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Live Blogging At Tavis Smiley's State of The Black Union

Who's Accountable For Black America 10 Years Later

I'm here in Los Angeles for the 10th Annual State of the Black Union and it's getting ready to officially start. Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner kicked it off.

Host Raymond Brown leads the discussion with Congressman Maxine Waters, Law Professor Charles Ogletree, Journalist Stephanine Robinson, Prosectot Peter Harvey, Columnist Michelle Singletary, Urban League President Marc Morial, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant, Motivational Speaker Les Brown, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Tricia Rhodes are the morning panelists.

Everyone talks about how post-racial America is now that we have an African American president. While Barack Obama is the Commander-in-Chief, we still have this issue of post-racial versus post racist.

Per NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Attorney General Eric Holder and Rev. Jesse Jackson are living in some distant past.

Michael Eric Dyson just stated he doesn't want to stop being black.

Here we go!!!

Will I Am, Tony Benett, Mary Mary & Others Help Obama Honor Stevie Wonder On Thursday Night Televison

An evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama at the White House in honor of musician Stevie Wonder's receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song takes place February 25, 2009. The concert will include performances by Wonder with a cavalcade of popular musicians, performing a selection of Wonder's hit songs. The sixty-minute program airs Thursday, February 26, 2009, at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. Check under the hood to see the video promo of this great event.




And On March 2 catch Stevie's first ever Live DVD Release, filmed live at the O2 Theater in London. Go to Screenvision-StevieWonder for more details on what theaters here in the U.S.A. will carry the concert on the big scrrens.

State of The Black Union 2009 - 10 Years Later, Any Progress?

ARE WE CREATINNG AN AMERICA AS GOOD AS ITS PROMISE?

Love him or hate him, you have to give it to Tavis Smiley for his ability to gather some of the most influential thinkers, entertainers, and political leaders of our time each year to discuss the state of the Black America. This year is no execption, as Smiley holds court in Los Angeles this weekend during Black History Month.

One of C-Spans most popular live programs, the 2009 State of the Black Union celebrates its 10th anniversary of historic conversations. As Americans celebrate the inauguration of our new President, along with other important national, state, and local elections, this year’s panels examine the role that African Americans can and must play to create an America as good as its promise, from health to housing, criminal justice to environmental justice, and education to economic prosperity.

Panelists from the first State of the Black Union in 1999 will return and take center stage to address and undress the media images and social realities of African Americans.

This year there will be a blogger's panel, featuring the like of Carmen Dixon of All About Race, Lenny McAlister of Hip Hop Republican, and yours truly, Kevin Ross of 3BAAS Media Group. Trust me, it's going to be very interesting.

Publisher Rupert Murdoch Apologises For Racist Monkey Cartoon (But we are not Feel'n It! )

Too little, too late Rupert Murdoch. You should have apologised days ago, but alas, I fear with your newspaper readership down, you had to sit on this apology for a while and milk what publicity you could out of it. Unless the people of the New York Post are complete idiots... (not possible). Or they are horrifically out of tune with African Americans and how they have been perceived... (really not possible). This Murdoch apology should have arrived overnight. So this writer is not accepting this apology. For the record The owner of the New York Post, Rupert Murdoch, made it official and apologised for a cartoon which critics said was a racist depiction of President Barack Obama as a gun riddled monkey.


Mr Murdoch said the cartoon was meant to mock Mr Obama's legislation and was not intended to be racist.

The newspaper had apologised to readers last week after widespread criticism.

The cartoon, published on 18 February, came a day after Mr Obama signed into law a $787bn (£548bn) economic stimulus package approved by Congress after weeks of wrangling.

The image referred to a gruesome incident earlier that week, when a pet chimp in Connecticut attacked and disfigured a woman before being shot dead by police.

In an editorial in Friday's edition, Mr Murdoch said the paper had made a mistake in publishing the cartoon and that he was sorry for any offence.

Read More at BBC NEWS

President Obama Still Reaching Out With Diversity, Nominates Gary Locke For Commerce Department

Gary Locke and Wife Mona

Say what you want but I like that President Obama is sticking with his vision for the United States, how he wants to do things. That theme is obvious with his anticipated nomination of former Washington governor Gary Locke to likely be President Obama's choice to head the Commerce Department, according to several administration officials briefed on the decision.

The choice of Locke for commerce secretary would continue a pair of themes that have emerged as Obama has assembled his Cabinet: diversity and reaching out to former rivals.

Locke a former Hillary Clinton backer was the first, and remains the only, Chinese American to be elected governor of a state, and he would become the third Asian American in Obama's Cabinet, joining Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

After several high-profile misfires emerged in the Cabinet selection process, Locke is regarded as a safe choice by senior officials in the Obama administration given his long history in public life, his strait-laced reputation and his bipartisan governing credentials. His steady -- and generally popular -- tenure as governor of Washington was the biggest factor in his selection, according to a source familiar with the administration's thinking.

An Eagle Scout who lived in public housing as a child, Locke began his political career in the Washington House, where he served for a decade starting in 1982. After three years as county executive in Seattle's King County in the mid-1990s , Locke was easily elected governor in 1996. He won reelection in 2000 with 58 percent of the vote, served as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association in 2003 and gave the Democratic response to President George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address.

Locke decided against seeking a third term, citing a desire to spend more time with his family and to reclaim a "normal life."

After leaving office in 2004, Locke joined the Seattle office of the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in China and energy issues. Fred Yang, a Democratic pollster and partner at Garin-Hart-Yang Research, said Locke's heritage and his familiarity with trade issues related to Asia would make him a wise pick for Obama.

More of this story At Washington Post.com

200lb Chimp Shares Bed With Owner And Mauls Her Friend... Questions Abound

No this is not a headline from the National Inquirer. It is the buzz in all the legit papers around the country. How could a woman Sandra Herold, own a 200 pound chimp and sleep in the same bed with him. Then that same chimp attack one of her friends leaving her for dead. Some say the Chimp wore a diaper at night to catch is poop others say he wore the diaper to hold in place his rather large penis. What we can say for certain is that the victim Charla Nash is lucky to be alive.

Stamford police say they are taking their time before deciding whether the woman who raised a chimpanzee that mauled her friend on Monday will face criminal charges.

It remains unclear what charges 70-year-old Sandra Herold could face in the attack at her North Stamford home by her 14-year-old, 200-pound pet named Travis.

But the day after the victim, 55-year-old Charla Nash, was transferred to an Ohio hospital famous for a facial transplant, police continued to look into prescription antidepressant Xanax and its role in the case. They say Herold admitted in her first statements after the attack that she gave Travis the drug to calm him before Nash arrived at her Rockrimmon Road house.

Herold called Nash to help bring the chimpanzee back inside after he had let himself out, police have said. When Nash arrived, he attacked her, ripping off most of her face and damaging her hands, according to 911 tapes and doctors' reports.

Herold speculated that Travis was being protective of her and attacked Nash because she had a different hairstyle, was driving a different car and held a stuffed toy in front of her face to get the chimp's attention.

Herold later said she did not give Xanax to Travis. It is not clear whether giving the animal the drug is a crime, nor whether it sparked the attack.

But the administration of the drug, if not itself a crime, is part of what the courts would have to investigate in determining whether

GOP Chair Michael Steele's Hip Hop Nation is Too Black For Blacks

In this weeks Washington Times the newly elected Republican Party Chair, Michael Steele announced changes needed in the Republican Party: To quote: "We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles but we want to apply them to urban-suburban hip-hop settings.” he goes on to say, " “It will be avant-garde, technically. It will come to the table with things that will surprise everyone—'off the hook.'... not cutting edge but beyond cutting edge."

OK, slow your roll Michael, because if you had not noticed, candidate Barack Obama was Black but in no way did he preach a sermon of "get-down", "jiggy and fa shizzle" to American voters. In fact Obama being competent and visionary is not only what attracted White America but these things made Black Americans proud. Wake up GOP, Black folks are and have always been attracted to class acts.

Rihanna Shocking Beat Down Photo

Rihanna Before the Chris Brown Beat-Down

And now this is the official police investigation photo of Rihanna after getting beat up by R & B singer Chris Brown. This is also the official end of Chris' R & B career

Is there anything left to say... if so leave a comment.
.

Congrats TMZ on this huge scoop.

"Illinois Senator Roland Burris Must Resign"... The Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune also said, "Mr. Roland Burris's story has more twists than the Chicago El, and none of them good." To recap: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted on federal corruption charges, including accusations that the Democratic governor wanted to sell President Obama's former Senate seat to the highest bidder, before he ultimately appointed Burris to that seat.

At the Blagojaevich impeachment trial, under oath, Burris said he had not promised Blagovich money or favors for the seat. Now it seems Burris lied or as he puts it, "not forth coming with all the details"

Monday night in Peoria, Illinois, revealed that he had three conversations with the governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich.

In them, the Democratic senator said he discussed possibly raising money for the governor before ultimately declining to do so.

Burris said he had talked to some people about holding a fundraiser but told the governor's brother shortly after Obama's election that no one was willing to donate. In a third conversation, he finally said it would be inappropriate to raise money because he was interested in the Senate appointment.

"This latest revelation makes a mockery of his professions of no quid pro quo," the Post argued on its editorial page. "It is a violation of the public trust. The people of Illinois have suffered enough. Mr. Burris should resign."

See more of the Buress article at CNNPOLITICS.COM

Electric Purgatory by Raymond Gayle Reveals The Struggles of Black Rockers In The Music Industry

Trustee Angela Reddock Wants LA Community College Students Trained in Hybrid, Plug-In Vehicle Service

Los Angeles Candidates in The 2009 Election

L.A. Community College Board Trustee Angela J. Reddock has initiated what she believes will lead to the eventual launch of a new state-of-the-art, high tech automotive job training facility for the servicing, maintenance and repair of hybrid and plug-in electric cars and trucks, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

For minority students and those seeking job opportunities in today's economy, this is the type of leadership that more elected officials should be demonstrating.

Ms. Reddock said, “Fuel efficient, low emission hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles are the top choice for many motorists. The job market for skilled technicians to service hybrids and plug-in vehicles is expected to grow tremendously as domestic and foreign automakers – at the urging of the federal government – make a major shift to manufacturing green vehicles. L.A.’s community colleges are an ideal place to train hybrid and plug-in electric auto service technicians.”

“Today’s green vehicle service and repair is high tech. Our college students need to keep pace with the latest in automotive service of hybrid and plug-in electric cars and trucks. That means building and equipping a facility that can train hundreds of green auto service technicians each year. GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda are ideal partners for our community colleges as the world’s automakers restructure their vehicle lines to produce and sell more green cars in California and across the country,” Ms. Reddock said.

Detroit Carmakers On The Clock For Bail Out Deadline

General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC press for late concessions from Detroit labor unions to work into turnaround plans that are due to the government on Tuesday. Congress has let them know they need to have a viable plan if they are to get any more money from the U.S. government and ultimately the American people.

