mass of black faculty members on campus tends to have a major positive impact on efforts to recruit black students to a college campus. Not to be overlooked, too, is the fact that black faculty often offer students a different perspective on racial and social issues which can enrich the education process.
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, in 2003 there were 33,137 African Americans serving in full-time faculty positions at colleges and universities in the United States. They made up 5.3 percent of all full-time faculty in American higher education. Thus, while blacks are 12 percent of the total enrollments in higher education, the black presence in faculty ranks is less than half the black student enrollment figure.
In considering these statistics it is important to note that approximately 60 percent of all full-time faculty at the nation’s historically black colleges and universities are black. The thousands of black faculty members at these institutions mean that the African-American percentage of the total faculty at the nation’s predominantly white institutions is significantly less than the 5.3 percent total for full-time faculty nationwide.
The U.S. Department of Education data also shows that while blacks are increasing their numbers in holdings of faculty posts, the progress has been slow. A quarter-century ago in 1981, blacks were 4.2 percent of all full-time faculty in American higher education. Today, as stated earlier, the figure is 5.3 percent.
If we were to project into the future the progress blacks have made into full-time faculty positions over the past quarter-century, we find that it would take about 140 years before the percentage of black full-time faculty equaled the current percentage of the black population in the United States.
Black Faculty Are Scarce in Full Professor Positions
Dr Boyce and Joseph C. Phillips (former cast member of the Cosby Show) debate the merits of Bill Cosby’s arguments. Click the image to listen!
WPHI Radio in Philadelphia (100.3 “The Beat”), one of the leading urban radio stations in Philadelphia, now has “Charlamagne Tha God” as their morning host. Charlamagne has teamed up with Syracuse Professor Dr. Boyce Watkins to bring commentary every Thursday at 8:48 am. Dr Boyce and Charlamagne will discuss issues of the week, money, hip hop, and general Black social commentary. Charlamagne was once the co-host of “The Wendy Williams Experience”, which had 11 million listeners nation-wide. Dr. Boyce Watkins is one of the most highly sought after Black intellectuals in the world, making regular appearances on CNN, BET, CBS and more. He is also the resident scholar for AOL Black Voices the most popular Black News website in America, with 114,000 readers per day. For more information, please visit www.BoyceWatkins.com.
Hip-hop "mogul" Irv Gotti has gotten tremendous criticism for mistreating his estranged wife, Deb. Let's be real, Irv is mean and appears to be highly inconsiderate. He cheats on Deb openly, disrespects her and doesn't seem to care if she stays or goes.
"Irv Gotti treats his wife worse than an abandoned dog in a pound," says black celebrity gossip columnist, Lady Drama. "Any man who treats his wife like that should walk through hell with gasoline soaked pants."
But while Irv does his thing and does it wherever and with whomever he likes, his wife may not necessarily be an innocent victim. She has the opportunity to leave him and be with another man. She can draw boundaries on the relationship and not deal with his behavior. But she does not. Why is that?
In this episode of Financial Lovemaking with Dr. Boyce, we talk about Gotti and what he and his wife can do to make things right. We also answer some critical and important questions.
Continue reading Financial Lovemaking with Dr. Boyce: Is Irv Gotti's Way the Right Way?
After seeing this report, all I could say was “Wow”. This man, George Zinkhan, was apparently a highly regarded Marketing Professor. Zinkhan’s body was found after a nation-wide manhunt when he killed his wife and two other men. Don’t read between the lines and assume I am sending a message with this post. I just thought this was interesting, in light of the fact that he is a business school professor like myself. Of course, I’d never consider doing anything like this…..so don’t worry! I just pray for this man’s family and am sorry for whatever sadness he had in his soul. This is truly tragic.
“In an e-mail obtained by CNN, (Barbara) Carroll had warned her colleagues at the university’s Terry College of Business that Zinkhan, a marketing professor, was “dangerous.” The e-mail was sent after the shootings but before Zinkhan’s body was found.
Carroll could not be reached Tuesday, but in her e-mail she said that law enforcement officials surrounded her house early on the morning of May 1 after authorities found MapQuest directions to her house, printed on April 24, in Zinkhan’s Jeep. She said she was advised to go into hiding.
“I do not believe Zinkhan had a map to my house for any reason other than he planned to kill me as well on April 25,” Carroll wrote. “This also suggests premeditation for the three murders he did commit. By the grace of God, I was at the movies all Saturday afternoon after being at school in my office (like a sitting duck) all that morning.”
Dr Boyce Watkins doesn’t like the way credit card companies exploit college students. He argues that credit card companies should be regulated and that there should be greater controls over how much access these companies have to students. He also feels that Russell Simmons has a great idea with the Rush Card, but that the fees should be reduced to avoid the perception of predatory banking.
In this interview, Dr Boyce Watkins and NPR host Michel Martin discuss The Rush Card, college students and credit cards. Click the image to watch!
Posted May 20th 2009 5:07PM by Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD
Filed under: Money Talks
God bless Michael Vick. The man finally gets to go home, after spending 21 months in prison for the whole dogfighting situation. I was sickened by what happened to Vick for many reasons, starting with the fact that I think Michael was incredibly stupid for doing what he did. There, I said it.
Now that we all agree that killing dogs is a bad thing, let's get to the real deal. First, there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who go out and kill animals every year. So, the idea that this man was a monster for what he did is a bit overboard. Yes, killing Fluffy or Fido is certainly tougher to stomach than shooting Bambi in the woods, but the truth is that most of us are hypocritical for portraying Vick as a monster. Secondly, the idea that this man should lose his entire career because of a silly mistake he made at the age of 27 is ridiculous. So, I want to give a shout-out to my respected homeboy Roland Martin for supporting Michael Vick's right to make a living.
