THE WALL'S BEGINNING TO CRACK MR. PRESIDENT

George Bush's Reality Check

EX-AIDE IN W'S INNER CIRCLE TAKES HIM TO THE WOODSHED.

Read the important article here.

This was overdue. Waaaay overdue!

We thought it was just us.

YEAH, I SAID IT: UNCLE BEN, AUNT JEMIMA, COUSIN COON & MOTHERF------

HISTORICAL REAPPROPRIATION:
"Chairman Ben"

Just Wait Til The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore Hears About This!

Mars is revamping the original spokesmodel for Uncle Ben's Rice. Instead of being a smiling, servant "Negro", he'll just be "Ben", big-baller of a psuedo rice company.

That's the stupidest thing we've ever heard.

Yeah that's right, we said it!

In fact while we're at it, give us back the old ain't-jo-mamma-on-the-pancake-box! No matter how much we try to forget our past, our past has a way of keeping us real. Exhibit A:

While the idea is to overturn stereotypes of Blacks while retaining Uncle Ben's recognizable marketing iconography, tell that to our ancestors who taught us that it's not what they've called us family, it's what we've chosen to answer to that matters.

The campaign, masterminded by TBWA/Chiat/Day and president of Mars' food division Vincent Howell (himself African-American), just launched on Uncle Ben's website.

That Uncle Ben has a website is funny without going any further. But here's a nutty thought - how about Mars sponsoring an online literacy campaign for inner city black youth who can't even spell "Uncle" let alone know what a CEO Chairman is. How about teaching them about stereotypes and the power of images and racism. Nah! Too much like right.

The new site allows visitors to stroll through Ben's opulent office, complete with 20" flat screen monitor and leatherbound appointment book. You can even leaf through his memos and appointments. In weeks to come, ads will feature "full-body digital versions of Uncle Ben."

Maybe they'll have games for our children to play on the site: "Lynch the Mandigo", or our favorite "How Much Cotton Can You Pick In 60 Seconds."

Click on Uncle Ben's to see for yourself. We're on our way to get lunch at Sambos!

Source

Lore's Party

C'mon admit it, wasn't that fun?

ODEN-MANIA MAKES FOR SOME CRAZY MARCH MADNESS

NCAA FINAL FOUR

To Get The Latest, Click On:

Phenom Greg Oden

OH NO UCLA!!!

Brothers And Their Sons

(click NCAA Final Four for updates)

SERENA WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT'S WHAT WE TALKIN' 'BOUT!!!!

Get the story here

FOR BLACK REPUBLICANS ONLY: GIULIANI TIME?

America's Mayor Has Surged, But Are WE Sold?

His boy Bernard Kerik may be going down - will Rudy cut and run? Read here. LATEST POLL DATA - Click here

We haven't decided who should get the nod from us (leaning toward Mitt Romney, yet flip-flopping on issues is disconcerting). Since Rudy's leading in the o8 GOP White House race, let's start with him.

Here's a portion of a story by Barbara O'Brien that was interesting. Click here to read more.

Hizzoner Before 9/11: Black Folks And Crime

Bob Herbert column from March 2000 provides a perspective worth considering: The police intercepted the two teenaged boys who were running up Broadway, near 138th Street, and opened fire. This was on the night of Feb. 13, 1997. Robert Reynoso, 18, collapsed to the ground with a bullet in his chest. Juval Green, 17, fell with a leg wound. The police would later say they thought the boys had a gun. There was no gun. And the boys, who survived the shooting, had not been involved in a crime. Nevertheless, the police arrested them. The charge — criminal possession of a firearm.

This shooting typified the over-the-top, overly aggressive behavior that has become the hallmark of policing under Rudolph Giuliani. The cops were responding to a report of shots fired at Broadway and 135th Street, three blocks away. Not only were Mr. Reynoso and Mr. Green shot, but four other innocent people were arrested.

The police were shooting and rounding up people without the slightest clue as to what was happening, with top officials initially refusing to confirm the four additional arrests.

Here’s another Bob Herbert column, from February 25, 1999:

Rudolph Giuliani likes to push people around. He’s pretty indiscriminate about it. One day it’s an indisputably worthy target, like violent criminals, the next day it’s jaywalkers. One moment it’s the organized thugs at the Fulton Fish Market, the next it’s cab drivers and food vendors.

Mr. Giuliani shut down an entire neighborhood in Harlem and buzzed its residents with police helicopters because he didn’t like Khallid Muhammad. Solid citizens trying to exercise their right to protest peacefully have been fought at every conceivable turn. Many gave up, their protests succumbing to fear or exhaustion.

If you want a a textbook case of how a public official should not handle a crisis, study Giuliani after the Amidou Diallo shooting. Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea, was cornered in his Bronx apartment building by four New York City plain clothes cops. The cops fired 41 shots at Diallo, killing him. Diallo was unarmed and not the suspect; he was just trying to go home.