President Obama has decided to give them a helping hand by killing the idea of a "Car Czar", and will now name a task force today to oversee the remaking of the U.S. auto industry.

According to a White House official, the Presidential Task Force on Autos and other Obama administration officials will act together deciding whether GM and Chrysler are making sufficient progress to keep the $17.4 billion in loans they already have received and field any requests for additional aid, including Chrysler's urgent bid for an additional $3 billion.

"The administration understands the importance of the American auto industry," said a White House official Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It wants to work with these companies as they seek to become viable and thriving businesses. But we're also clear-eyed about the magnitude of the restructuring going forward."

The team will be headed by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers. It will include staffers from several agencies, including the departments of Transportation, Energy, Labor, Commerce and Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The only outside expert hired by the administration so far is Ron Bloom, an adviser to the U.S. Steelworkers who had worked with unions in several industries on corporate restructuring and employee ownership plans.


Obama said Wednesday he's prepared "to offer serious help" to Detroit's auto industry, but only if its executives, workers and suppliers share the sacrifices necessary to keep the companies afloat in the worst U.S. market in decades. The White House official said no decisions on next steps for the industry, including Chrysler's $3-billion request, had been made yet.

The team already is reviewing a request for suppliers for up to $25.5 billion in federal aid, including more loan money to Detroit automakers to speed payments to suppliers. Steep cuts in production over the past few months have put many suppliers on the brink of collapse.

Source and more at USATODAY.com

Black Colleges Struggle For Relevancy As Opportunities, Money Change The Game

Historically black colleges and universities, like many other schools, are struggling with both fewer resources and a growing demand from students for financial aid.

But the institutions known as HBCUs have another problem that some leaders contend is theirs alone: Many African-American students are finding their needs met elsewhere.

In 1977, 35 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to black students were from historically black colleges. By 2002, the share was down to 22 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, even though the number of African-American students earning bachelor’s degrees from historically black colleges actually grew.

In the days of segregation, African-American students had limited options. Now, with a wide range of choices, only 13 percent of African-American college students are enrolled in HBCUs.

Kristin Mason, a junior English major at Atlanta’s Spelman College, is one. Mason, who is from Colorado, chose Spelman, she said, because of the “sense of belonging” she felt surrounded by smart black women.

Morehouse College senior Shaun Harris, a business major from Illinois, said he was “looking for brotherhood” at the Atlanta men’s school whose alumni include the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

But Mark Gamble of Columbus said he “embraced the diversity” at Georgia State University, where about 60 percent of the students are white, 26 percent African-American, and the rest are other ethnicities or identify themselves as multiracial.

“I like being around whites, blacks, Asians and all the other minorities,” said Gamble, a sophomore film major.

Georgia State freshman Mercedes Callaway of Atlanta said she chose the state research university over Spelman, a private women’s HBCU, because of money. A friend at Spelman is “getting a good education,” said Callaway, who is on the HOPE scholarship. “But she’s in debt to pay for school.”

HBCUs are losing students to a range of institutions, said William “Sonny” Walker, who graduated from a historically black college in Arkansas and has served on the boards of three others, including, currently, Atlanta’s Morris Brown College.

“Many of the students who came from middle- and upper-income families, whose parents could afford to pay tuition, are going to Harvard, are going to Georgia, are going to Georgia Tech, are going to Vanderbilt,” Walker said.

Many historically black schools have lower endowments than other colleges, making less money available for scholarships, school officials say. But those institutions play an important role, said Leonard L. Haynes, executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

At historically black institutions, he said, students of color can “get an education, get nurturing, get to mature and get to be good citizens after they graduate” in an environment that celebrates their cultures. “If they didn’t exist today, they would have to be created,” Haynes said.



The current economic climate —- which is hitting universities across the country, public and private —- is making it harder to pay the bills, exacerbating problems both for families of students and for the schools themselves, officials of local colleges say.

Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse and Spelman all revealed this month that they are cutting back on expenses.

Clark Atlanta President Carlton E. Brown said 70 faculty members and 30 other staffers were being laid off because of an “enrollment emergency” after years of declining numbers. At least 200 students recently dropped out or transferred to state colleges because they could no longer afford Clark Atlanta, Brown said.

Morehouse officials confirmed that they had not renewed the contracts of about 25 adjunct professors, about a third of the school’s part-time instructors.

And Spelman officials announced that they are eliminating 35 positions, 23 of them staffed, phasing out the college’s department of education and discontinuing some programs.

Spelman, whose donors include Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey, is in high demand among black women, said its president, Beverly Tatum.

“Students want to go to Spelman,” she said. “The issue is whether they can afford to go to Spelman.”

Morris Brown has struggled for years. It faces a Feb. 17 deadline to pay the remaining $214,000 of past-due water bills to the city of Atlanta. The college lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2002, largely because of financial instability.

The Morris Brown board and its president, Stanley Pritchett, say they are looking at specialty programs and projects that might save the school, which, he said, would probably not be able to continue as a traditional liberal arts college.

Despite their troubles, historically black colleges and universities have fierce defenders.

“We need to find a way to preserve these institutions,” said state Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. “Our universities have struggled to survive just as we as a people have struggled to survive.”

Historically black colleges “speak to the legacy of our forefathers,” he said.

Jones, whose degrees are from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, packed his oldest child off to college this fall.

He’s a freshman at Johns Hopkins University.

ATLANTA’S HBCUs

Clark Atlanta University Research university Enrollment: 3,900 Founded: 1988, merging Clark College and Atlanta University

Morehouse College Traditional men’s college Enrollment: 2,800 Founded: 1887 as Augusta Institute

Morris Brown College Liberal arts college Enrollment: About 200 Founded: 1881

Spelman College Traditional women’s college Enrollment: 2,200 Founded: 1881

By Gayle White, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Obama White House Concert And Award For Stevie Wonder

The White House is planning a concert this month to honor Stevie Wonder, whose music provided part of President Obama's campaign soundtrack. The White House says the president and first lady Michelle Obama will present Wonder with a Library of Congress award on Feb. 25. The concert will be broadcast the next day on PBS as part of its Performance at the White House series.

T.D. Jakes's Son Arrested For Exposing Himself

The son of Potter’s House Bishop T.D. Jakes turned himself in to the Dallas County Jail on Thursday on an indecent exposure charge stemming from an incident at a southern Dallas park last month

Jermaine Jakes, 29, posted $1,000 bail and was released Thursday morning, according to jail records.

Jakes is accused of exposing himself in front of an undercover Dallas police vice detective at Kiest Park, near West Kiest Boulevard and South Hampton Road, on the night of Jan. 3, police said.

He was detained at the scene and released, as is often the procedure in such cases. The charge is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

T.D. Jakes is founder of the Potter’s House, a 30,000-member mega-church in the Mountain Creek area. Source: SCOTT GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News

Chris Brown & Rihanna: DA Hands It Back To The Police

Prosecutors said Tuesday they want more evidence from police before determining whether to press charges against Chris Brown, who's accused in a domestic dispute that reportedly involves pop superstar Rihanna.

Police presented a case regarding Brown on Tuesday, but did not release any of its details, Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said. She said the office would have no further comment on the case.

Brown was arrested Sunday night after surrendering to police, who sought the 19-year-old singer when a woman identified him as her attacker during a fight the night before. Numerous media outlets, citing sources and police officials who were not named, have identified the woman as 20-year-old Rihanna, Brown's longtime girlfriend.

Though an initial police news release indicated that they were investigating a battery on a woman who was injured, Brown was booked only on suspicion of making a criminal th

reat, a felony. Police have said that prosecutors would determine what charges, if any, were warranted.

The district attorney's kicking the case back to police could signal that prosecutors are seeking to build stronger charges against Brown; or it could mean the current evidence is too flimsy or has holes that would drop it to a misdemeanor or make it go away altogether, Loyola University law professor Stan Goldman said.

"Sending it back certainly isn't the death penalty," Goldman said.

"If you're Chris Brown," he added, "it's both bad and good."

Check out Washington Post.com for the rest of this story.

Michelle Obama Watch: Fashion Now Takes It's Cue From A Black Woman!

The First Lady Works The Cover of Vogue

Celebrating Obama, The NAACP And Talk Radio’s Segregated Airwaves

NAACP Turns 100, But What Has It Done Lately?

By Kevin Ross

Congratulating the National Association for the Advancement of Color People for 100 years of service for me is a no-brainer. But given the economic funk the country is currently in, don't expect me to bring balloons.

The current number one civil rights issue in American right now is financial. Folks need jobs. And when I say jobs, I'm talking about a plethora of jobs, including ones that sway public opinion and perceptions as to what is going on not just in America, but all over the world.

Take KRLA AM 870, a Salem Network talk station broadcasting from Glendale, California. The day kicks off with Bill Bennett, followed by Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, and Dennis Miller. Kevin James, perhaps best known for the intellectual beat down from host Chris Matthews when he appeared on MSNBC’s “Hardball”, rounds out the evening.

Aside from the fact that each of these individuals is unabashedly conservative, they also have something else in common.

All of them are men. White men.

Switch over to Southern California’s number one talk station, powerhouse KFI AM 640, and the Monday through Friday line-up is slightly more “balanced”. George Noury begins at midnight. Next up is Bill Handel’s morning drive, the political musings of Rush Limbaugh, followed by in-your-face, no-nonsense advice from Dr. Laura Schlesinger. John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou pick up the torch during afternoon drive before former MTV personality Kennedy and Brian Suits close it out.

Although all the personalities at the Burbank station are Caucasian, two women – Dr. Laura and Kennedy - are prominently featured on the roster.

But travel across town to rival KABC AM 790 and it’s back to business as usual. The L.A. station that invented the all-talk radio format almost fifty years ago now has a white male weekday lead host in every one of its time slots. Up until last year, The Citadel owned outlet was home to nationally syndicated host Larry Elder.

Known as the “Sage of South Central”, Elder’s conservative Libertarian opinions were espoused three and sometimes four hours a day on the station for 15 years. In fact KABC, which also owned KMPC AM 710 The Zone before it became Radio Disney and later ESPN, had at one point six black talk show hosts on two stations as part of its line-up in the late 90’s.

Elder was among them. He was not only the most successful, but also the most controversial for what many believed were “anti-black” views.

Today, only civil rights attorney Leo Terrell is on the air. His show relegated to Sunday afternoons. Where is the local or national chapter of the NAACP on this issue? Clearly missing in action.

ALL WHITE, ALL THE TIME

This "preference for white" in Los Angeles, the second largest media market in the country behind New York, is nothing new. With Elder’s absence, however, the racial disparities now go beyond jarring. Of the six talk outlets, not one has an Asian, Native American, Latino, or African American holding court on the dial during the week.

There are 48 individuals being given incredible opportunities to make hordes of cash and hold sway over public opinions on the issues facing the nation. Of the cast of characters, 38 are white men, mostly over 40, and frequently accused of demagoguery. White women make up the rest, equally split in terms of their political ideology and two not sharing top billing with their male co-host.