I wanted to chime in on the financial side of the Vick case and share 5 things that I personally learned from the Michael Vick situation. I busted my butt trying to defend Michael Vick on CNN, so I figured that I may as well take this full circle by ensuring that we all learn from his silly behavior. Our most valuable lessons usually come from our most costly mistakes, so with all that he has learned, Michael Vick should be a professor by now.
1) You never have an endless supply of money, even when you think you do. Do you remember when you got your first job and would get that $150 dollar check? Didn't it make you feel powerful, as if the money would last forever?
Continue reading Your Money with Dr. Boyce: Michael Vick's Lessons on Money
Roland Martin says Michael Vick has served his sentence and should be allowed back on the field.
(CNN) -- When Michael Vick completes home confinement in July, he will have served the 23-month prison sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges.
After his release from a Kansas prison Wednesday, he headed to his home in Virginia to serve the final two months under home confinement, because all the beds at halfway houses in the area are taken.
But that hasn't deterred the Vick haters who are still in an uproar over the heinous details of his dogfighting kennel. Yes, reading the details of the treatment of the dogs, including the killing of some of them, could make anyone sick. Yet what's the point of sentencing someone to jail, then having them serve their time and be released if we still want to imprison them for the rest of their lives?
Frankly, I'm sick of Americans who talk all day about "do the crime, then do the time," then still want to treat a man like a criminal when he gets out of prison.
This doesn't just apply to Michael Vick. Look at all the individuals who are sent to prison, get out and then can't find a job. Why? Because they have the Scarlet Letter on their record, which is a big fat "F" for felon. Don't think I'm looking for any sympathy for someone who goes to jail. I firmly believe that you deserve all that you get for breaking the law. But listening to some of these zealots go on and on and on about Vick needing to continue to be punished is ridiculous!
One of the toughest parts of my experience at Syracuse University was that of being a young Black man in a university with almost no significant Black male power presence. The small number of older Black males I met were so trained to protect the interests and norms of the institution that they seemed to position themselves more as overseers than supporters. Academia is a strange place and very difficult to navigate without mentorship and advocacy. Those things make all the difference, since a mentor can explain how the system works, and an advocate fights for you behind closed doors. The other thing mentors and advocates can do is “hook you up”, by allowing you easy access to things that are tough for everyone else to get: Publications in particular journals, promotions, etc.
When I came to Syracuse University, our Business school did not have one single Black professor in the entire college. Three of us were hired at the same time as part of a modern day “3/5 Clause”: Central campus had agreed to pay part of our salary if they brought in minority faculty members, so our college was quite willing to take Black professors at a discount price. I am not sure if they would have been willing to pay full price, since there were no Black professors in the college when I arrived.
So, there I was: A progressive Black scholar in a world in which there were no powerful people of color around me. No one who understood me. No one who could look at me and say “When I see you, I see myself 20 years ago.” I was only surrounded by colleagues who seemed willing to accept me in spite of who I was, rather than because of it. I wanted to do publicly engaged work that reconnected to my community and there was no one within a 100 mile radius who seemed to be able to appreciate my academic passion. I knew that if I were to play the game like everyone else, my experience would likely lead to the same disappointing outcome as nearly every other Black faculty member in the history of the college.
So, I reached outside the college to find my source of support. I have found that the Black community has been a huge supporter of my work, and they have appreciated it. Most significantly, I’ve had supportive messages from Jesse Jackson, Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson, Julianne Malveaux and others. Cornel stays busy, so he tends to send short messages, like this one: “Stay strong. You continue to be a force for good!”, which he sent in response to hearing about my tenure decision. Julianne and I talked for about 30 minutes last night. While I cannot reveal the nature of the conversation, I can say that she was extremely supportive, like the big sister I never had. She put everything into context and helped me to more clearly understand my experience here at Syracuse. She also confirmed and validated many reservations I’ve had about Black scholarship in America and how many of us have been frightened and socially conditioned to be so petrified of not getting tenure that we end up throwing our potential away in the process. I plan to unleash plans later in the year that will hopefully change some of that. Being a fellow business person, Julianne and I had a good time “talking turkey” regarding ways we can help create “safe spaces” where Black Academics can be free to engage the Black community without fear of persecution. Sort of like academic pilgrims of the 21st century. Our communities need us, yet we have chosen to abandon our people in search of fools gold and a false sense of validation, prestige and security. This has GOT to change.
So, I want to thank my mentors for providing something that I’d been used to going without. My own father abandoned me when I was a baby, so I know that we always have a choice to neglect those who come behind us. But fortunately, there are a few people out there: Julianne, Cornel and WC Benton at The Ohio State University (who saved me when I stood up to a Stanford professor and explained how his research methodology was incorrect – you aren’t supposed to correct Stanford faculty when you are a PhD student – I think it hurts their egos). These people have come through for me in a big way and prepared me for the next stage in my academic career. I respect you all and love you. I also love the supporters who’ve sent me hundreds of positive emails since the tenure decision was made. I’d be nothing without you.
God Bless,
Boyce
Dr Boyce Watkins
Some have asked to see the video that angered Bill O’Reilly so much. This was the first time he thought he could use his power to somehow harm me (which he did not). Then, there was the second time in which we had tens of thousands of African Americans boycotting his corporate sponsors. If you want to know if I regret coming after O’Reilly….the answer is absolutely not. I also don’t hate him as much as people think I do. I have a complex perspective on Mr. O’Reilly, which I will lay out in the following points:
1) I admit that I respect what O’Reilly has accomplished in media. Although his show is full of silly spin and laughable perspectives (like that of Jesse Lee Peterson, a walking cartoon character who uses broken English to say “All da blacks is wrong”)…..I think that what O’Reilly has built in his media empire is clearly remarkable. I can give credit where credit is due.
2) He is probably not as racist as he appears to be. Once you get pigeon-holed on one side of a debate, you end up being locked into the same side of every argument, even if you know that your arguments are flawed and wrong. That is why I’ve never declared myself to be a Democrat or a Republican and why I am certainly not always a liberal (some liberal ideals don’t make much sense to me). When people tell me that they agree with everything I say, I tell them that they need to go back and find something I said that they can disagree with. My goal is not to “pick a team”….it is to search for truth. When you build a platform like O’Reilly’s based on spreading hate, you end up being forced to keep doing whatever it was that made you famous in the first place. That is why I wasn’t very excited when my publicist told me that we may get invited onto the Oprah Winfrey Show. I truly wondered if I wanted to be trapped by having to always appeal to the Oprah audience, a group that I would eventually be at odds with as a scholar.
3) CNN was jealous of O’Reilly. The man had monster ratings and they couldn’t compete. Fortunately, the election of Obama changed that. Fox News is now as marginalized as they should have been before the election.
4) O’Reilly is bad for journalism, but represents a teaching opportunity. With his underhanded tactics and outrageous spin, O’reilly has single-handedly reduced the credibility of so-called “mainstream media”. But when I’ve watched his show, his style of presentation and use of visual imagery helps me to understand why those with feeble minds are attracted to his content. Even when we become adults, we tend to like “loud and shiny things”, and Fox News is brilliant with their use of colors, “news alerts”, and loud music to get people to keep tuning in. If I were teaching a class in journalism, I would let my students watch a few episodes on Fox to learn how television, media and advertising actually work. You can even learn from your enemies, and I’ve learned a lot from Bill O’Reilly.
5) O’Reilly is a petty, weak and internally insecure human-being. He has a great deal of power, but he is probably compensating for some kind of deep insecurity that lies within his psyche. I am sure he has trouble sleeping at night, as even he can’t possibly believe the BS that he spits onto the screen during each show. It can’t be fun going through life with that many people hating you. In fact, the idea that O’Reilly can endure this sort of hate is part of what makes me respect him.
Yes, Bill O’Reilly is screwed up, but like the rest of us, he has a very mixed existence.
America doesn’t care to remember the birth date of Malcolm X, but many of us do. Malcolm was a respectful and educated child. But the horrors of racism can breed an anger inside a man that is difficult to describe. Continuous dehumanization, having others questioning your capabilities, and living in a world of double standards is enough to make any man burn on the inside. It takes time and maturity to eventually let go of the anger and focus on strength through love. That is what Malcolm represented, as he was one of the most articulate, focused and visionary leaders of the 20th century….in a fair world, he would have been President of the United States.
To this day, many are still ignorant about Malcolm’s actual legacy. But the truth is that he was one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. In fact, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would never have been successful had it not been for the leadership of Malcolm X. Malcolm made the sacrifice, Dr. King’s followers received some of the benefits. We miss you Malcolm and we love you. Thank you for being such a patriot.
A video of one of his speeches is below. Click the image to watch. Enjoy!
In many academic circles, being attacked by Bill O'Reilly might be a badge of honor. A Syracuse University professor, however, charges that he was denied tenure last week in part because of the fallout over his on-air disputes with the Fox television star, who has branded him "a new Ward Churchill."
Boyce Watkins said that the university has responded to attacks on him in ways that are different from how it handles other controversial statements made by professors, creating a stigma around his work because it does not conform to "white liberal" ideas about race.
Watkins has appeared frequently on CNN and various other news shows, offering outspoken commentary that, while earning him the enmity of O'Reilly, has also won him many fans, who say that he voices ideas that tend to be skipped over in national debates. With Watkins vowing to sue the university (and to continue to speak out), this case is likely to set off debates about race, public intellectuals and how universities respond when their faculty members are attacked. And while many parts of the tenure process are off limits, many of the statements at issue are not only public but on YouTube, providing fodder for those seeking to draw their own judgments on Watkins (or O'Reilly).
The dispute with O'Reilly took off in 2007 in the aftermath of controversial remarks he made on a radio show in which he described a trip to Sylvia's, a famous Harlem restaurant. O'Reilly spoke at length about how he "couldn't get over" how the restaurant -- black-owned, and primarily with black customers -- was full of "respectful" people. He talked about how it was just like "going to an Italian restaurant" and how there wasn't "any kind of craziness" or anyone "screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' "
O'Reilly maintains that the comments were part of his effort to show that all people are the same, but his repeated expressions of surprise that one could have a civilized dinner in a black-owned restaurant in a black part of town struck many people as offensive and ignorant. Responding to the dispute, O'Reilly then interviewed Juan Williams on one of his television shows, and Williams expressed support for O'Reilly.
As I state on the video introduction for YourBlackWorld.com, “There is no one way to be black”. This statement implies that even those in our family who don’t agree with my position have a right to express their opinions. Such is the essence of freedom of thought, which requires discipline for us to maintain (even I get tempted to discount opinions that seem misguided, as I am learning and growing myself). At any rate, I want to give a very sincere “thank you” to those who’ve sent emails in support of my tenure situation at Syracuse. Again, I must re-emphasize the following:
1) DO NOT feel sorry for me….I am fine. I’ve never depended on some random university to pay my bills, as we should realize that it is not in the interest of our community’s “national security” to rely on our historical oppressors to provide things that we critically need (the easiest way to control another man is for that man to know that you are the reason his children get to eat every day). I built my business interests because I wanted to be a truly independent Black man and a serious scholar. Academic bureaucracy sometimes gets in the way of true scholarship, the same way that the pettiness of church affairs can get in the way of truly serving God….hence, Jesus is killed in public with many so-called pastors cheering on his murder. I will never be as great as Jesus, but I firmly believe in the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” I truly believe that Jesus would do his best to do what’s right, he would stand up for the weak and he would speak for those who have no voice. That is what I try to do every day of my life.
2) This issue is NOT ABOUT ME. I am not fighting for my own tenure, for I’ve never needed tenure to validate me as a scholar. Rather, this fight is for all of the Black scholars around the nation who are being denied tenure on unfair grounds. It is for our children, who have a right to learn from Black professors without having to take African American studies as a major. It is to break the chains off of our most brilliant Black scholars, who are locked away in their offices writing research papers that no one is ever going to read, all because they’ve been threatened with severe punishment if they choose to use their intellect to solve critical problems in the Black community. I encourage you to do an accountability request from your alma maters and ask them why they seem to only find good Black basketball players, but can’t find any “qualified” Black faculty (using fundamentally flawed measures of the term “qualified”….you’d be amazed at what some others consider to be qualified). Our children deserve to be educated by Black people too (I’ve never had a Black professor in any class I took in 13 years of post-secondary education. It shouldn’t be that difficult).
3) I am not angry with Syracuse University. While I do not agree with their decision, the truth is that many in America are socially conditioned to be frightened by uncompromising and outspoken African American men. I am from the south, so I am used to the disease of racism. So, Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s reaction to me is no different from the reaction that the university had to Jim Brown when he was here many years ago. I knew what I was getting myself into, as my reading about the lives of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Harry Edwards and others allowed me to see, in advance, how White America was going to react to the Dr. Boyce Watkins brand of scholarship. Even when you try to speak in love, simply standing up for Black people in a forthright way leads others to place you as an enemy of the establishment….that’s why Dr. King was murdered. But remember: had it not been for the sacrifices of others, I would not be here. Now it’s time for me to make my sacrifice for our children. I truly believe this is going to be the best year of my entire life, and I am sincerely looking forward to it.
Thank you and God bless you for all of your support. Your comments are below….names have been removed to protect your privacy.
v Dear Dr. Boyce:
Hang in there. Also, why don't you send this (or a similar missive) to Vice President Joseph Biden, a prestigious
interesting to see if he responds. Keep up the good work. Thanks for your voice.
v Sorry to read this. We need to find a way to harness the "leveraging power" of Black collegiate athletes." Also, can "Letters to the Editor" be sent to the student newspaper?
v Brother,
I sit here at work and read and am I saddened – I am not as sure as to what, and how I feel. However, I know that great things are in store for you things that only the divine being can and will provide and that
For me it was a shocker and I did not know the correct procedures and steps to take- in a working environment and no one told me how to deal with this issue at work. So, I was left out in the cold by my own peers………and I will not go on. I know for a fact that prayers work wonders – and wonders never cease. I look at it like this sometimes in life in order to go forward, you have to take a step back, maybe not too far back, maybe you could and was making great waves at Syracuse- Tsunamis even, and people fear what they know not of most.
You are what people fear an educated black man! You may be down but not out, and Syracuse and all the people in powers that be who sit in their ivory towers will see you rise instead of fall, and they will look back and said “ I wish….. If only I knew…. If only I had spoken up……
On
v My frustrations are many.... my understanding on of your situation are clear. Keep praying, keep talking and keep moving....If I can help in any way... please call
v Hi Dr. Boyce,
You remind me of my father!!! Stand strong in the struggle, and let us know what we need to do to help and stand with you by taking action!
God bless you!
v I truly appreciate your sacrifice. The battle is long and hard, but God has given you the knowledge, wisdom, and strength to carry on.
v Do not give up Dr. Boyce. I am sure your next job is waiting for you. Your leaving is their lost. You have made your mark and now it is time to move on to better things.
v Thank you Boyce for standing up. I know it's not easy.
v Boyce,
I am sorry to hear that. However, as I received a fortune cookie today "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity."
Do you and remember this that no University (e.g.
v Keep your head up! No need to ever sacrifice your integrity. I'm proud of you wish I could do more for you besides pray for you. Don't know if you remember, I'm still in the middle of an EEOC lawsuit with the racist environment I stood up to. It always gets so ugly, but the good part is, when you look in the mirror... nothing but pride is reflected. Good Luck, you will rise to even higher heights.
I'm sure you're disappointed and hurt and it's okay. You have such a positive attitude and you're a soul of Light. I dare to say that the Creator may have bigger plans for you than tenure at
v Dr Boyce, I am sad that you were dismissed from
v Dear Dr. B...
Although we've never met, I am so very proud of you for not backing down or out of this fight.
provincial for an intellectual of your caliber and I am sure this dismissal will only open up other and bigger doors for you.
Any school that would bow to the bullying of a hate-monger such as Bill O’Reilly does not deserve to have you in their midst. It is unfortunate that
the school's leadership has chosen to allow such a paternalistic attitude to prevail in lieu of true scholarship, and enlightened discourse. That they seem to not fully understand the purpose of a university will not be lost on the talent they will not be able to attract in the future. They also seem to be under the misguided impression that your dismissal will - at best only anger and keep quite a handful of black folks. Nevertheless time and reality will prove that in the 21st Century, all businesses exist in an era in which talented people of all colors are choosing to affiliate themselves with inclusive enterprises and choosing to disassociate themselves with organizations whose environments harkens back to the Flintstones era.
Obviously the leadership of the Whitman School of Management has not been keeping abreast with the alumni discontent voiced loudly for the past several weeks regarding
So hang in there, my Brother. With your mind, your voice and your following you clearly will have lots of other options and opportunities. Just keep us informed of wherever you choose to land. This revolution isn't happening in a specific place - it's happening everywhere and it's not just attracting black folks anymore.
v Dr. Watkins -
Always appreciating your words of wisdom. As a 1982 SU alum, I must tell you that I was disappointed, nit not surprised that you were denied tenure. But, as usual, you move forward with grace and POWER!
Praying for you as you continue to stay true to yourself and the call God has on your life.
v Thank you for the update. A thinking Black man in academe is bad for White racism. Stay strong my brother.
v Thank you Dr. Boyce for handling the dismissal intelligently, and not coming undone. Know that when one door closes, another opens, and has better opportunity. I cannot believe that no one is doing anything about confronting
v I am so sorry. I am also disheartened yet encouraged by your decision to continue speaking out in the name of and cause for justice. For all of the accomplishments and progress we've made thus far, this serves only as a reminder that there is so much more work to do because the world still isn't ready for a Black man who is free enough to tell you what's on his mind; for a Black man who isn't a coward and won't be shackled by threats.
You bravely took on the establishments of greed, white power and institutional racism, put some definite cracks in the seemingly impenetrable wall, and refused to shut up when the masters rang the bell. You aren't a puppet and you didn't dance a jig. That takes courage, a certain kind of courage in a global recession where jobs are nearly as precious as oxygen; but you remind me that principles are priceless.
It hurts that you have to pay such an unfair price for dissent and free speech, which are more American and patriotic than baseball and beer, but keep your head up. Your labor is not in vain. I will definitely keep you in my prayers, and please know that there is NO weapon formed against you that will prosper.
Press on!
v Wow, not surprised, just sorry. Thank you for standing, many of us are standing with you. I so respect a Brother who can and will make the sacrifice that you have decided to make. I always believed that if you are really good you will stand up for what's right, because you have choices. Hopefully you will consider an HBCU, practically
God bless you & may you continue your good work. I may not agree with everything you say, but I agree with most. And even if people don't agree with your views, you still have the "unalienable right" according to this country, to voice them and you damn sure should not lose your job over them. Good luck on your press run & see if you can get on the Keith Olberman Show. He's up on the sports angle and he can help you get at Bill-O.
Dr Boyce
I LOVE THE
v Boyce, keep speaking truth to power, as I am sure you will, wherever you land next, within or outside academia. My years at Penn State, after having founded a group that fought
I am sure that the lives you have touched there will carve a better and more hopeful path into the future than the school as an institution will ever do. Best wishes as you wind down this part of your journey and move onward and outward. And keep the bastards squirming, wherever you go.
v Dear Dr Boyce
I am shocked to receive your email but in a way I’m not because I sensed they never really stood up for you and gave you genuine support. I am saddened, though, that
v Listen Brother Watkins, we all answer to one God! The God I know is a loving God, and each time these things have happened to me, I have had bigger and better dreams placed in front of me that I never even thought of. I have read your writings and followed you for the last couple years and there is no doubt you are much brighter than myself. I am in the process of applying to schools, and am currently ABD in Accounting.
I plan to teach, and between you and me, I am applying to teach online, the need for my major (and your should be the same) is very strong. If you continue to do what you are doing now, sign a few contracts to teach adjunct you could make 100K (not a lot of money), but you will have the freedom to remain the voice our community needs.
You are very special, I love you, and as a people we love you and will pray you and yours are touched by the glory of God!
v Dr. Watkins:
I am an admirer of your work (and your spirit) for a long time. What can we do to help you, in this hour?
v To Dr. Watkins,
I am sorry that you were denied tenure. As you well know tenure is political not meritorious. I have seen instructors granted tenure whose records of achievement were without distinction. I have seen tenure granted to those who were simply politically connected.
You must realize, recognize, and accept that you have a greater role. You must continue to grow nationally and internationally as an activist. You must continue to develop as a speaker whose services rival those of Colin Powell and Clarence Thomas. You must continue to make television appearances
Finally, you must make your mark in the most difficult arena there is. You must publish and break through on the New York Times best seller list.
Tenure is small potatoes. The real reward, the real fees are in speaking and publishing.
Take a break. Take a vacation. Remember all the famous people who had one door close and an even greater one open. Remember Tavis Smiley, Lionel Ritchie. Black America can hardly remember the name a single tenured professor. But they sure as hell can remember the name Dr. Watkins.
v I wish you the best, even if I don't agree with most of what you say. Keep your head up.
v I am so terribly sorry to hear this. God bless you in your efforts. Stand strong!
v Dear Dr. Watkins:
“Welcome to the world of those "Left Behind." Ask former VP Al Gore, Sally Jesse Raphael, Tavis Smiley and so many others how it feels? What took you out wasn't personal it was business. I look forward to supporting your efforts in the future and I strongly suggest you seek the guidance and counsel of others who suffered a similar fate..."It's an opportunity."
v Thank you Dr. Boyce for remaining committed to what you believe is right, thereby enlightening African Americans and the world. We could benefit greatly with more dedicated, educated, out spoken, committed, people like you. May God continue to bless and guide you.
v Continue your work Boyce....as you said in your email, you do have a lot of support. If I can assist in any way, please call....we have all been there (and survived) and you will it as well. Have to tell you about my struggle to get promoted but another time.
v Dear Dr. Boyce:
First of all let me say that I am an ardent supporter and welcome your emails and concern for young people. My son is a former NCAA basketball player, Div. 1 who always felt exploited by the system and eventually gave it up citing that very reason as a contributing factor. Notwithstanding his decision, of course he lost his scholarship and although my position was that he should use the system to get his degree, I left the decision up to him. I am proud to say that he graduated from college last year and is now applying for graduate school.
He is also a participant in the class action Jason White vs. NCAA litigation. I was wondering had you heard anything because the matter had been presented to the federal district judge presiding over the case for approval of the settlement reached in the case.
Finally, I am an attorney who has specialized through the years in the areas of civil rights and employment discrimination. Although I am not licensed in
If you feel the desire to speak to me personally please do not hesitate to call me.
v DAMN...DAMN...DAMN Dr Watkins. I hate to say it but...I'm not the least bit surprised. What's sad is not only are they losing you but our black students are going to be the ones effected because they actually got to see someone that looked and talked like them that was doing great things. Now we're going back to whites saying "you can do and be anything" and the only people we see doing it are whites! Ain't that a bitch?
Let me calm down. We definitely need to do a video on this. Speaking of videos.........when in the hell are we going to hook up! Both of us together are pitiful.
v Dr. Boyce,
You are to be commended on all your efforts in bringing to our communities the "politics at hand". You remind me of the 70s where people gathered around each other for the common cause of unity. You took the hits and criticisms from inside and out, yet you have prevailed triumphantly into a scholar who mentors all ages of people who will be overcomes for a lifetime.
I'm proud of YOU MY BROTHER! As Jessie Jackson says "let keep hope alive".
v Bro. Watkins, without struggle there is no progress. Struggle includes sacrifice of security, comfort and acceptance. The greater good is the progress of the race.
I am a 64 year old Afrikan in
I have supplemented my income in various ways down through the years and have no qualms about the righteousness of my cause or second guess about whether I would do it all over again. I still speak out when the need calls and shall do so until death overtakes me.
I write to say hold to you hold on to your determination, your commitment to truth and justice. Our great teachers, Cheikh Anta Diop, Theophile Obenga, Jacob Carruthers, Martin Luther King and others have taught us that the universe is founded on these principles of truth, justice, righteousness and the like. So, be encouraged. Hold tight. We will win!!
v Dude, we love you anyway, somebody will give you tenure. Eff Syracuse, my daughter was going to go there, but guess what? Not now
v Good Afternoon. I am truly sorry to hear about your tenure denial, but as Bill Cosby told Tavis Smiley when he was let go from
v Dear Dr. Boyce
I am sorry you did not get tenure and have lost your job BUT I know there is something out there better for you and I know you are going to land on your intellectual and intelligent feet.
I am disappointed to hear that Syracuse University denied your tenure, and failed to rise to the occasion of support for a man as wise and educated as yourself with the courage and honor to introspectively examine the crisis of abuse in the United States, and post colonial domination of our minds, and our bodies, and the use of the bodies of our young gifted athletes, with such acute and precise critical examination of widespread use of our children for the sport of capital gains, and modern day slavery without rewards.
Your writings and ideas of analytical perception are on the level of many of our great leaders and saviors, who have came again, and again to bring us home to the right minds, whereby, we were lost by a need for greed. Dr Franz Fannon, "Wretched of the Earth", Psychiatrist M.D., writes about his work in Algeria and South Africa and how he found it would take many years for the people of colonial oppression to come back to their right minds, and that includes the victimizer. J.A. Rogers in his writings about the Great African Nations and People, talks about what was lost and taken, and Chancellor Williams, Destruction of the Black Civilization, Dubois, "Africa," and former President of Ghana, Kwame Nhrumah, wrote” Who Controls the Wealth," hated by European nations for his outspoken behavior on the exploitation of African people globally, and slept on the trains in New York City, until he got a job teaching at NY City College and worked with Dr Ben Benjamin. You are thinking like the great
The stories you have written are precise for the time and bring us forward to the place we are supposed to be and my most excellent is the Black Female Pilots, as opposed to the Beating of Rihanna by Chris Brown. Clearly defines why we should be more creative and less destructive or ourselves and others. Few people realized or know that Bessie Coleman was the first female pilot to cross the
v Dear Dr. Boyce,
First, I would like to thank you for the information, tips, and encouragement, that you share and have shared with your Black family, through emails and the media so often; it is truly a blessing.
I am very sad and sicken to hear that you will not receive tenure at
In many subtle ways, the school may feel intimidated and threatened by your intellect and your perceptions. As we are all aware, it is not the easiest pill for the White world to swallow when an intelligent Black man (not to mention one with a Ph.D. in finance----congratulations) speaks up and conducts himself with dignity, pride, and confidence.
Keep your faith strong, your head held high, and your chin up, as I am sure you will do, and continue to move forward for the greater opportunities and Blessings that lie ahead. If there is anyway, that I can do to help you to spread your message and further your cause, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am the mother of two children close to your age, and I dislike it very much when anyone child or children are being mistreated.
Thank you for being a good example for many people, but definitely for our Black families, especially our young Black men (I wish my son would adopt your attitude and mindset) we are very proud of you, as I am sure your family is too.
Take care and keep in touch. May you have continued blessings in all your future endeavors.
v I am saddened but not surprised, for reasons we have discussed over the last year or so. I'm in no position to give advice, but I believe that you threw away an incredible opportunity to become one of the nation's most respected economists, in exchange for trying to be a celebrity. This is not criticism...just an observation, and this is just a temporary setback. You will have to eat a little humble pie before you are ready to see the world for what it is, instead of what you want it to be. Your association with assorted flakes and problem children would cause any institution to have reservations about your commitment to the institution.
One door closes, another one opens. You have one year to decide what you want to do. You are going to have to decide within the next thirty days whether you want to be a practitioner, or stay in teaching. If you want to be a practitioner, your prospects are good, but you'll have to start at the bottom. If you want to stay in teaching, well...to be honest, that's going to be difficult, but not impossible. If you can afford it, try taking a sabbatical to do legitimate research. This is a logical "cover" for tenure denial. You will tell your next employer, that the pursuit for tenure clashed with establishing yourself as
Above all...leave with all flags flying and a sense of dignity. Don't be bitter, and don't post anymore comments like the ones you posted today. Instead, remind people of your significant achievements, and talk about them every chance you get. People get turned down for tenure all the time, for far, far less. If you poison the well on the way out of the door, you will close many other potential opportunities. Expect your closest colleagues to treat you like you suddenly have the plague, and the power of the university to "hurt" you is awesome. You can't imagine what they can do to you, from accusing you of plagiarism, to sexual harassment.
v Boyce, what's up? I have one thing to say: Man cannot and Will Not Destroy God's Plan for Your life! Hang Strong!
v Boyce, I have been extremely busy; however, I want to make sure that you are ok. I know how hard you have fought to become a professor, but do not, you here me, give up! Not for one second. Time is precious. Continue to seek God because it is when things get tough that you know that you are in line for a big blessing. Just take heed to my words. There is a big blessing coming. I have learned through these years that although it doesn't seem like it right now, serving God pays off. I promise this. There is a room that you always go to in your house. There is one spot that you always kind of pace in. I want you to lift your hands to the Lord and talk to him. He is there with you and knows that you are an intelligent and thoughtful soul. Lift your hands to the Lord in that spot and give Him the praise. As you lean closer to Him, He will show you the way. He does miracles! He watches after His children. If there is any way I can help you, please call me. Take care always. You will always be my friend and you encouraged me when no one else would. I will keep you even more in my prayers. If you get up at central time tomorrow, know that I am praying for you then at morning prayer.
v Doc, I have agreed and disagreed with your commentary over the years. But today my heart is sad and my soul full. You are a man of knowledge and integrity. You sharing this experience with your extended family are appreciating. You speak to the struggle of Blacks in academia with heart and passion. In this commentary I only disagree with one thing: sacrificing the rest of your academic career--You will rise higher-
God Bless You and We love you
v Doctor B, you know as always, we wish only the best for you; and anything I or we can do to help keep the word going we will do. all the best,
v Congratulations! Dr. Watkins, you deserve better indeed! For you have the decency to stand-up to the bullies!
v Please be advice, there will be no change without reaction. For any action there is a reaction.
v Dr. Watkins, that's a damned shame!! I totally understand what you mean, as I have faced hell at the secondary and post secondary levels because of my unwillingness to conform to a white supremacist agenda that attempts to cast many of our people into a permanent underclass. It's because of scholars like you that many people who had no idea of how to even open a bank account now understand the intricacies and importance of financial intelligence; because of scholars like you, the world is more aware of the essence behind the meaning of "educator," "scholar," "activist," and "brotha."
I've been reading Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, and in it he says: "No pedagogy which is truly liberating can remain distant from the oppressed by treating them as unfortunates and by presenting for their emulation models from among the oppressors. The oppressed must be their own example in the struggle for their redemption" (p. 54). He also states: Pedagogy which begins with the egoistic interests of the oppressors . . . and makes of the oppressed the objects of its humanitarianism itself maintains and embodies oppression. It is an instrument of dehumanization. This is why the pedagogy of the oppressed cannot be developed or practiced by the oppressors. It would be a contradiction in terms if the oppressors not only defended but actually implemented a liberating education. (p. 54)
Brotha, I correlate your statements, your ontology, with the ontology of this scholar. We all believe the same thing-- if we are to ever rid ourselves and oppressed peoples of the world from the shackles of the white supremacist framework that characterizes every facet of this society, we must create our own educational/pedagogical paradigm. If we don't, we fall prey to the evils of white supremacy that saturates our schools and every other facet of this racist system. So many of us have fallen prey to the oppressors "models" of truth that many are blinded or afraid to step out from under the oppressors' grip and follow the lead of scholars such as yourself. We must do what we can to keep fighting, to keep pressure on them, and let them know that all of us aren't afraid to "liberate the oppressed." You aren't afraid; just like the brothas and sistas before you, who fought this racist system until it transformed its racist theories/laws/edicts, you are fighting the system! Let's continue to arm ourselves and "right this sinking ship." I'm behind you 110%!! Call me to arms so we can galvanize our people and work to manifest a "pedagogy of the oppressed" that is armed with all that is needed to wreck this myth called the
v Dr. Boyce: turn a camera on all of the colleges/universities who denies tenure on trumped up grounds. There has obviously been a chilling effect in higher education for some time. Keep informing us and reminding us that the struggle never ends
v Dr Boyce, my sympathies go to you. In the 90s I experienced exactly the same racist policies in another university in another country while all the Uncle Toms around me [women and men of color] bowed their heads and took the degrees. Many of them were students I tutored and lectured. Actually, they took their degrees and turned their backs on me when the going got tough!!!! I was disqualified on 4 counts, lesbian, colored, solo parent, outspoken!!! No tenure. But they researched my research and my knowledge without my permission to teach other students. Rich huh?!
My recommendation is a University On-line where all marginalized people who join up can create a virtual global university focused on eclectic self-designed self-motivated curricula. You have the financial skills to create this. It must be at a price disadvantaged people can afford. Price is another factor used to deny certain people a degree. The rich can buy degrees for their offspring. Hell, look at George Bush.
v Dr. Watkins, thank you for the update. As you are aware, many of us who choose in life to ask questions, think critically, and consequently attempt to change the status quo encounter what one may describe as 'negative' consequences. However, I believe we must continue to do what we believe is the right thing to do, regardless of outcome. Many would describe this as leadership. As a graduate of
v I definitely feel your pain. Being in academia most of my career, I have struggled with staying true to myself and my people and trying to be promoted in academia. It truly is a fine line. Although I have bucked the hard line research path, I have decided to go down that path as a way to get on other paths. Whether I get tenure is still questionable, since I too am outspoken and am more passionate about research outside of traditional tracks, but one thing I have found is to find research partners who are tenured to partner with to help make it possible. It is still a struggle even with partners to control your ideas and work, but constant vigilance and negotiation helps to manage it. Stay encouraged.....I'm sure you can easily find another institution that is supportive or a move into your own thing is certainly needed and desired. Looking forward to seeing great things soon!
v Dearest Dr. Boyce, I wish you well in your life's journey, but know you never travel alone. With you are the souls of our ancestors and the stories of their journey's. Your story is of an American wrong that has been forced upon us (African Americans) since the evil conception of this country. Please know that during those times when you will feel most alone, those who came before you are reaching out to your spirit and holding you up. Be well........A concerned friend.
v Boyce, let's take a different type of stand....one that those at the top will understand. If you can obtain the email addresses of the President of Syracuse, Director of Admissions, etc....I will talk to students that I know here at my school and other Community Colleges throughout the land to send messages saying something to the effect of.....We thought about coming but due to how Dr. Watkins was treated, we have changed our minds. Please share your thoughts.
v Dr. Watkins, you are a brilliant young man and you keep looking straight forward and up because when one door closes another always opens. You have been an asset to the university and they will not realize it until later when they need you worst than you would ever need them. I send my blessings to you for you keep forward and something wonderful is in store for your future.
v Thank you for continuing to be a highly educated outstanding African American male who is often emulated and never duplicated. God will surely continue to bless you!!!
v Bro. Dr. Boyce we stand w/ you brother! We have to continue to stand up & take this thing by the horns! We appreciate all that you do & will do! May the Creator bless you and your family! Forward forever, backwards never!
v Peace Dr. Watkins, I am not at all surprised by this news-As a conscious brother in the struggle for our people's complete
unadulterated liberation, I am sure you aren't surprised either! Keep your head up, your nerves about you, remain on your path, and keep BLAZING, Black! (smile) It's all good*
v Hi Dr Watkins, I haven't sent you a response in a while but I just have to tell you that I'm forwarding this to as many (college-educated) Black people as email addresses I have. I say "college educated" not as a snob kind of thing, but because that is the group who can most understand your statement "I can't concur with the conclusion that every Black scholar on the planet is unqualified to be here," having experienced it. Once again, you said what I have said in so many employment situations. The government agency from which I recently retired has NO Black upper level management people. The Black people who have had close to upper level positions have been fired after a few months or years for various reasons - usually b/c they have broken some kind of law of impropriety: shopped during business hours, took extended lunches, grew marijuana on their property at home, made a comment that was overheard and was distasteful to another Black colleague ("they're moving people around here like niggas on a plantation" - they WERE). Stuff that is technically distasteful, but yeah right - YOU PEOPLE aren't doing the same????? BUT, that's no defense. Just before I retired I was supposed to be disciplined for contacting a super delegate (before President Obama was elected) on the agency's computer during my lunch time and using my email account. Supposedly I violated the Hatch Act. I responded that the Hatch Act had not been violated, our worthless union said "but they could say...," over and over. After much back and forth, I just said ok I have been saying I'm going to retire for about 5 years - forget you people - pay me to not come in. I had seen too many things happen there to too many people in my 23 years. I'm not "old" and can work somewhere else if I want. I admire people like you who have the strength to keep speaking against wrong. I wonder why white people think they can get away with that, and it is even more interesting that universities (where intelligent people are supposed to be) think THEY can get away with it. I guess b/c, as I told my granddaughter when she asked "why do people do that when they know they're going to get caught by the police?" (we were driving past the aftermath of a restaurant robbery) -- b/c they don't think they will get caught so they keep on until they
v Recently I was forced into unemployment for refusing to abandon the values, beliefs, and truths that I have come to know as an African-American female from
v This is interesting. They kept reminding me at
v Dr. Boyce, I never like to hear the word 'dismissed or dismissal. Why? Its reinforces that one/we are still working for someone and when they are unhappy with us we are out the window/door. Hopefully this will give you an opportunity not to waste a "crises". If crisis is indeed, opportunity-- this you venture with Dr. West you mentioned might provide additional opportunities to grow. Will try to follow you on the line and the best for the future.
v Hello Dr Watkins, I am a Phi Beta Sigma in
v Dr. Boyce, having read the results of your interview, from where I sit, a word of encouragement is in order. Because I have traveled the same road in a different place, and at a different time, my hat is off to you and others who will accept the challenge to stand up and speak out to and for those who cannot--for whatever reason--speak for themselves. In addition, I can say without evasion, equivocation or any mental reservation whatsoever, that when one door closes, another one opens. I speak as one who recognizes that this world we live in is not--as some would believe it to be--"a playground"; but rather, it is "a battleground." It's a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. As our sister, Yolanda Adams has said in song, "the battle is not yours, it's the Lord's." You are highly gifted, and I know you know that. Therefore, let me just remind you that "for unto whomsoever much is given, of him, much is required." You keep on "keeping-on" Dr. Boyce, and I can assure you that the "unlimited blessings of heaven will combine with all good things without end," and they will follow you, all the days of your life.
v So sorry to hear about your dismissal but not surprised.
v Dr. Watkins, I have written a comment here and there on subjects you have addressed over the last year. Today I want to say fight on with a battle already won. There is much in this world that needs to be corrected, this is yours. My prayer is for your strength to go forward, your courage in the face of alone, your wisdom in the challenge and your love which will harmonize, unify and resolve all issues to your will. Thank you.
