Donald Trump Will See Obama Tonight

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, YourBlackWorld.com – Scholarship in Action 

Donald Trump and Barack Obama will be in the same room tonight.  The White House Correspondents dinner has Trump on the guest list, with President Obama delivering a stand up routine that pokes fun at himself and his presidency.  While almost no topics are off limits during the dinner, Trump doesn’t expect the president to talk about him.

"I wouldn't think [Obama] would address me" during his speech, Trump said to ABC News. 

Trump doesn’t have to worry about President Obama joking about him, because he’s made himself into a joke for the rest of the nation.  His recent tirades against the president, including questioning whether he is truly a natural born American, whether or not he was qualified to get into Harvard and whether he plays too much basketball, have led to his being referenced as a racist by many leading public figures.

 

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Technorati Tags: donald trump,barack obama

Regal Black Women from Around the World

 

 

 

 

Click here to read about these women and others on Black Enterprise

HBCU Student Not Allowed to Graduate Because of Facebook Post

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, YourBlackWorld.com – Scholarship in Action 

Roman Caple is a senior at St. Augustine’s College.  He was set to graduate this weekend until he was informed by the school that he wouldn’t be allowed to walk with his classmates.  Caple says that his punishment was due to a Facebook post that allegedly "jeopardized the integrity of the college."

Caple argues that the reaction of school administrators came as a result of his posts following a tornado that hit Raleigh, NC two weeks ago.  But he says that most of his comments were meant to be uplifting.  One of his posts said the following:

"We all need to set our differences aside and help one another. Falcons we will continue to fly high because that's what we do. Help your neighbor, if need be, Falcons are one."

According to what Caple said to ABC11,  "Here's the post that I believe they are referring to as to being putting this college in a negative light. It says 'St. Augs is holding classes tomorrow and students in Falcrest still don't have power. Like, wtf. Really? #dumb.'"

Caple is an active student who is a member of the school band and choir.  He also played tennis for St. Augustine for the past three years.  He’s even had the school’s logo shaved into his head, which is a surprising act of school spirit. 

 

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Sun Moon Lake 日月潭, Taiwan's gem

And about how I proposed to my wife

The Sun Moon Lake (in Chinese 日月潭, pronounced as "Řì·üè·tán") is the second biggest lake in the country (after Tsengwen reservoir 曾文水庫). At the same time it's one of the most beautiful scenic spots of Taiwan, popular with local and foreign tourists. My wife (at that time still girlfriend) and I had the pleasure to visit it during our Central Taiwan trip. And that was also the place, where I proposed to her, so it bears a special meaning for us.

Our trip to Sun Moon Lake has begun on Sunday morning, when we took the bus from Shueili (we stayed overnight there) directly to the lake's resort area. It took us about 45min to reach there. Let me show you some of my photos:

The road to Sun Moon Lake from Shueili is very winding and steep.

This is the part full of hotels and shops. We were dropped off at the information center.

When we got all the info from the kind staff, we decided to walk to the lake.

We only walked around this small peninsula (show bigger map).

We didn't have a lot of time that day, because we were headed further to Puli, Nantou City and Taichung. We only walked around a very small area, but we still had fun. And it was so hot that day, I think it wouldn't be wise to attempt a long march around the lake. This is where we went:

The big parking lot is full of buses, that carried tourist from China to this famous lake.

Boats.

We walked on a narrow path along the shores of the lake and took lots of photos.

I liked the nearly emerald color of the lake.

We soon reached this spot, which has a very good overview of the lake.

The view on the small Lalu island and the famous Ci En Pagoda.

My cute wifey posing in front of the lake.

A lovely pavilion, one of the many in the area.

I loved the view. The Sun Moon Lake is definitely a place I will return to in the future.

We walked further and observed the area.

A posh yacht like many other in the area.

And that's a boat in old Chinese design. Not sure what to think about it.

And then we reached one of the spots with the best view: The Chiang Kai-shek pavilion.

We first enjoyed the beautiful view, the former president's favorite one.

And that was the time where I suddenly had the idea to propose to my wife (then girlfriend). I knew that our wedding day is very close and I knew that I need to formally propose, because Taiwanese girls are very romantic (and my wife is a "typical Taiwanese girl" in this regard). However, when we came to the pavilion, there were many people. A family was resting there and talking a lot. I tried to buy time and kept observing the lake and taking photos, but the family just wouldn't leave. So my girlfriend wanted to walk further, but I decided to pretend I was tired and that my legs hurt and asked her to stay here a little longer. She was ok with that and soon the family left. But we were alone only for a brief moment, because new people arrived and started to take photos. I was like "Damn", won't this place ever be empty? And after 2 minutes they finally left and we were alone. I took her by the hand and asked her to stand up and told her I have something important to say to her. I became a little nervous and started to shake, when I uttered how I loved her and how much she meant to me. I then went down on my knees and asked her, if she wants to marry me. She was totally surprised, but happy. Of course she said yes and I was released. We then sat down in the shadow of the pavilion and slowly people started to surround us. We were both shaking and smiling widely. My girlfriend was very happy and I was very released. It was truly a moment to remember. And although I'm not an admirer of Chiang Kai-shek, I can say that he now is somehow connected with our love story. Whether that's a good or bad thing, future will tell. Nevertheless, it will be remembered as the place, where I made history.

The Chiang Kai-shek Pavilion, when we left it.

We soon arrived back at the commercial center of the Sun Moon Lake.

And what a delight it was to take photo of tourists from China walking under the ROC flag. I'd give a fortune to find out what was on their minds in that very moment.

Soon after we returned to the bus station and headed up to Puli. And that shall be a story for another post. We had a great meal there and the town had a certain indefinable charm.

Click on the map for Google Map.

The Sun Moon Lake marked the first half of our Central Taiwan adventure. Later that day we went to Puli and further to Caotun and Nantou City and then in the evening to Taichung, to visit the famous Fengjia Night Market, which turned out to be a disaster. All that in my following posts on my second blog. Stay tuned.

If you're visiting Taiwan, don't skip the Sun Moon Lake, it's truly a gem. If you like nature, you will truly love the area. And there's so much to explore, you will need few days to see every beautiful spot there. I'm definitely planning to return in the future. Hope to see you there, too!

Central Taiwan Tour 2011: Puli>>

[My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][My CENTRAL TAIWAN trip][All photos by MKL, 2011]

What if Kate Middleton Were Black?

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, YourBlackWorld.com – Scholarship in Action 

If there were a royal wedding being held in Africa, would CNN spend an entire week covering it?  If not, what does that say about race, if anything at all? 

I couldn’t help but feel entirely disconnected from the ceremony that was being shown all over our television sets at the same time hundreds of people were being killed in an Alabama tornado.  I kept wondering if the fantasy of the British fairytale had more relevance to news producers than the reality of death and devastation.

I also felt badly for any little black girls (or grown-ups) who found themselves swept away by the fairytale that they will never live in their own lives.  Not to be presumptuous, but I can’t imagine the royal family taking it well if Kate Middleton (the bride) had been black.

But perhaps I’m just speculating.

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The Reality of Being a Football Star

 

Watch as YBW’s Eshe White interviews a former football star about the realities of playing in the NFL

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWeut5p3pLE]

Technorati Tags: black athletes,african american athletes,eshe white

Report Says that Obama’s Father Was Forced Out of Harvard University

 

 

BOSTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's father was forced to leave Harvard University before completing his Ph.D. in economics because the school was concerned about his personal life and finances, according to newly public immigration records.

Harvard had asked the Immigration and Naturalization Service to delay a request by Barack Hussein Obama Sr. to extend his stay in the U.S., "until they decided what action they could take in order to get rid of him," immigration official M.F. McKeon wrote in a June 1964 memo.

Harvard administrators, the memo stated, "were having difficulty with his financial arrangements and couldn't seem to figure out how many wives he had."

An earlier INS memo from McKeon said that while the elder Obama had passed his exams and was entitled on academic grounds to stay and complete his thesis, the school was going to try and "cook something up to ease him out."

 

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Roland Martin Has a Back and Forth with Donald Trump on Twitter

 

Roland Martin has begun calling out Donald Trump on his Twitter page. This is what Martin had to say:

 

"Do not support Trump's #CelebrityApprentice. He's a travesty. I refuse to stay at Trump hotels; will NOT watch #CelebrityApprentice or buy products that continue to advertise on his show. He's pathetic."

 

Donald Trump Then Replied:

 

 

“I am the least racist person on the planet. I have a great record on that, especially in terms of my friendships. And I have never heard of Roland Martin.”

 

Technorati Tags: roland martin,donald trump,black politics

President Obama Says That He’s Never Seen Devastation Like What He’s Seeing in Alabama

 

 

Tuscaloosa, Alabama (CNN) -- President Barack Obama toured rubble-strewn Tuscaloosa, Alabama, neighborhoods on Friday, declaring the devastation brought by a series of powerful storms and tornadoes was beyond anything he had ever seen.

The storms killed at least 316 people in six Southern states and left entire neighborhoods in ruins. Obama promised expedited federal aid to states affected by the tornadoes.

"We're going to do everything we can to help these communities rebuild," he said.

Obama's motorcade passed street after street of homes reduced to splinters, crushed and flipped cars, and widespread debris on the way to his first stop to visit with families affected by the storms that pounded the region Wednesday and Thursday.

"I've gotta say I've never seen devastation like this," he told reporters.

The president's visit took place as emergency responders in Alabama and five other states continued to assess the damage wreaked by one of the worst outbreaks of violent weather in the southeastern United States in decades, experts said. The storms leveled neighborhoods, rendered major roads impassable and left at least 800,000 customers without power Friday afternoon.

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Detroit’s NAACP Honors Kid Rock and His Confederate Flag

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World – Scholarship in Action 

The NAACP of Detroit has committed what appears to be an incredibly sad act by giving it's Great Expectations Award to Kid Rock during it's annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.  It's ironic that the NAACP is giving an award to someone who regularly uses the Confederate flag during his concerts.  The civil rights supporter in me doesn't understand the NAACP's actions, but the Finance Professor in me understands their actions perfectly.

Here are some questions for the NAACP as they honor one of their greatest heroes, Kid Rock:

1) If Kid Rock were not a donor to your organization, would you have given him this award?  Probably not.

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KeyShia Cole’s Mother Arrested for Drugs

Frankie Lons, the mother of superstar Keyshia Cole, was arrested for "misdemeanor possession of drug-related materials" and "probation violation."  Frankie is the star of Celebrity Rehab.  Wow.

President Obama Meets with Participants in the 1968 Sanitation Strike

“The President invited the living participants in the Memphis Sanitation Strike to honor their courage, and their fight on behalf of all workers for safe conditions, respect in the workplace and a better life for themselves and their families. As workers across the country continue to face challenges to their rights, the issues for which these men fought continue to be relevant  and the President remains committed to the causes for which they marched.” – from the White House

Is the Catholic Church Racist?

By Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World  – the picture above (left) is from the press conference held for Father Pfleger in Chicago

I went to the press conference being held on behalf of Father Michael Pfleger, the respected Catholic Priest on the Southside of Chicago.  In case you don’t know, Father Pfleger’s church, St. Sabina, is a predominantly black church and his members love him.  He has served the South Side of Chicago with the kind of courage only shown by a true spiritual soldier.  He has stood strong with mothers as their sons have died and has put himself in the middle of nearly every kind of devastation that plagues inner cities across America.

But as most of us know, a true soldier and man of God is going to eventually be undermined by the establishment.  Father Pfleger was recently suspended by the Catholic Church for refusing to leave the members of St. Sabina and going to another church.  The parishioners were further disrespected by Cardinal Francis George when he (according to an email I received today from community activist Mark Allen) sent another priest to replace Father Pfleger, allegedly without giving any notice to the staff. 

Whether the note from Allen can be confirmed or not is not the issue for me.  The fact is that with every decision being made by Cardinal George, I am losing more and more respect for Catholic Church leadership in Chicago – it seems that their mission has nothing to do with God and everything to do with egos.  Here are thoughts on the situation with Father Pfleger that come to mind:

1) The members of St. Sabina should leave their church and find another way to connect with God.  There is almost nothing holy about the behavior of Cardinal George, for he is representing the very worst that the Catholic Church has to offer.  Bullies in the pulpit must be confronted, even if they claim to be ordained by God.

2) The behavior of the church is clearly racist.  One has to wonder if St. Sabina would be served with such disrespect if it were not predominantly black.  Also, one can’t help but wonder if Father Pfleger is being punished (actually being treated like a n*gger lover) for spending too much time around black folks and caring about the issues in our community.  If he were doing half as much work for white kids in the suburbs, his church would hail him as a hero.

3) Hypocrisy abounds in this situation.  I find it astonishing that the very same church that had no problem covering up for pastors who’ve had sex with little children would punish the pastor who has done as much for the children of Chicago as any leader in the last 30 years.  They should be ashamed for their behavior.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition.  To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

Do Black Women Have a Preference for Thugs? (Video)

In this episode of Your Black Love, Deborrah Cooper and I ask whether or not black women have a preference for dating men that are not good for them.

Do you know a woman who dates one bad guy after another and then seems to spend all of her time whining about the fact that she can never find a good man?  Yea, I have too.  Well, it seems to me that, at some point, we must all have some degree of accountability for our relationship choices. 

Deborrah and I debate the issue in the video below – enjoy! 

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[blip.tv http://blip.tv/play/AYK3o2sC]

Cam Newton is the top Pick; Now the Questions Begin

By Jason DeCrow, AP

NEW YORK — At least one major question about Cam Newton has been answered.  The lights shined on Cam Newton after the Panthers made him the first overall pick on Thursday.

The lights shined on Cam Newton after the Panthers made him the first overall pick on Thursday.

The Carolina Panthers took less than five minutes to turn in their card and christen the NFL draft on Thursday night by selecting the much-scrutinized Auburn quarterback.

Now for the next round of questions.

"Everybody is not just going to stop and say, 'That's Cam, the No. 1 pick, and we can leave him alone,' " Newton said of his critics, as he met the press at Radio City Music Hall. "If anything, the floodgates have officially opened."

Newton, 21, is the 11th quarterback in the past 14 drafts to be selected with the top pick in the draft — which adds to a remarkable run in recent months that included leading the Tigers to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.

He's the first player since Notre Dame's Leon Hart to be chosen with the top pick after winning the Heisman and a national title.

Yet Newton, 6-5, 248, was undoubtedly the most scrutinized player in the draft after playing in a spread offense at Auburn, and for just one season after transferring from Blinn (Texas) Junior College. Like any quarterback coming from a spread offense, Newton's chances for success will largely depend on whether he can make the transition to a pro-style offense, with a more sophisticated level of reading defenses.

 

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Technorati Tags: cam newton,black news,black athletes

Dr. Boyce: Why I don’t Care about the Royal Wedding

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, YourBlackWorld.com – Scholarship in Action 

I had to keep myself from getting sick when I turned on the TV this morning to see some random people walking down the street wearing clothes too expensive for nearly all of my friends to afford.  I wondered why the world has become captivated and frozen over such a disgusting exercise of extravagance.  So, I thought I would list at least four of the reasons that I won’t be watching the royal wedding: 

1) Because I simply don’t care and neither do most of the people reading this article.  It’s one wedding, for one couple across the world.  I honestly just don’t get it.

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Malcolm X’s Interpretation of Fox News Racism

 

Watch the video below to understand the nature of Fox News Racism.  There’s a historical context to all of this, whether we’re talking about the Birther Movement, the Tea Party or any of the other activity coming from the Right Wing.  Check it out below or click here to watch.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYg4N1_9zEg]

Teen Mothers in Detroit Face Police brutality when Trying to save their School

 

From the Voice of Detroit

DETROIT – In an interview with VOD, Ashley Matthews, 17, described the heroic student-led occupation of her school, Catherine Ferguson Academy on April 15. She spoke of the wholehearted support the young mothers received from the community, as well as the vicious physical and verbal brutality police visited on them during their arrests.

She said two toddlers, there with their mothers, watched the events.

Inside Catherine Ferguson Academy in happier times

“When I came home, my mom and step-dad watched us on the news,” Matthews said. “My mom broke out in tears when she saw how the police treated me. She told me, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ This was the most joyful moment of my life. I was so flabbergasted by all the support and I felt so much pride because I actually stood up for something I believe in.”

Catherine Ferguson is a Detroit Public School for teens with children, or who are expecting. It provides special support services to help them complete their education and go on to college. It received broad publicity last year for the urban farm the students themselves created in the surrounding area.

Catherine Ferguson student working on well-publicized urban farm

It is the only school of its kind in the country, but it is on the list of almost 60 schools that DPS czar Robert Bobb, board chair Anthony Adams, and their state cronies, have slated for the chopping block this June, either through closure, merger or charterization.  (See VOD article athttp://voiceofdetroit.net/?p=6372)

Matthews said she has a two-year-old daughter, Breanna.

Click to read.

Oil Companies are Making Less Gas but Much Higher Profits

 

 

Gasoline prices are skyrocketing — and so are oil company profits.
Exxon Mobil Corp. earned nearly $11 billion in the first three months of the year, a rollicking 69% increase over its performance for the same period last year. That's on sales of $114 billion.
It's the same story for the other big oil companies. Royal Dutch Shell turned a profit of $6.3 billion in the first quarter, and BP — despite lingering costs from the Gulf Coast oil spill— made $7.1 billion.

 

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12 Airport Employees Charged in Drug Smuggling Ring

 

BY TRESA BALDAS

Twelve people were charged today in two separate drug smuggling schemes involving baggage handlers at Detroit Metro Airport who allegedly helped sneak in suitcases filled with marijuana and cocaine from Jamaica and Houston.

According to two criminal complaints unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Detroit, six individuals were charged with running a drug smuggling scheme between Jamaica and Detroit by using baggage employee codes and insider knowledge to get drugs past security.

The complaint alleges that Northwest/Delta Airlines baggage handlers at Detroit Metro Airport were in cahoots with airport employees in Jamaica who helped sneak the suitcases full of marijuana and cocaine into Detroit. The scheme was discovered on Jan. 23, 2010, when a federal agent learned about a drug seizure by Jamaican Customs involving roughly 53 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were in a suitcase headed for Detroit, which triggered an investigation that revealed an inside job.

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Technorati Tags: black news,african american news

Whatever Happened to Natural Hair Care?

by Leslie Detouche  - Your Black World 

How can we forget Lauryn Hill revamping the natural hair revolution? Well, in case you were wondering - the revolution is still going on. Black women are constantly being encouraged to embrace their roots so to speak. One of the leading natural hair care stylist in the business, sits at the helm of this interesting plight of sorts. Ms Malaika-Tamu Cooper is the owner of Dreadz N' Headz natural hair care center, located in northwest Baltimore Maryland.

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