Among the six, only CBS owned KLSX 97.1 is on the FM dial. While more entertainment focused with the likes of child actor turned train wreck Danny Bonaduce, or the outrageous Tom Leykis, the absence of non-white lead talent is still glaringly apparent. In that sense, listening to KLSX is like watching eleven seasons of ABC’s The Bachelor or Bachelorette series.

When President Barack Obama talked change coming to America on the campaign trial, was this one of the examples he was referring to?

Most answers come hastily with a resounding yes.

But this issue is not just a West Coast phenomenon. Across the country, public financed and privately held stations are banishing minorities to the unemployment line in favor of nationally syndicated hosts like Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.

In a similar conclusion years ago by journalist Michael Meyers, Executive Director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, the data is eerily consistent. Meyers tabulated and analyzed Big Apple radio stations' managers' responses to an employment survey of non-white talk show hosts in the area. "The facts are that AM Talk radio stations all around the country have and continue to broadcast only whites," asserted Meyers.

"The results of the survey surprised us," he continued, "because of the stated and/or assumed emphasis on diversity in other media such as TV and newspapers. There are, for example, non-white journalists, columnists and editorial staff/ board members at every daily newspaper in New York; and there are non-white talk show hosts, anchors, and commentators on TV.”

Well, that was until the Tribune’s, McClatchy’s and News Corps’ started letting these individuals go as they attempt to weather bankruptcy, or write-downs of $21.7 million and $6.4 billion respectively.

Is it any wonder then that Meyers’ findings continue to fall on deaf ears? Flagrant discrimination based on race on the airwaves still exists even as America pats itself on the back for electing the nation’s first African American president.
Moreover, on-air diversity is actually receding, with many in the industry concluding that it doesn't matter if the ring leader rocking the mic is of the same gender and race time and time and time again.

But others are now pointing to signs that terrestrial radio’s undisputed reign may be waning, especially in a fast-changing world full of rivals like iPods, satellite radio and the ever burgeoning Internet radio outlets such as Blogtalkradio.

BLAME IT ON THE ECONOMY

Per 2008 revenues, terrestrial radio is a $15 billion dollar a year hustle. And yet for many, radio is a bad business to be in right now. The industry has suffered its worst year since 1954, the eighth consecutive “struggling” year.

ABC News puts it all in context. “The radio industry, just like newspapers and books and other forms of media, is facing an unprecedented financial crunch. Radio advertising revenue dropped by 9 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in the previous year, and many radio companies are saddled with huge amounts of debt.

As a result, more stations are turning to syndicated programming. Radio stations typically can broadcast syndicated shows at no cost; they just have to allow a distributor to sell some of the commercials on the show. In some cases, it's cheaper for a station to air syndicated programming than to hire a local talk show host.”

That may be a wise strategy, but a heavy focus on national shows creates another problem: The next generations of KGIL Laura Ingraham’s or Michael Savage's won't have the opportunity to learn their craft at radio stations if there are no on-air shifts for them to take. And companies simply are not hiring, making an already dire situation even worse.

Media giant Clear Channel Communications, which owns more than 1,200 US radio stations including KFI, is actually trying to stave off bankruptcy. The company recently laid-off 9 percent of its employees. Of those 1,850 workers, comprised of radio personalities and executives, few will be able to find jobs in an industry that will likely see even deeper cuts unless the economy rebounds by the third quarter of 2009. At a 52-week high of $25.69, Clear Channel’s shares are currently hovering around $5.00.

Then there's the matter of precedent: Radio stations have never really embraced diversity. And without much sustained outcry from the NAACP, Urban League, Southern Christian Leadership Conference or other civil rights organizations, the prognosis is not looking good. No wonder these organizations are dying a slow, painful death.

In California, for instance, Tavis Smiley is the only minority in the state with an English language nationally syndicated talk radio show. Smiley, a popular African American author and PBS television personality who is also a KABC alum, lives in Los Angeles along with his contemporaries such as Larry King of KGIL and CNN, and Adam Corolla of KLSX. Despite the odds, Smiley broke through and is succeeding with aplomb.

For most, particularly women of color, the glass ceiling is showing no signs of breaking. The recent cancellation of LA based NPR’s News & Notes with Farai Chideya (a black female national host) due to financial constraints was one small crack that was quickly sealed.

And this racial gerrymandering is not simply limited to on-air talent. The only discernible nonwhite employee in KFI’s news department, judging by the station’s web page, is Asian anchor Ginger Chan and Latina Editor Karla Marquez. The rest of the 15member crew is completely white, with 6 of them being female. While producer Ray Lopez of the John and Ken show is Latino, there are likely few, if any, other minority producers employed. KFI’s competitors don’t fair much better.

So is it any wonder why the political commentary or pop culture discussions that play out on cable news or the Sunday political shows tends to reflect the views of the majority? What's the point of having a NAACP if they can't play a role in rectifying issues such as these?

DON IMUS WAS GONE… AND THEN POOF, HE WAS THERE AGAIN

When acerbic radio personality Don Imus created the “nappy-headed ho’” firestorm after his 2007 comments about Rutgers women’s basketball team sparked universal outrage, mainstream media was suddenly looking for insight from self-appointed and elected black leaders. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who himself has a syndicated program, mentioned that political talk shows don't have minorities as their main hosts, (para) "It's all white… all night."

Those partial comments came on the heels of MSNBC snatching Imus from his morning cable show and then teeing up possible replacements. KABC’s Elder was given the opportunity to "tryout" for a week.

Afterwards, no other African American was afforded the courtesy of auditioning to be a talking head. Not one.

Ultimately congressman turned media personality Joe Scarborough got the gig (along with Bill O’Reilly’s old slot on KABC) and black screenwriter John Riley became part of the morning team briefly before quickly fading off the scene.

As for Imus, he was back on the air after a year with an undisclosed financial settlement from CBS. KABC is the current radio home for the cantankerous sexagenarian, who has seen his clout and his national ratings only slightly diminish since the incident.

The upside is Imus now has two African American as part of his morning crew. Bravo, considering in all likelihood they would be collecting unemployment benefits alongside other black hosts who know first-hand how tough it is to land a gig in the current climate.

Even at stations where non-whites are employed as talk show hosts, tokenism seems to triumph. Meyers reports states, “Whether commercially-sponsored or listener, corporate funded, these AM radio stations possibly perceive minority talk show hosts either as hard to find or not available-- or as not "as qualified" or "as entertaining" as the Caucasians they consistently employ.”

That argument is also being advanced in sports talk, where minorities in basketball, football, baseball and soccer take center stage. For better or worse, these shows talk about these athletes, but rarely are people of color leading the discussion.

Two notable exceptions are The Michael Irvin Show, hosted by the former Dallas Cowboy star, and The 2 Live Stews, featuring Doug and Ryan Stewart. Both are intent on muscling their way onto the scene with impressive results.

Other than putting on a yearly Image Award show, sadly, this is likely the only time the NAACP show any leadership in this regard.

But these developments may not do enough to placate talk radio junkies fired up with “Yes We Can” audacity.And their discontent will only become increasingly impolite as the simmering battle playing out between President Barack Obama and Limbaugh, gathers steam.

FAIRNESS DOCTRINE 2.0

Radio personality Bill Press has opined that the ongoing Commander in Chief versus the King of Talk slugfest is Exhibit A why Congress should re-enact the Fairness Doctrine, the federal ruling to insure that different voices are able to speak with equal force and influence on matters of public discourse. Having recently lost his syndicated spot on OBAMA AM 1260 AM in Washington D.C., here’s a recent exchange between Press and US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI):

PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?

STABENOW: I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?

STABENOW: I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.

Locally, Press broadcasts on KTLK AM 1150 with comedian Stephanie Miller, Randy Rhodes, and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. The Clear Channel station - to their credit - has the most women on the L.A. airwaves. And we’re not talking sidekicks.

And yet KTLK’s “left leaning” ideology about how the Republican Party is this “bastion of out-of-touch white men” ignores the fact that their Monday through Friday is also white. For all the hand-wringing Press engages in over the Fairness Doctrine, his angst completely obfuscates the issue that even “liberal” talk outlets can’t reconcile.

Are you listening NAACP?

This is why I actually agree with Rush Limbaugh that traditional radio should not be regulated. The Fairness Doctrine would negatively impact an already challenged industry in tuned to what its audience wants. The real issue is one of opportunities missed, and industry leaders in radio, television, cable and print news have enough foresight and introspection to not only say “What are we doing?” but “Why are we continuing to do it?”

Look at Sirius XM, a satellite company whose stock is trading at 12 cents a share, is potentially facing a hostile takeover, and likely will file bankruptcy because of an inability to pay a $175 million debt payment due on February 17. What will this mean for the likes of Oprah Winfrey and friends, Al Sharpton and Warren Ballentine (both of whom were just let go by Radio One), and other shows featuring minorities? Don't look to the NAACP for answers.

INTERNET RADIO TO THE RESCUE

This is Exhibit A while bloggers and specifically the black blogasphere has become the go-to folks to get things done. And for many, sites like Blogtalkradio is assisting in that effort. One of several online stations that have come on the scene in the last few years, Blogtalkradio allows anyone with a phone and a computer to host and podcast their own Internet radio program for free.

Last year the social networking site saw exponential growth with hundreds of hosts from all racial and ethnic groups. In November 2008, some 3.8 million listeners tuned in, nearly 750,000 or 16% of which were African-American alone. These folks clearly have something to say and are finding an audience, albeit small, eager to hear it.

Obviously these hosts are playing in the minors while superstars like Limbaugh reign supreme in the big league.

"I have a very simple philosophy ... put the very best product you can on the air, regardless of origin," says Gabe Hobbs, a senior vice president for programming at
Clear Channel for twenty-five years.

Hobbs was among those recently laid off at the San Antonio, TX based company as a result of low ad sales.

In 2010, blacks are estimated to spend $1 trillion dollars. Hispanics are on tap to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2011. Both groups listen to talk, yet unanswered text messages to radio execs are saying loud and clear, “I’m just not into you.”

“These hiring authorities, in contrast to their reputations for being visionaries and innovative programmers, don't appear to be as either visionary or innovative; but, rather, they seem awkward or clueless, oblivious or insensitive about their responsibility for inclusive hiring. This lack of inclusiveness appears to be a failure of leadership rather than as outright racism or the intentional exclusion of minorities,” says Meyers.

Meyers goes on to point out that the widely-held perception that mainstream, majority-owned AM Talk Radio stations are broadcasting mostly or only Caucasian talk show hosts daily is accurate. “This is a problem of defacto racial segregation that is both easily recognizable and easily fixed. It is a challenge to the stations' executives-- people of good-will, to a person, we are sure-- for prompt, corrective action,” Meyers concludes

These were the identical words he used in 2000. Eight years later, News/Talk became the number one format in terrestrial radio.

Sound check one-two, one-two! Is this thing on?

There’s a saying that goes “I can’t hear you, because your actions are speaking too loudly.” Well, for organizations like the NAACP, the silence of not advocating for minority voices on the public airwaves is most certainly not golden. In fact, it’s just the opposite. To the point of being deafening.

So forgive me for raining on the NAACP 100 Year Celebration parade. I'm just not into you!


Kevin Ross is president and CEO of strategic marketing firm 3BAAS Media Group. A former talent on KABC, he currently hosts his own show on Blogtalkradio and blogs at 3 Brothers And A Sister.

Meg Whitman Wants To Be Govenor of California: Will African Americans Embrace The New Face of The GOP?

Whitney Houston Makes A Return Clean And Sober

A stunning-looking and strong-sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a pre-Grammy party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis.

"I've got it, I've got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I'm Every Woman." But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar — whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago — was back in top form.

"We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily)," said Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. "This is a new beginning."

Houston's mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West.

"I have to bow in the presence of greats right now," West said as he looked out into the crowd, which at one point included Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, Diddy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Quincy Jones, and other luminaries.

"I'm just humbled by your greatness, and also Clive," West told the audience.

More on Clives Party at AP

What's Up With Chris Brown & Rihanna Acting Like Ike & Tina Turner?

Sure J-Hud Sang Great & Now Has A Grammy And Oscar,

But These Two Are The Story

Grammy day was supposed to be about Jennifer Hudson's triumphiant return. It was. it was suppose to let the world know that Whitney Houston was back in the house. It did. It was also suppose to be a glittery affair for R&B's reigning "it" couple, Chris Brown and Rihanna. Well, two outta three ain't bad!

About the time Brown was scheduled to be singing "Forever" onstage at Los Angeles' Staples Center, he was instead detained by police, being questioned for allegedly roughing up Rihanna.

Brown, 19, turned himself in at the LAPD's Wilshire station around 6:30 p.m. and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of four years. The case will now be sent to the district attorney's office and further charges could be filed. He was released from jail after posting $50,000 bail.

"He was very professional and didn't appear to have injuries," said Sgt. Bridget Pickett, adding, "He's a good looking young man."

While Brown appeared unscathed, sources tell E! News that the alleged victim was Rihanna, 20, and that she suffered visible bruises on her face during an early morning confrontation. Both in turn balked at scheduled Grammy appearances.

A spokeswoman for Brown's label declined comment and calls to his attorney, Mark Geragos, weren't immediately returned.

Meanwhile, Rihanna's publicist, Amanda Silverman, said the "Disturbia" singer "is well. Thank you for concern and support."

Per department policy, police declined to identify the alleged victim in the incident, which occurred about 12:30 a.m. in the Hancock Park area, apparently as the two were heading home from Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash, where they had been all smiles.

In a statement, police say Brown and his companion "became involved in an argument. After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated. The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker."

By the time officers arrived on the scene, Brown had split.

Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, decided against singing a medley of "Disturbia" and "Live Your Life" at tonight's awards. Likewise, Brown scrapped his scheduled performance of "Forever."

"We're sorry she is unable to join us this evening," said the Recording Academy. A virtually identical statement was issued for Brown's absence.

Brown and Rihanna were up for dueling Pop Collaboration With Vocals awards, Brown for his duet with Jordin Sparks on "No Air," Rihanna with Maroon 5 for "If I Never See Your Face Again." Brown was also contending for Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Take You Down." Neither Brown nor Rihanna won anything.

After the ceremony, Recording Academy President Neal Portnoy told E! News that he first learned of the situation "pretty late in the afternoon," about three hours before showtime.

"Musicians are no different than anybody else. I'm not judging. I'm sorriest that they weren't there for their moments on stage," he said, adding that he's never had to deal with replacing two segments at the last minute.

"I'm hoping that [the awards are] the story and should not be eclipsed by this part of business," Portnoy said. "I think the story is...the music that went on stage."

Backstage, Anthony Hamilton, winner of the Traditional R&B Vocal Grammy with Al Green, said his pal was pressed into emergency service "about an hour and a half before the preshow."

Green crooned "Let's Stay Together" with assists from Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban.

Asked if old-pro Green really was able to take the stage on such short notice, Hamilton suggested the R&B icon was practicing last night.

Said Hamilton, "He knew something could happen."

E! Online

Etta James And Beyonce The Drama Behind The Song "At Last"

Soul legend Etta James has defended her controversial rant against President Obama and singer Beyonce Knowles, insisting she was merely sharing a joke with her fans.

The singer was recorded at a show in Seattle, Wash., last month telling the crowd Obama has "big ears," adding: "He ain't my president."

She also slammed Beyonce for singing a version of "At Last" for Obama...

Under The Hood is More Drama and History of The Song

following his inauguration, and said: "I can't stand Beyonce! She had no business up there singing. ... Singing my song that I've been singing forever."

But James has reacted to the controversy by insisting the remarks were meant in jest, and nobody at the show was offended by her comments.

She tells the New York Daily News, "I didn't really mean anything. Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude. ... That's probably what went into it."

The singer admitted she was put out by Beyonce's performance because it made her feel "left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around."

But she added: "Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle. They were all laughing, and it was funny."

James is also adamant her comments about Obama's appearance were for a laugh: "(I) always thought he was handsome and he was cool. I still had my joke about him. That might be horrible. The President might not ever like me in life. (But) he's got other stuff (to worry about) besides Etta James."





"At Last" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives, starring George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. It was first performed in the film and on record by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, vocal by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday. The song was a major hit for Miller, reaching number 14 on the Billboard pop charts in 1942, and it soon became a standard. Nat King Cole recorded it in 1957 on his number one album Love Is the Thing. In 1960, it was covered by blues singer Etta James in a performance that improvised on Warren's melody.

In the decades since its release it has been covered by a number of artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Jason Mraz, Phoebe Snow, Miles Davis, Martina McBride, Céline Dion, Lou Rawls, Eva Cassidy, Christina Aguilera, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Norah Jones, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Scott, The Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Cyndi Lauper, Aubrey O'Day, Beyonce Knowles, and Nikki Yanofsky. The Etta James version is perhaps the most famous, and is known to be performed at weddings and wedding receptions because of its romantic lyrics and sweeping orchestration. It was used in the trailer for Wall-E movie.

Black History Month, Who Needs It If Obama Is President

Should Black History Month itself fade into history? Many have long argued that African-American history should be incorporated into year-round education. Now, claims that Black History Month is outdated are gaining a new potency, as schools diversify their curricula and President Barack Obama's election opens a new chapter in the nation's racial journey.

"If Obama's election means anything, it means that African-American history IS American history and should be remembered and recognized every day of the year," says Stephen Donovan, a 41-year-old lawyer.

Ending "paternalistic" observances like Black History Month, Donovan believes, would lead to "not only a reduction in racism, but whites more ready and willing and able to celebrate our difference, enjoy our traditions, without feeling the stain of guilt that stifles frank dialogue and acceptance across cultures."

Yemesi Oyeniyi, a 40-year-old stay-at-home mother, says that Black History Month feels like it's only for blacks, "and therefore fails to educate the masses of non-blacks."

"I mean, now there is a Hispanic History Month and quite honestly I haven't paid more attention to the history of Spanish-speaking Americans any more now than I have in the past," she says. "I think it all should be taught collectively — every month."

The black historian Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week in 1926, seeking to build self-worth in an oppressed people, preserve a marginalized subject, and prove to a nation steeped in racism that children of Africa played a crucial role in modern civilization.

Woodson chose February because it contained the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (which belies long-standing jokes about Black History Month being relegated to the shortest month of the year). Woodson's organization, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), expanded the observance to a full month in 1976.

It has now become a fixture in American education and culture — complete with the requisite commercialism — even as the shift in labels from Negro to black to African-American indicates the evolution of attitudes meant to be shaped by the event.

Obama released an official proclamation on Feb. 2 lauding "National African American History Month" and calling upon "public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that raise awareness and appreciation of African American history."

Daryl Scott, chairman of the history department at Howard University and vice president of programming for ASALH, says Black History Month is still needed to solidify and build upon America's racial gains.
Read more at AP.

The New President Through His Children's Eyes

SUPER BOWL & DEATH... FALLEN SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: STARTING THE WEEK WITH THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE: 02-02-2009

OBAMA TAKES OFFICE, STIMULUS PACKAGE, SUPER BOWL #43...

BUT THIS MONTH, JANUARY 2009, THE PENTAGON RELEASED THE NAMES OF 33 SOLDIERS KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN:

Marine Sgt David W Wallace III, 25, of Sharpsville, PA

Marine Sgt Trevor J Johnson, 23, of Forsyth, MT

Army SPC Matthew M Pollini, 21, of Rockland MA

Army SGT Kyle J Harrington, 24, of Swansea, MA

Marine LCpl Julian T Brennan, 25, of Brooklyn, NY

Army PVT Grant A Cotting, 19, of Corona, CA

Army CWO Philip E Windorski, Jr, 35, of Bovey, MN

Army CWO Matthew G Kelley, 30, of Cameron, MO

Army CWO Joshua M Tillery, 31, of Beaverton, OR

Army CWO Benjamin H Todd, 29, of Colville, WA

NAMES RELEASED BY THE PENTAGON: AIRING WEEK OF JAN. 25, 2009

Air Force SrA Omar J McKnight, 22, of Marrero, LA

Army SSG Joshua R Townsend, 30, of Solvang , CA

Army SSG Roberto Andrade Jr, 26, of Chicago, IL

Army PFC Ricky L Turner, 20, of Athens, AL

Army SSG Carlo M Robinson, 33, of Lawton, OK

Army SPC Ezra Dawson, 31, of Las Vegas, NV

NAMES RELEASED BY THE PENTAGON: AIRING WEEK OF JAN. 18, 2009

Army PFC Christopher W Lotter, 20, of Chester Heights, Penn.

Marine LCpl Alberto Francesconi, 21, of Bronx, N.Y.

Army SSG Anthony D Davis, 29, of Daytona Beach, Fla.

Marine LCpl Jessie A Cassada, 19, of Hendersonville, N.C.

Army PVT Sean P McCune, 20, of Euless, Tex.

Marine LCpl Daniel R Bennett, 23, of Clifton, Va.

Marine Sgt Marquis R Porter, 28, of Brighton, Mass.

Army SSG Justin L Bauer, 24, of Loveland, Colo.

Army SGT Joshua L Rath, 22, of Decatur, Ala.

Army SPC Spc Keith E Essary, 20, of Dyersburg, Tenn.

Army MAJ Brian M Mescall, 33, of Hopkinton, Mass.

Army SPC Joseph M Hernandez, 24, of Hammond, Ind.

Army SGT Jason R Parsons, 24, of Lenoir, N.C.

NAMES RELEASED BY THE PENTAGON: AIRED WEEK OF JAN. 4, 2009

Army CPL Charles P Gaffney Jr, 42, of Phoenix, Ariz.

Marine LCpl Robert L Johnson, 21, of Central Point, Or.

Army SPC Tony J Gonzales, 20, of Newman, Calif.

Army PVT Benjamin B Tollefson, 22, of Concord, Calif.

The Superbowl Was Incredible, But Jennifer Hudson Was Awesome!!!!

That Girl Can Sang!