After the shooting, America’s Mayor failed to soothe the city’s frayed nerves. At first he asked the public not to jump to conclusions about what happened, which was reasonable. Over the next several days, however, Giuliani seemed more defensive than conciliatory. He recited statistics comparing fatal police shootings in New York with those in other cities, as if to claim the NYPD didn’t shoot as many people as other cops do, so what’s the problem?

Giuliani also failed to reach out to the city’s African Americans. Dan Barry wrote for the New York Times (February 11, 1999): That was the clear message at a news conference convened yesterday by C. Virginia Fields, the Manhattan Borough President, and former Mayor Edward I. Koch, who had troubles of his own with many black political and civic leaders. Being Mayor ‘’requires a willingness to hear,'’ Mr. Koch said. ‘’So we’re saying to the Mayor: ‘Listen.’ Ms. Fields agreed, saying that "the city must change the tone and move in a different direction.'’

Giuliani responded last night by impeaching the event’s credibility, noting that Koch was a persistent critic and saying that Ms. Fields failed to acknowledge the Police Department’s accomplishments, including reduced crime in black neighborhoods.

Six weeks later, the Mayor finally made a gesture toward his critics. Dan Barry wrote March 28, 1999:

Time and again, the Giuliani administration has demonstrated the ability to make the routine seem unusual and the bizarre seem mundane. How else could a meeting between the Mayor and the city’s highest-elected black official take on the significance of a Botha-Mandela sitdown? Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani’s session last week with C. Virginia Fields, the Manhattan Borough President, was viewed as so extraordinary that the City Council Speaker, Peter F. Vallone, who arranged the meeting, somehow emerged as the great healer of City Hall. Then came word that the Mayor had agreed to meet with State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, another black leader he had rebuffed for years, and would soon be inviting other people of color to Gracie Mansion for face-to-face chats.

Nearly seven weeks after the Amadou Diallo shooting began roiling race relations in the city, the administration decided that the time had come to, as one aide put it, ‘’build bridges'’ and let the ‘’healing process'’ continue. And so Mr. Giuliani was poised to be congratulated for meeting elected city and state officials — activities that used to be normal conduct for any mayor, an expected duty of the office.

Hizzoner On The Low Down: Pimpin' Ain't Easy

Here’s another example, provided by Jimmy Breslin in New York Newsday:

As the mayor, he had a detective driving one of his girlfriends out of the Gracie Mansion driveway while another detective was arriving with another girlfriend and was waved off to prevent a domestic riot.

All the while upstairs there were his wife and children.

Giuliani would later be seen walking in a parade on Fifth Avenue with his girlfriend, his children relegated to watching him on television.

Very interesting family. Love to get some feedback on this. Comments are always welcomed. Stay tuned!

FOLKS WHO GET IT: WEST POINT GRAD HENRY O. FLIPPER

First Black To Graduate Finally Gets His Due

Original story by John Milburn (AP)

Stoically enduring hate and harassment to become the first black graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Henry O. Flipper probably never saw it coming.

Born a slave in Thomasville, Georgia in 1856, Flipper was West Point's first brother to endure four years of hardships actually receive his commission.

He graduated in 1877, just 12 years after the Civil War.

At Fort Davis, Texas, in 1881, Flipper's career took a dire turn when white commanders accused him of embezzling $3,792 from commissary funds. Flipper initially discovered the funds missing from his custody and concealed their disappearance from superiors, hoping the money would return.

He was court-martialed, acquitted of embezzlement but convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer, and dishonorably discharged. Later, Flipper would write in a letter to a congressman that the crime "of being a Negro was, in my case, more heinous than deceiving a commanding officer."

Althoug he went on to a successful civilian career as an engineer and expert in Spanish and Mexican land law, wrote several books and worked as a special assistant to the U.S. interior secretary, Flipper spent decades unsuccessfully trying to clear his name.

His family continued the fight after his death in 1940. In 1976, an Army board commuted Flipper's dismissal to a good conduct discharge, concluding that his conviction and punishment were "unduly harsh and unjust."

In 1999, President Clinton granted him a full pardon.

The Army took another step in honoring his legacy Friday with the dedication of a bust of him at the Buffalo Soldier Monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Sometimes we get discouraged when we comes across stories like the one here about how we are losing our boys.

Our faith is restored, however, whenever we rediscover hero's like Henry Flipper. Thank you Black man. HOOAH!

OBAMA ON THE BLACKNESS SCALE: SNL CONTINUES THE DEBATE

Proof that Obama is just Black enough!

MAYBE OBAMA'S BLACK ENUF AFTERALL

No Surprise Here: Jesse Jackson Endorses Barak Obama For President

A little less than a year away from Super Tuesday, Rev. Jesse Jackson recently confirmed his support of Illinois State Senator and 2008 Presidential Candidate Barak Obama.

Just a few weeks following the controversary over the supposed pressure tactics of the Obama campaign to secure an endorsement from the Rev. Al Sharpton, Jackson joins his son Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. in his support of the candidate nick named Illinois 'favorite son.'

To see more on this story, click here.

HALLE BERRY SUICIDE ATTEMPT

WE KNEW SHE WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

We all have our issues, why should this baaaad sister be any different?

If you must know all the details, here they are.

Halle is fine, though. Right fellas?

And, on April 3rd she will join Queen Latifah and Vanessa Williams, as yet another African-American women to be recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (just click on their name for more news)

Sistahs, You Go!

SERENA WILLIAMS AIN'T HAVIN' IT!

On the heels of the distracting taunts of an alleged racist heckler earlier in the week, Serena Williams has advanced on to compete in the finals of the Sony Ericsson Open anyway.

Yeah, that's right!

For the whole story, click here.

DISNEY FINALLY GIVES OUR GIRLS A (WEAK) SHOT AT THE TITLE

Scheduled for a 2009 release, "The Frog Princess" will feature Maddy, its first African American animated princess in its 84 year history.

And of all places, guess the kingdom Disney decided to give homegirl -- hurricane ravaged, gun packin', no aid receiving, incompetent mayor presiding New Orleans.

AND, SHE'S A MAID! OOOH DISNEY - YOU KNOW YOU WRONG!

Calling the film "an American fairy tale", John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Disney and the Disney-owned unit Pixar Animation Studios, said the movie will mark Disney's return to the classic hand-drawn animation process, instead of using computer animation currently used.

Mammy... we meant Maddy, will also be added to its collection of animated princesses used at the company’s theme parks and on consumer products. For more on this story, click here.

To get The Daily Show's Senior Black Correspondent Larry Wilmore's hilarious take on this Disney milestone, click here.

Speaking of Larry...

BERNIE MAC SHOW CREATOR A RIOT AS SENIOR BLACK CORRESPONDENT FOR COMEDY CENTRAL'S DAILY SHOW

Larry Wilmore, creator of the recently canceled Fox program, The Bernie Mac Show, is not just tickling our funny bone.

He's crushing it!

As the Senior Black Correspondent on the The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Williams, along with fellow correspondent John Oliver, recently did a hilarious piece concerning a vote by the New York City Council to ban the usage of the "n"word. The chief sponsor of the resolution, NYC Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), was even featured in this very amusing piece. You've got to see it to believe it!

After two months, interestingly enough, Williams still doesn't appear as part of the anchor team on the cable network's web site? What's up with that?

Otherwise, we like. Alot!

If you weren't a Comedy Central fan before, or have been sick over the departures of D.L. Hughley and Dave Chappelle, Williams may just be what the doctor ordered to get you well again.

SPEAKING OF DAVE CHAPPELLE & THE "N" WORD...

Cohort Paul Mooney, Chappelle Team For BET Pilot Called "Judge Mooney"

Comedian Paul Mooney — remembered as "The Chappelle Show's" resident psychic, "Negrodamus," is embarking on a proposed new series for Black Entertainment Television (BET) that has him re-enacting actual cases that have already been adjudicated. In his own special way, of course.

Interestingly, the man who rose to fame within comedy circles for co-writing some of the late Richard Pryor's most controversial material now declares he's putting a ban on the N-word in his comedy act. When he worked with Pryor "using the word, we were trying to defuse it, trying to desensitize people to it ... take the power out of it," explains Mooney.

"But the word is an equal-opportunity word now, with Latin kids and white kids saying it, and what it conjures up is all these demons. I watched the Michael Richards meltdown over and over, and I had an 'N'-exorcism."

Mooney adds, "And I don't care how you spell it, with an 'a' or an 'er,' if you saute or barbecue a goat, it's still a goat." Be forewarned, "Jesus Was Black and So Was Cleopatra" is laced with the "N" word, but Mooney says it was taped before the whole Richards incident opened his eyes. "I was married to the word then — now I'm divorced from the word."

Source

ONE BRO'S OPINION: JIGGA PLEASE!

Chris Rock Pledges Allegiance To N-Word

March 19, 2007, on CNN's Larry King Live, Chris Rock made it clear through his very best Steppin Fetchit imitation that Blacks are to be ridiculed and laughed at.

He made it clear he has every intention to continually disrespect the memories of our ancestors by making a mockery of their bravery, stalwartness, courage and fortitude by taking the very word (the n-word) that was used to dehumanize them and embrace it shamelessly and immorally.

Unlike the past, it can no longer be acceptable for Blacks like Rock to carry out the will of racist groups such as the KKK, Skinheads, etc. by casting aspersions upon African Americans.Defiant use of the incorrigible n-word is now looked up as an abomination to the canonized memories of those who were dehumanized and subjects of genocidal conditions.

Subjecting our community to a racist definition saturated with carnage, ignorance and degradation, Rock appears more than willing to sacrifice the ordeals and struggles of slave descendants. Even at his and our children's expense.

Chris Rock's allegiance to a word that serves as a mockery is a slap in the face, the equivalent of spitting on the graves of our forefathers. The bottom line is the brother's a sellout to his ancestors and the African American community needs to let him know we are not having it!

To read the entire, unedited post, visit Emancipator here.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? ROVE, ROVE-ROVE-ROVE-ROVE!!!

Some White Guys Know How To Bust A Move

The President and Karl Rove - Ahhh, No!

Also, check out Bush and his political guru gettin' jiggy with it here.

RECENT BATMAN ARREST!

Insistent on using a portable toilet for union workers picketing a local business on Hollywood Boulevard, an argument between the caped crusader (who had to "go") and some of the union-eers suddenly got very... batty.

Next thing you know, Batman's taunting the union people to see if they wanted a piece of Gotham's finest. Then Chewbacca of Star Wars fame comes along, gets hipped to the situation by Batman, and decides he's ready to throw down too.

Boy Wonder was off on Spring Break.

Despite the fact Los Angeles is the gang capital of the world with an escalating murder rate, LAPD had to intervene and subsequently arrest the protector of Gotham.

HOLY BATCRAP!

TUSKEGEE AIRMAN HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

60 Years Coming, Tuskegee Airmen are Finally Honored

President Bush saluted the Tuskegee airmen on Thursday, six way-in-the-hell-too-long decades after they completed their World War II mission and returned home to a country that discriminated against them because they were black.

Want to be inspired, click here.

FOLKS WHO GET IT: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

AS BLACK MEN, WE SALUTE YOU!

JOB WELL DONE
(special thanks to documentarian Christopher Newman)

I WANT MY DIGITAL TV! NOW!!!!!

Say Bye-Bye Analogue TV

Welcome, family, to "The Digital Age".

Ready or not, it's time to throw out those rabbit ears with the duck tape and foil on them. You know the one's Big Mama still uses on the tv.

If you're one of the 1 in 5 Americans refusing to switch over to cable or satellite, you're black a-- will be forced to as of February 17, 2009.

Why? Because U.S. stations will no longer broadcast analogue signals. After 50 years, as of March 1, production on analogue tv sets have ceased. Soon, they won't be available for new purchase either. (fyi - analogue just means over-the air, like how you watched The Brady Bunch, Good Times, I Dream of Jeannie, What's Happenning... we digress)

Finances stressing you - don't trip. In 2008, the federal government will begin making $40 vouchers available (maximum two per household) to assist certain consumers in acquiring converters for the television sets already in their homes.

For more info, click here.

THE BLACK/BROWN DIVIDE CONTINUES

How the U.S. Continuously Engages in Inconsistent Treatment of Haitians vs. Cubans.

No wonder why clashes between African Americans and Latinos persists.

Just how great can our country be if there fails to be fairness in issues such as which political refugees must go and which can stay?

No me gusta!

Why are we not happy campers? Click here to find out.

FOR FAMILY IN CHI-TOWN, DON'T SLEEP ON THIS

Chicago, Illinois - This One's For You!

On 4/19, The Wall Street Journal is hosting an Executive Diversity Career Fair.

The fair will provide a unique setting for job seekers from diverse backgrounds (unemployed bruthas) to meet with top companies seeking senior-level talent (and catch-up on that back child support, right sistahs?)

Want more, click here.

WHY WE'RE ANGRY WITH US

C'MON NOW - AT A WEDDING?

WARNING:TRIFFLING DISTURBING VIDEO
(not at all appropriate for kids)


Meanwhile, China's exports have increased from approximately $20 billion in 1980 to around $400 billion in 2004. From the book, The End of Poverty.

Get the point?

YOU WANT TO DO WHAT WITH MY WHAT???

MALE CIRCUMCISION
What's your slant on the issue?

Don't go there!! Go here

Alright, feel better now?

SEE WHY BLACK WOMEN ARE ANGRY!

Heckler Causes Serena Williams To Have Him Thrown Out

Participaing in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tournament in South Florida, Serena Williams was met by a heckler during her sets. As if the actual heckling wasn't bad enough, when Williams heard heckler Donald Winton say, 'Hit the net like any Negro would,' she had had it.

After complaining to the chair umpire en route to winning her third-round match, Winton was promptly escorted off the site.

"I said she was lazy, that she didn't run for balls --stuff like that-- but I did not say the N-word or use any racial language," Winton told The Miami Herald.

Message to Mr. Winton: Hey, fool! Same difference!

People can't help but be who they are folks. For more on this story, click here.

OH NO, NOT MR. DEATH ROW!

Legendary Hip Hop Mogul Suge Knight

Not Evicted

"What a sight! two black and white police cars plus a car with detectives pulled up to the fanciest condo high rise building on Wilshire Blvd. Friday and the police proceeded to EVICT Suge Knight - apparently for not paying his mortgage."

That's how the story went out family.

Turns out cyberspace got it twisted. He wasn't evicted, HE MOVED!

ThugLifeArmy.com contacted the PR representative for Marion ‘Suge’ Knight, Jonathan Wolfson, to see what was going on with the hip hop mogul. "Suge Knight was not evicted from his Wilshire condominium" Jonathan relayed. “I don't understand how his move could have been misunderstood as an eviction. He is currently living at an undisclosed location in Malibu."

Glad we got that straightened out because we all were losing a lot a sleep over this one!

Yeah, right!

QUICKIE: O-H-I-O! O-H-I-O!

EVERYBODY SING:

"Sanjaya! Sanjaya!"

Sorry, having an Ohio Players flashback.

Our bad!

No, actually the bad news is... he's stayin'.

SLIGH WASN'T SLICK ENOUGH FOR AMERICAN IDOL

Another One Bites the Dust

American Idol Contestant Chris Sligh was eliminated from the top ten on Wednesday evening's show. Of course, the bigger news is that Sanjaya "no singing" Malakar - and his hair - will be coming back to torture viewers for another week.

Is this really worth our energy? Although, American Idol is beginning to slip in the TV ratings department with the hot competition of Dancing with the Stars.

For more on this story, click here.

HE'S BAAAACK!!!!!

Well...maybe.

If you haven't heard, Michael Richards has been invited by Bernie Mac to be part of a celebrity roast where he would be the "roastee." It would be part of a series of celebrity roasts for distribution on DVD.

While, as of our press time, it is not clear as to whether or not Richards will accept. My advice for him would be just to let it go. You can't help but be who you are.

In fact, I owe somewhat of a debt to Mr. Richards; for it was after his ranting and raving at the Comedy Store with his venomous usage of the "N" word that I realized how much I had grown personally when I did not get upset. While I found what happened disappointing, I didn't get enraged like I would have once had if I heard about something like this in the past. This was largely in part due to the fact I was not surprised. I learned long ago that people show you their true selves during times of extreme stress. Quite telling.

Besides, he was on a show (Seinfeld) for a hundred years about people living in New York who never saw Black people except for at the end of the season; it was like being thrown a bone for good measure. It's cool. I get it. It's not like we were their key demographic despite New York being arguably the most diverse city in America.

You can best believe when that DVD comes out, I will be keeping that money in my pocket the same way I did when the Seinfeld episodes were released.

MARYLAND JOINS VIRGINIA IN APOLOGIZING FOR SLAVERY

Is America Starting to Get It?

Click here for the full story

Less than a month ago, in response to all the hoopla over Rev. Al Sharpton’s ancestors having been owned by white slave owners and Presidential Candidate and Illinois Senator Barak Obama having been a descendant of slave owners, I wrote a blog post saying it was time for America to get with the program and just apologize for slavery. To this day, it is still, by far, the most viewed post on my site.

If you haven’t had a chance you should really check it out. I even got one comment telling me how slavery had been “good for the country.” Yes, I had to take a few deep breaths and remind myself I had been transformed in to the Content Black Woman. However, on some days, that Incredible Hulk-like thang can begin to happen and before you know it, it’s on!

Ladies, you know what I mean.

As, always, let the Brothas and the Sistah know what you think by hitting the comment link below.

Peace.

APOLOGIES FOR SLAVERY ABOUND

Could it be that America is on the front end of a tail wind for a national apology for slavery?

AMERICAN IDOL MANIA: WHAT THE HAIR?!

PREDICTION: EXPECT A BATTLE OF THE SISTAHS IN THE FINALE

If you had told me a couple of months ago that I'd be blogging about American Idol... hell, blogging about anything, I would have told you that you must be out your cotton pickin' mind. Well, it's like my grandmother use to say -

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM.

The whole "Idol" phenomena really is nothing more than a pop cultural weapon of mass distraction. However, since their form of marketing and advertising rivals that of any local crack dealer, like much of America, I too have found myself caught up. Their game is slick - I'll give them that. They know how to hook you with just enough taste in the form of those wack preliminary auditions.

It got to a point where I was leaving my kid's PTA meetings early so I could get home in time to see this nonsense. But keeping it real, it was funny as hell!

So, now I find myself all up in the middle of the final ten. I know I've got better things to do, but since I can't quite kick this addiction, I might as well make it worthwhile for you family.

Click here for my review of Tuesday night's show. (Unofficial "Team Lakisha" Headquaters)

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE RETURN MELINDA DOOLITTLE'S NECK

THE BROTHA'S FAVORITE IDOL!

KATIE, KATIE, KATIE

DID SHE GO TOO FAR?

YEAH, I SAID IT - KATIE COURIC: THE BULLY WITH NO RATINGS

We're Not All In Agreement On This But Trust Me, It’s Coming.

She's Outta There!

Yeah, that's right - I said it.

Katie Couric's interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards on 60 Minutes was a DISASTER! Already trailing ABC and NBC in the evening news race, CBS got hit with over 600 negative emails. Ouch!

So what did we learn - insight to the type of presidency Edwards has to offer - ahhh, no! What we learned is don't piss off cancer survivors. These folks are all about beating the big "C" and continuing the journey, not being a burden.

When you ask the tough questions - you gotta be direct, "Are you trying to garner sympathy and votes by having your wife continue in your 2008 White House campaign?"

Don't be a weenie like Katie - asking the same question 16 different ways and always beginning the question with deflecting preambles like, “Critics say…”, Your detractors question … Some would say …, Some would believe … Others say...”

Katie we know your own husband died of cancer, so you have the credibility, maybe not the ratings, but credibility - yes.

And listen, if ya’ going down, at least go down a journalist, not some unforgetable, desperate "host".

DRIVING WHILE BLACK: FIRST VIVICA, NOW EDDIE!

WHAT IS IT WITH US AND DRIVING?!?

C'mon y'all!!!!!!

BUT DAMN! #223 PIMPING MY CRIB

I'm Fixing My House To Sell

But Damn,

...Will I Get The Money Back At Resale?

Hell no... well, maybe.

It's a buyers market if you haven't heard. You missed that gravy train where houses with inflated prices and 1972 decor were flying off the block. Now, brokers search the listings for buzz phrases that all begin with "New", as in new bathrooms, new granite counters, new copper plumbing, new state of the art kitchens.

No on-line virtual tour of your home??? You're like Posh Spice Beckham moving to the beaches of Los Angeles... you have reason to be nervous, 'cause ya' now got competition!

That said, let's look at home improvements returns upon resale:

According to Hanley-Wood LLC’s 2003 Cost vs. Value Report, homeowners recouped:

**84% of the cost of an upscale bathroom, 95% of a more modest one.

**79% of the cost of an upscale kitchen renovation, 75% of a more modest one.

**79% of the cost of a basement remodel (includes large entertainment area, bath, additional bedroom-sized room)

**77% of a master bedroom suite, whether high-end or mid-range

**104% of a deck addition. Folks are obviously in to more leisure time!

Maybe kitchen and bathroom renovations do pay for themselves, yet don't count out the basement. Either way, pimp your crib for you and yours to enjoy. Whether the time, money and inconvenience will pay for itself - two words - DON'T TRIP!

GONZALES GOIN' DOWN: NOT THE DL!

You know it's time to start brushing off your resume when even Republicans aren't feeling you. After his recent lame media appearance, privately they're all taking bets on when United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will be kicked to the curb.

To read the latest and see streaming video, go here

Black Republicans, what are we going to do about Bush? And, none of the current '08 White House candidates are even trying to step to us? What's up with that?

Barack is compelling! And not just because he's a brother.

Okay, maybe a little.

DOING THE RIGHT THING, THE WRONG WAY

HANGIN' WITH YOUR GIRL

THE RIGHT THING...

THE WRONG WAY!

THE DNA RESULTS ARE IN!

3 BROTHERS & A SISTER HAVE EXCLUSIVE

BREAKING NEWS TO REPORT:

THIS WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE TO MANY


WE SUSPECTED IT ALONG


ENOUGH SUSPENSE...


ARE YOU READY???

ANNA'S BODYGUARD BIG MOE

With the war in Iraq, the Darfur crisis, and everybody strapped and packin' in Katrina, you conscious brothers and sisters will at least skim these stories. (just click Iraq, Darfur, or Katrina)

The rest of you triffling folks can get the latest on the Anna Nicole Smith saga by clicking here

April Fools Comes Early - No Need To Thank Us!

LATINAS THE BROTHERS ARE FEELIN'

EVA MENDES - BRINGING SEXY BACK

SALMA HAYEK - THAT BABY'S GONNA BE IN HEAVEN

Brothers Tha Sistahs Are Feelin'

We Like Gettin' Our

Eye Candy On Too!

(and we don't have to go outside the race to get it)

LATINOS FEELING HEAT FROM ALL SIDES

RACIAL MELTDOWN:
Leaders' Silence is Killing Blacks

By Kerman Maddox,
LA Times - March 21, 2007

Why are Latinos committing violent crimes targeted against African Americans in Los Angeles?

If these hate crimes were being committed by the KKK against Latinos or African Americans, both communities would come together and condemn the violence as racist. Why not now?

According to The Los Angeles Times, police statistics show that from 1994 to 2005, there were nearly five times as many homicides, assaults and other violent crimes committed by Latinos against African Americans in Harbor Gateway as by African Americans against Latinos.

One example of how out of control race relations have been in Harbor Gateway is the case of the 19-year-old African American man with no known gang affiliation who was killed by a Latino member of the 204th Street gang because the gang member was upset that an African American had defeated a Latino in a boxing match.

Three Los Angeles members of a Latino gang known as the Avenues were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in November for hate crime violations, including killing African Americans in an effort to run them out of predominantly Latino neighborhoods.

When are more Latino political leaders going to speak out against these hate crimes? If any type of political coalition exists, now's the time to make something happen.

I will say publicly what many people are whispering privately in barbershops, soul food restaurants and church parking lots in South Los Angeles. If relations don't improve soon between Blacks and Latinos in Southern California, we are headed for a major racial conflict.

KERMAN MADDOX is a political consultant and board member of the African American Summit on Violence Prevention, www.aasvp.org

BLACKS & LATINOS: WE AIN'T GETTIN' ALONG

Kerman's right - something is bubbling just under the surface folks. All jokes aside- this is a serious national crisis. Read here -- and here

In Schools, It's The Principal Of The Thing. click here

LET'S NOT FALL FOR THIS WAR OF THE COLOREDS

For more than 20 years, Black and Brown population numbers have been steadily rising while the numbers for white folks have stayed stagnant. For the insecure money-hungry power elite who don’t look like us nor like the notion of us outnumbering them, this can be scary.

This is why Katrina, border insecurity and deep-seeded poverty are allowed to happen in the richest, country in the world.

Having said that, we can't keep blaming white people. Been there, done that!

What we can do is come together, organize and take control. The energy we're putting into fighting each other should go into getting to the polls on Election Day in numbers that matter, demanding better schools, and creating our own economic opportunities.

Need an example of what we're talking about - click here

HEY YOU ILLEGALS: LA CUCHA GOTCHA

NEWARK — Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, hosts of an afternoon radio show called "The Jersey Guys", think teasing Asians with sing-song Chinese accents is hilarious. Mental illness - hysterical.

Recently the outrageous pair kicked off “Operation Rat a Rat/La Cucha Gotcha,” a listener-participation game set to mariachi music that encourages people to turn in friends, neighbors and “anyone suspicious” to immigration authorities.

With 15 percent of New Jersey's population identified as being Hispanic, reaction to the show in the garden state has not exactly been positive... with Latinos that is.

At a news conference Thursday, Hispanic elected officials and others were pissed, calling the campaign a “publicity stunt” that could incite violence against Hispanics.

Anyone expecting an apology or an immediate end to Rat a Rat, however, will be sorely disappointed. The cockroach campaign, at least for now, is not slated to end until May 5th, aka Cinco de Mayo.

Tequila!

BUT DAMN! #222 100% FINANCING

My FICO SCORE IS 740!!
BUT DAMN!
I CAN’T GET 100% FINANCING!

The 100% financing boat has left the dock. 5% down is the norm for owner occupied purchases. If you are thinking second home or rental property you’d better dig deep. We are talking 10% to 20% down. You can thank your slacker friends who took their sub par credit, and purchased sub par loans, with balloon payments and variable rate loans, who live way beyond their means, and who are now loosing their homes, … why? … just to keep up with you, Mr. & Ms. Jones! But wait! Hold up! Let’s check the “at fault meter“, yes, lets not forget the “fungus among us” you putz with your your 740 FICO, you wanna-be land baron who bought the spec house sunk 20k to 60k in it, to fix it up, only to find nobody wants your cheap material choices, no one can afford the new rates and buyers who can afford these over inflated prices, know they can be picky. You’ve been paying that mortgage for 9 months or more and your realtor now brings his portable DVD player to your open house. Fret not, misery loves company and you’ve got plenty of it. On your block alone there are four other houses in the same dam pinch, just different colored signs out front.

What to do? Here’s a "trifecta" of choices for those still wanting to purchase additional property and continue this pony race.

1. If you can, do a full documentation (full docs)loan, ie… someone looking at your taxes and all you dirty financial laundry. You may still be good to purchase no money down if you can move into the place temporarily for 2 years before selling it. This is great If you’re young and it’s just the two of you, I know folks who move every two years for just this purpose.

2. Bite the bullet pay the 10% down, but buy in another state with cheaper land. Scratch Cali, Florida and New York off your list and look at Texas, Nebraska, Idaho, places, where houses are cheap, appreciation is high and people have jobs. Take that sour look off your face. You're not moving there ... you're trying to make money!

3. Negotiation is back! It’s a buyers market and sellers are taking reasonable discount offers, especially if that spec house is sitting there empty. Buyers are willing to pay closing cost and all sorts of paint, carpet “repair concessions” Don’t Demand, Just Ask.

If this column helped save you some "paper,"or "peeped" you some knowledge, please leave a comment below.

MOVIE NEWS: DID WE SINK PRIDE?!

WHOA! WHAT HAPPENED?! This weekend we preferred turtles over trunks?! We opted to see 300 nearly naked white dudes dead in a field rather than 8 brothers diving in a pool?

We selected a shooter over a swimmer?! With the movie “Pride’ predicted at grossing only $4 million on its opening weekend (bringing it in at number 10) it certainly looks as if a whole lot of people did not see the movie or read our review. Yes, it was only on 1,518 screens but the average dollar per screen was $2,635 -- putting it well below TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) which averaged $8,183 per screen.

So, we’ll withhold wagging our fingers (mainly at those who clamor for more solid black films) and invite you to read what we have to say about “Pride” once again, and then take your cine-butt to the theater.

U.S. Box Office Totals - March 26, 2007

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - raked in $25.4 for the #1 spot.

300 - second with $20.5 million.

Shooter - debuted third with $15.4 million.

Wild Hogs - fourth with $14.3 million.

The Last Mimzy - opened fifth with $10.2 million.

Premonition - came in sixth with 10.1 million.

The Hills Have Eyes 2 - seventh with $10 million.

Reign Over Me - eighth with $8 million

Pride - number nine with $4 million. (RECOMMENDED)

Dead Silence - rounded out the Top 10 with $3.4 million, reports UPI.

Box Office Estimates Provided By Box Office Mojo

MOVIE REVIEWS: ONLY AT 3B

FILM REVIEW: "PRIDE" (view trailer)

“Pride,” the true story of an all-black Philadelphia neighborhood swim team in the 1970’s, starring Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac, which starts today, hits nearly all the right notes. However they are chords that we have heard countless times, usually involving some sport team or player who bucks the odds and comes out a champion in the end.

The refreshing note in “Pride” is that it involves a sport we haven’t seen portrayed on screen by black actors: the world of competitive swimming. Aside from a few fresh glimpses of that world (“cup your hands for greater speed;” “drag is good for training, but death in racing”) everything else in “Pride” is pretty standard fair.

Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard), a former swimming star, can’t get a break from da man and winds up in a neighborhood recreation facility destined for decimation. The facility is staffed by crotchety old and funny Elston (Bernie Mac) and falls under the jurisdiction of a councilwoman played by Kimberly Elise—who seems to be getting ALL the black women roles lately. When the basketball hoop is suddenly taken down, good old Jim Ellis encourages the boys to come in and swim. And thus he gets them interested in aquatic competition. And do I need to mention that love blooms between Jim and the councilwoman?

If the plot in “Pride” seems as thin as water, it is. But that’s irrelevant. This is a feel good movie for the whole family. The neighborhood drug dealer, played with oily smarminess by Gary Anthony Sturgis, is mean enough to be the requisite bad guy but his viciousness is not played out in guns, knives or gratuitous violence. The supporting roles, most notably Kevin Phillips, Alphonso McAuley and Evan Ross provide fresh faces who play their parts with passion. And as a treat for the ladies, there are plenty of six packs and pecs to give them some great eye candy.

“Pride” works on a basic level—the level of familiarity, like a breakfast you have every morning. Nothing new, but you like it and its good for you. The 70’s soul music, we know and love. The images of afro-wearing brothers sweating it out on a basketball court, we know and love. And the story of black folks undergoing the b.s. of racism that has been so often thrown at us is a story we are all too familiar with. But overcoming that crap is the part we will always love.

OBAMA - What's Not To Love?!

Finally! Real Leadership at Work!

For the latest, click here.

DOING THE RIGHT THING, THE WRONG WAY

Spending The Night In New York!

THE RIGHT THING...

THE WRONG WAY !

Kobe Gone Wild!!

NBA Laker superstar Kobe Bryant ties with Michael Jordan for 2nd Place behind Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive 50 points plus games in NBA history. For more click here

OUR BOYS WIN THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT, click here

SPEAKING OF B-BALL: HOW 'BOUT SOME MARCH MADNESS!

While I'm Not Into The Whole
NCAA Final 4 Thing...

GO UCLA!!!

For Those Not On The West Coast,
DON'T HATE!

Want the latest on college basketball news, click HERE

College mascot's death is tragic, our prayers to the family!

When It Comes to Education, Too Much & Oprah are Never Enough

Be Content Black Woman...
You Deserve It

Now this is some madness!

So many complain about the "flava-flav" conditions of the state of our world. Yet folk are so quick to jump all over a woman who is at least making an effort to cure some of our world’s ills while their asses don’t have two "flava flavin" nickels to rub together. They are so lucky my name is not Oprah, because I would be so quick to tell them to kiss my "flava flav".

What in the "flava flav" have you done for poor Black children lately?

I usually pride myself in my ever so recent transformation into the Content Black Woman. However, on this subject, my "flava flav" just got to be angry!

So, Oprah has opened up a second school. A primary institution designed to be a model for elementary school preparation in South Africa. Before she came along, that school was just a mess with no windows, little electricity or running water and only four toilets for about 1,000 teachers and students. These are people, not animals. I am so "flava flav" sick and tired of folk treating African people like "flava flav". So was Oprah, so she decided to do something about it.

Hell, I ain’t mad! Grrrrl, do you thang and help our people.

Look at the "flava flav" educational system in America's innercities. A rcent study showed 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. are functionally illiterate.

What kind of "flava flavor" is that?!?!

At one point, I use to say that the American educational system was the most racist thing taking place in “the greatest country in the world” today. However, I have to take that "flava flav" back. We just have a bunch of greedy "flava flavers" who happen to be white men who only live for today and could give a "flava flav" about anyone else.

Message to the greedy "flava flavers": You are not a credit to your race.

As for you, Ms. Oprah, you do you. Continue to be the model for good that you are, because when I gets mine and begin to roll like you, I’ll be right there with you.

Continue to rise dear sister, I’ve got your back and you have my prayers – ALWAYS!