Introducing the Underground Girls of Hip-Hop: Changing the Game, One Woman at a Time

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

While most of the folks in our community are familiar with hip-hop as a form of entertainment, many of us are not aware that the strongest opportunities actually lie on the business side. We also know that on both sides of the mic, women are usually missing. Sure, there are great female artists like Nicki Minaj and spoken-word artist Madam Prezident. Those who establish the platforms, obtain financing and run the business operations that lie behind your favorite artist have access to both the power and financial benefits that come with the hip-hop music industry. So, hanging out in the booth may not be as valuable as going to business school when it comes to having real power in hip-hop. It is for that reason that Shylise "Shay Nutt" Simpson is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

1) What is your name and what do you do?
Shylise "Shay-Nutt" Simpson, Owner and operator of Undergroundgirlsofhiphop.com, 2010-2011 Female Hip Hop Honors Awards and Founder of the Power In Pink Mentoring Program.

Click to read.

U Texas Signs a $300M Deal on the Backs of Its Athletes

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The University of Texas just inked a $300 million television rights deal for a 24-hour network that will broadcast Longhorn athletes and games. ESPN is the partner in the deal and will distribute the network via satellite in Texas and other states around the country. The network is expected to launch in September.
Given that college athletes are serving as the foundation for massive wealth being generated by schools like the University of Texas, it is time that we consider allowing these athletes to have the same labor rights as other workers who generate wealth around the nation. The United Steel Workers Union has actually spoken out on behalf of NCAA athletes, stating that they should have the right to unionize to ensure that their families can benefit from the wealth being created in these massive financial deals.

Click to read.

Fried Chicken, Liquor and Of Course, Flava Flav

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Last year, at the "Measuring the Movement" forum, hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network, I had a chance to sit next to Chuck D from Public Enemy. I found Chuck to be as impressive, interesting and intelligent as he is on television. He also didn't give off the mind-numbing, stomach-turning, arrogant celebrity vibe that I see all too much. I was thoroughly impressed.
While I feel that I have some understanding of Chuck D, I simply cannot say the same for Flava Flav. Flava almost seems to come out of a different time, place, and perhaps even another planet, from the rest of us. He would have been great in the 1920s, when black performers could make a fortune by embracing ignorant stereotypes and engaging in ridiculous behavior. Flava seems to relish his role as the cultural clown, reminding all of us of exactly what Dr. Martin Luther King did NOT want our children to become.

Click to read.

Why 50 Cent Might Be in Trouble for the Way He Used Twitter

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

The rapper 50 Cent is known as much for his creative PR and business tactics as he is for the rhymes he once busted on the airwaves. Well, I guess he is still technically a rapper, but the music side of 50 Cent’s career doesn’t seem to be taking off like it did at the start of the decade.

Since his last hit record, 50 Cent has been involved in a series of business ventures that seem to pay him better than he was ever paid as an artist. The problem for Fifty is that he might be in trouble with theSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for using his power tohaul in $8.7 million by pushing a stock on his Twitter page.

50 Cent has 3.8 million Twitter followers who apparently respect him for his investment advice. The rapper tapped into his massive market power by telling all of his followers about a stock that he owns called H&H Imports. In fact, 50 Cent owns quite a bit of the stock after acquiring 30 million shares in a private placement last October.

click to read.

Mike Tomlin’s Big Win is a Huge Win for Diversity in the NFL

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

Anyone watching with pride as the Pittsburgh Steelers fought their way to yet another Super Bowl likely heard a few interesting facts about their general on the field, Mike Tomlin. Tomlin, at the age of 38, is the youngest head coach to ever lead two teams to the Super Bowl. Before that, he was the youngest head coach to win a Superbowl. He does this while sitting at the helm of a storied franchise that has more Super Bowl wins than any team in NFL history. In other words, the man is a serious beast.
Tomlin's feats are not just impressive for a black coach, they stand above nearly any coach in NFL history. It is equally ironic that he is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose owner was responsible for opening the door for black coaches to get a chance in the league. Steelers owner Dan Rooney helped to create the Rooney rule, requiring NFL teams to interview African Americans for head coaching and senior administrative positions.

 

Click to read.

Frederick Jermaine Carter: Murder or Suicide?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

 

The black community in Greenwood, Mississippi is on edge and angry after the death of Frederick Jermaine Carter. Carter, who was 26 years old, was found hanging from a tree in what authorities have labeled to be a suicide. But the community isn't buying the police's story and claim that he was actually murdered.
The Final Call is reporting on the death of Carter, and even Michael Pimbleton Jr., the mayor of Sunflower, Mississippi has said that there was more going on than meets the eye.
"This is 2010 and we still have Black people hanging from trees? They're saying he hung himself but I have doubt in my mind that he actually did that. That wasn't his character. This wasn't a suicide, this was a homicide," Mayor Pembleton said to The Final Call.
Carter was found on December 3, with his body hanging from an oak tree in North Greenwood, which is a predominantly white section of Leflore County. He actually lived in nearby Sunflower County, and North Greenwood is known as an area that black people are sometimes afraid to visit. Carter was with his stepfather, who said that he wandered off from an area in which they were both working.

 

Click to read.

 

Visit Your Black World for more black news and black politics!

ESPN’s Special on the Black Male Athlete – My Take on The State of Things

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action 

I was sitting in front of my TV set flipping through one channel after another, and I found something that both intrigued and concerned me: An ESPN special about the image of the black athlete. I was curious to see what they had to say about black athletes, especially males, since that's something I think about nearly every single day of my life.

The panel consisted of Jalen Rose, John Calipari, Randy Shannon, Spike Lee, Robin Roberts and others. I was hopeful that the panelists would not succumb to the temptation of taking the paternalistic viewpoint that black male athletes are somehow destined to be ignorant and need to be told what to do. For example, unlike any other sport, men's basketball and football are the only ones in which there are age limits before the athlete can become a professional. The reasons for these regulations are driven primarily by the argument that the men are too young to go out and support their families by doing what they do for the NCAA without being compensated.

 

Click to read.

Cam Newton, the NCAA and Auburn University

by Dr. Boyce Watkins – Syracuse University, Scholarship in Action 

The "What the hayell" segment asks serious questions about events, institutions and individuals in our society who lead us to be confused about their behavior. One serious point of confusion is the NCAA, Auburn University and the treatment of star quarterback Cam Newton. Newton helped bring in a $21 million dollar payday to Auburn University with his recent NCAA championship. He also helped the school earn millions throughout the year through ticket sales, jersey sales and national television appearances. Yet, to this day, Cam and the other players on the Auburn University basketball team will see no piece of the multi-million dollar pie generated by their labor.

 

Click to read.

Diamond’s Corner: Kids and Domestic Violence

The Latest from Dr. Boyce Watkins – 1/13/11

Brought to you by The Great Black Speakers Bureau, the #1 Black Speakers Bureau in the world.  To join the Your Black World Coalition, please visit YourBlackWorld.com.  To follow us on Twitter, click here.  To follow us on Facebook, click here.

Black Women, Mass Incarceration and the Market for Finding a Husband

• In a very compelling article, The Economist magazine stepped away from its standard delivery of ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 11:27AM | Comments (27)

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Needs to do For Black People

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: Rev. Jesse Jackson Talks Money, Prisons, Black Issues

• I've always had a special admiration and appreciate for Rev. Jesse Jackson. While most of us ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 10:22PM | Comments (0)

Obama Speech Tucson: Memorial Hits a Homerun in a Polarized Nation

• President Barack Obama has done it again. Like Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 9:46AM | Comments (37)

• 

  Palin uses 'gangsta rapper defense' in Tucson blame game

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  2:21 PM on 01/12/2011

  OPINION - Palin reminds me of rappers who gladly use their public platforms for personal benefit, yet neglect any responsibility for the negative outcomes of their words...

  > read more

Tavis Smiley: The Good, the Bad and the Interesting of Smiley's Coming Forum on Obama, Politics

• Yesterday, I rushed through the snow to do an interview with NPR's 'Talk of the Nation' to ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 12th 2011 12:09PM | Comments (69)

Writer Who Asked If the Church Keeps Black Women Single Has Some Answers: Dr. Boyce Spotlight

• Given that I've always been concerned about the breakdown of black families, I thought I would ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 12th 2011 10:52AM | Comments (8)

Crosshairs: Company Attacks Palin, Says Obama Should Not Speak to O'Reilly During the Super Bowl

• Credo Mobile is a wireless company that has no problem engaging in the political issues of the ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 12th 2011 1:14AM | Comments (33)

F. Lee Bailey Says He Believes O.J. Murder Was a Drug Hit

• One of O.J. Simpson's attorneys, F. Lee Bailey, says that there was strong evidence held back ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 11th 2011 12:49PM | Comments (60)

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: News Anchor Cheryl Wills Teaches Empowerment Through Book, 'Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale'

• What is your name and what do you do? My name is Cheryl Wills and I am an author and television ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 11th 2011 6:33AM | Comments (6)

3 Things Obama Must Address for Black People

• I was shaking my head over and over again in preparation for a conversation we are going to have ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 10th 2011 8:16PM | Comments (81)

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: Keri Hilson on Money Management & Social Media Brand Building

• What is your name and what do you do? Keri Hilson and I'm a R&B/Pop Singer and also write ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 10th 2011 4:15PM | Comments (5)

• 

  Tucson puts gun control politics back on the map

  By Dr. Boyce Watkins

  8:09 AM on 01/11/2011

  OPINION - Guns plague black communities all across America, in large part due to those who make billions by allowing guns to hit the streets by any means necessary...

  > read more

On Founder's Day, Delta Sigma Theta Is Sitting on Millions of Dollars

• I never joined a fraternity during college. My sister and brother pledged, but I was too broke to ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2011 1:35PM | Comments (3)

THE GAME: 1ST EPISODE

Click to Play

The game was good, but ;I'm

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Must Do for Black People – click to listen

Dr. Boyce on NPR: What Obama Needs to do For Black People

Auburn University Wins, but at the Expense of the Black Community

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

When I saw the final score of last night’s NCAA championship game where Auburn University defeated the University of Oregon, I sent a tweet to my friends that said, “Congratulations.  Your plantation was the strongest tonight.”

As the southerners who love Auburn football celebrate their championship, they may want to take a second to absorb a couple of sobering realities.  First, the school got $21 million just for winning that one game.  Auburn’s coach, