The Latest from Dr. Boyce on AOL - 6/21/10

Son of Dallas Police Chief Suspected in Killing a Cop

• Investigators are saying that they believe that the 27-year old son of Dallas Police Chief David ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:38PM | Comments (0)

Is Obama's Mortgage Modification Program Failing?

• More than 1/3 of the 1.24 million borrowers who've enrolled in President Obama's mortgage ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:07PM | Comments (0)

Michael Jackson's Estate Earned $783 Million Since His Death

• Since his sudden heart attack last year, Michael Jackson has raked in big money. In the last year, ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:50PM | Comments (3)

Will Tiger Woods' Video Game Sell Like it Did in the Past?

• Tiger Woods 2011 has gotten outstanding reviews from critics, who say that the game presents a ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:11PM | Comments (1)

Hallmark Greeting Card Gets Accused of Corporate Racism

• I've seen misunderstandings in my day and then I've seen mega-misunderstandings. The most recent ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 2:04PM | Comments (2)

How to Save Your Money: 5 Steps to Getting it Right

• This week, I've been busy shooting an MSNBC special on money management. So, because this is on my ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 11:29AM | Comments (2)

Financial Lovemaking: AOL BV Poll Results on Black Women, Dating

• Last week, I had to step back to make sure I wasn't creating a firestorm with the article I wrote ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 10:04AM | Comments (0)

Black Businesswoman Danielle Douglas and Dr. Boyce Talk Business

• Danielle Douglas is not your typical businesswoman. She has climbed the corporate ladder, with ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 7:06AM | Comments (2)

Tiger Woods Sex Scandals Cost Him $25 Million in Endorsements

• It's being reported that the company which represents golf superstar Tiger Woods lost $4.6 million ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 10:21PM | Comments (4)

Black Scholar: Black Athletes Exploited Physically, Intellectually by NCAA

• Professor Billy Hawkins of The University of Georgia has released a controversial new book that ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 2:33PM | Comments (17)

Dr. Boyce and Lady Drama Discuss Wendy Williams, Hip-Hop and More

• I have a great deal of respect for Lady Drama, aka Ebony Garris. Lady Drama, in case you don't ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 19th 2010 12:10AM | Comments (2)

Foreclosure Epidemic Hits Minority Communities Hardest

• A recent study by the Center for Responsible Lending has confirmed what you probably already ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 4:04PM | Comments (20)

Black Republican: King's Statement About Obama Favoring Blacks Was Right

• Isaiah McGee, an Iowa-based African American commentator, businessman and politician, is a ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 3:02PM | Comments (27)

The Black Church Keeps Black Women Single and Lonely?

• In my book "Financial Lovemaking 101," one of the topics of discussion is the economic benefit of ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 11:24AM | Comments (140)

Parliament-Funkadelic Guitarist Garry Shider Dies

• Garry Shider, the musical director for Parliament-Funkadelic, was known for having the funkiest ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 18th 2010 10:27AM | Comments (10)

The Latest from Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL - 6/12/10

NBA Gets High Marks for Diversity in Annual Report Card

• According to Professor Richard Lapchick, author of the recent Racial and Gender Report Card for ... Read More
• By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 12th 2010 11:20AM | Comments (0)

Obama's "Angry Black Man" Criticism: Isn't He Also Half White?

• In light of all of the interesting analysis that others have done regarding why President Barack ... Read More
• By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 9th 2010 9:36PM | Comments (34)

CNN Asks Why Black Men Are Not Graduating From College

• Richelle Carey at CNN Headline News recently reached out to me to find out why black men aren't ... Read More
• By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 5th 2010 4:24PM | Comments (32)

Dwyane Wade Given Temporary Custody of His Sons

• NBA star Dwyane Wade's divorce just got a little uglier. This week, the court gave Wade custody ... Read More
• By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 4th 2010 8:51AM | Comments (33)

Could LeBron James' Mother Rumors Push Him Out of Cleveland?

• The world seems to be buzzing incessantly about the statements made by former NBA great Calvin ... Read More
• By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on May 24th 2010 10:41PM | Comments (4)

 

Slim Thug and his comments about black women continue to get the artist into trouble.  Is he going to lose big money because of this?

Dr. Boyce Video on AOL Black Voices - 4/28/10

Dr. Boyce Video: Latino Studies Professor on What You Need to Know About Immigration

• With all the intense scrutiny on Arizona for its harsh anti-immigration legislation, the time has ... Read More
• By Alexis Stodghill on Apr 28th 2010 4:09PM | Comments (4)

Dr. Boyce Video -- Michael Bivins of Bel Biv DeVoe & Alfred Edmond of Black Enterprise on African American Music & Business

• Dr. Boyce Watkins brings you an exciting discussion on the business of media and entertainment with ... Read More
• By Alexis Stodghill on Apr 27th 2010 2:24PM | Comments (1)

Dr. Boyce Video -- Talking Black Finance With Expert Ryan Mack

• Dr. Boyce Watkins is taking his unique perspective beyond the printed page to the video realm on ... Read More
• By Alexis Stodghill on Apr 27th 2010 1:32PM | Comments (2)

Are Black Women Victims of a Bad Dating Situation?

by Lola Adesioye, Huffington Post

Over the past few months, black women and their relationships - or should I say, lack thereof - have been getting a lot of attention. The Washington Posthas done a couple of features on it. Then ABC'sNightline did a show asking why there are so many single black women.

All of a sudden the mainstream media is taking a keen interest in our love lives. We are being told that there is a 'crisis' amongst black women, particularly educated professional women, who are apparently unable to find a 'decent' black man.

Last night, ABC continued once again, with the airing of "Why Can't a Successful Black Woman Find a Man?," a taped discussion featuring Hill Harper, Steve Harvey, The View's Sherri Shepherd and others.

There's no doubt that it's a topic that sparks heated debates and discussions amongst black women and men. It has for years. But is it really that bad? Or is the media - now that it has found a hot topic - exploiting this issue for all that it's worth? I'm an educated black woman and I personally have no problem with meeting eligible, educated, great black men. Whether or not I choose to date them is another thing, but they are out there.

I am somewhat perturbed by the slew of stories on this topic. They are negative, unhelpful and only serve to perpetuate negative ideas about black men and women which often become self-fullfiling. They basically say 'oh, poor black women. They try so hard yet can't find a decent man ... Boo hoo, black women are victims. Ooh, it's all the fault of those pathetic black men. You know, they have no education or are locked up in jail.' Sorry, but I do not subscribe to that view.

 

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Precious Little Stereotypes

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

I went to see the film "Precious" with a tremendous amount of anxiety. I'd heard the film received rave reviews from reviewers, award panelists and others in the media who love to see a good movie about dysfunctional black people. I knew the film was being analyzed by the same individuals more likely to notice Denzel Washington playing a sick, crooked cop in "Training Day" than to see him play a strong, intelligent black man in the film about the life of Malcolm X.

While reviewers might consider "Akeelah and the Bee" to be unrealistic, "Precious," or "Hustle and Flow" seem to be stunningly accurate reflections of their perception of life in Black America. Yes, we certainly have our share of pimps, prostitutes, and child molesters in the black community. But would hardly expect that we're any more problematically programmed than other ethnic groups.

I thought the performances in the film "Precious" were very good. I admit, however, that I found the film depressing. Not that the movie was entirely unrealistic. Rather, it seemed to feed itself off of one emotionally-draining scene after another. The star of the film was illiterate, poor, morbidly obese, physically abused, sexually abused, HIV positive, inclined to steal and suffering from low self-esteem. It was almost as if the directors said, "What else can we do to make people feel sorry for her? Oh yea! Let's let her mother be a welfare queen who beats her child and molests her when her sexually abusive father isn't home!" Yes, there are kids like this in the black community, but this film is not a representation of the prevailing experience for most black youth in America.

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Rhode Island School Firing: Was it Justified?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

 

You don't have to go to college to know that America's educational system is as embarrassing as our bloated, expensive health care system. Such wide-scale dysfunction inevitably undermines the integrity of America's competitive future. The only thing more frightening than what we see today is the realization that the products of this system will eventually control the wealthiest, most powerful country on earth.

Some would argue that only radical change will improve the problems in our schools. Apparently, Frances Gallo, Superintendent of the Central Falls Rhode Island Public School System, got the memo. In a shocking move that has received national attention, Gallo instantly fired 93 teachers and other staff from Central Falls High school, a failing school with a 48 percent graduation rate.

The move was cheered by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who said that school administrators are "showing courage and doing the right thing for kids." The decision also got the militant attention of teachers unions everywhere, who some believe to be standing in the way of education reform. As expected, many union leaders thought the move was outrageous, insensitive and hurtful to the student body.

Superintendent Gallo didn't have to use the "nuclear option" on Central Falls High School. She actually had four options provided to her by the Obama administration. She could have closed the school down completely or had it taken over by a charter school. She also could have "transformed" the school, with longer days and other demands placed on faculty and staff. Instead, she went with the "turnaround" option, giving her the authority to boot teachers out at her discretion.

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News: Prosecutor Removes Himself from the Heather Ellis Case

Heather Ellis is shown alongside her mother, Hester Ellis, outside the Justice Center at Bloomfield last month following her pre-trial hearing in a case that has gained national attention. At right is Ellis' attorney, Timothy Hunsaker from the St. Louis firm of Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers and Glass. Also pictured (at left) is an unidentified member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
(Staff photo by Noreen Hyslop)

A motion filed in a Dunklin County courtroom brings a new twist to the case against Heather Ellis, a case that has garnered national media attention.

Ellis, an African-American woman from Kennett, is charged in connection with an incident at the Kennett Walmart in 2007 during which she was arrested and charged with two counts of the Class C felony assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of the Class B misdemeanor peace disturbance and one count of the Class A misdemeanor resisting arrest. Ellis was charged as a result of a scuffle that broke out in a checkout line at the store, following Ellis being accused by associates employed by Walmart of cutting in line.

The motion in question, filed by Ellis' attorney on November 2, involves Ellis' legal representation requesting Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff to recuse himself from the case.

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A Man Shoots the Boy who Sleeps with His Daughter

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

I have daughters and I love them all. They are all at "that age," between 16 and 20, where they tend to love the boys that you want to beat down the most. Every time I hear them express their undying love for Lil Wayne, I can only think about him having 3 women pregnant at the same time. When I see a Chris Brown poster in their room, I remind them that Chris was accused of having boxing practice on Rihanna's face.

But as a father, you can't protect your daughters from themselves. Some things they have to learn on their own. And if sleeping with a pants-saggin, "purple stuff dranking," gold grill wearing, 10,000 tattoo having buffoon is the way they need to learn their lessons, you just kinda have to deal with it.I empathize with Wade Edwards, the man accused of shooting a boy for sleeping with his step daughter. Wade shot the boy four times, aiming for the "relevant zone" with each bullet. But while I can understand Wade's anger, I do not, for one second, condone his actions.

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News: Protestors Planned to Fight Black Student’s Arrest and Trial

Kennett, MO. – Heather Ellis, a young college student out of Kennett, MO is now facing 15 years in prison if she is sentenced after being accused of cutting line at a local Walmart. Her case has gotten the attention of the nation, and has been the subject of extensive online protests.

Heather was in a Walmart store 3 years ago with her cousin. The two split up to find the shortest line. Since her cousin was in the shorter line, Heather joined him. That’s when the clerk accused Heather of cutting in front of the other customers. An argument ensued, leading to the manager and security guard being called, and finally the police.

The incident left Ellis, an honor student on her way to medical school, charged with disturbing the peace, trespassing and two counts of assaulting a police officer. After Heather refused to sign a plea agreement, Stephen Sokoloff, the town’s prosecutor, filed felony charges against Heather.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices – 10/2/09

 

Dr Boyce: Think Nike's Done with Michael Vick? Think Again

• I was excited to hear that Nike signed Michael Vick again after his dog fighting ordeal. You can ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Financial Lovemaking: Managing "Baby Mama Drama"

• Most of us know about "baby mama drama," since some of that drama may occur within your own home. ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce and Farai Chideya Discuss Life as an African American

• In the video below, Farai Chideya and I are on NPR "News and Notes" discussing the economy of the ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Dr. Boyce: Black Scholars Speak Out on the Sale of Ebony Magazine

• I've always felt that the role of black scholars is to speak up and out on issues of relevance to ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (0)

Senate Finance Rejects the Public Option on Health Insurance

• Liberal Democrats chose not to inject the widely debated Public Option into the healthcare ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (0)

Dr Boyce Money: Learning Entrepreneurship from Madam CJ Walker

• The other day, I caught up with Fenorris Pearson, CEO of Global Consumer Innovations. Fenorris is ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (0)

The Cheapest Car in the World, but you can't buy it in the US

• At $2500, the Tato Nano is the cheapest car in the world. But you can't buy it in the US and some ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Auto Insurance | Comments (0)

Financial Lovemaking: Who Keeps the Ring if the Engagement is Called Off?

• This video below answers an important question that many of us may end up confronting at some ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (3)

Dr. Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton on the Death of Derrion Albert

• I spoke with Rev. Al Sharpton in our weekly meeting on his radio show, which you can listen to ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (13)

Company Makes Money from Deadly Urban Trend: "Sipping Syrup"

• You've probably heard the phrase "sippin syrup," used in reference to the act of mixing cough ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

What you MUST Know About Your Property Insurance

• Nippets of insurance news you can use: Things your property insurance doesn't cover: In our last ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (1)

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian Get Married: Questions I'd Like to Ask

• Today, we are going to use an interesting story in black celebrity news to teach a short lesson ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (30)

Dr. Boyce and Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss Barack Obama, Black Politics, David Paterson

• This week, Rev. Al Sharpton and I discussed President Barack Obama's racialized fight with the ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV Black Spin | Comments (2)

President Obama Talks Health Care at Congressional Black Caucus Conference

• In an appropriate show of respect, President Barack Obama addressed the Congressional Black Caucus ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in Black Voices Insurance | Comments (9)

Don't Let Your Spouse Control All of Your Finances

• Financial News Blast for the week of September 26, 2009 - Click on the link for the title to read ... Read More
• Posted by Boyce Watkins, PhD in BV on Money | Comments (1)

Statistics Show that Barack Obama was Wrong about Black Fathers

Earl Ofari Hutchinson wrote an excellent piece citing a study that shows that black absentee fathers are more engaged with their children than white absentee fathers or absentee fathers of any ethnic group.

Many black males continue to be insulted by Barack Obama and his speech writers relying on stereotypes rather than hard evidence in his Father's Day Speech. Barack is a man whom I will always respect, but what he has done is unforgivable.

What's more interesting, as Earl correctly points out, is that Barack's father was not African American. He was a Kenyan National who wanted to leave the country. So, perhaps we should spend some time asking ourselves why we were so quick to accept this blanket indictment of black men, while allowing Obama to use his own father's choices to provide moral authority for him to use stereotypes.

I consider Barack to be one of us. But he also represents "all of us". Rather than pandering to the crowd and telling them what they want to hear, I hope that one day he can gain the courage to tell people what they NEED to hear.

What Barack Obama did to the good black fathers of America was wrong. My urgency in supporting him is not as great as it was before. With each passing day, I become more and more confused as to whether we are putting a black man in the white house, or a man who is afraid of being associated with other black men. When it is time for him to take a stand against racism, I hear that he is "everyone's president", not the black candidate. But when it comes time for him to attack black men with petty stereotypes, I hear that he is a "black man" and therefore, able to engage in these sorts of attacks.

Which one is it? I grow weary of the games.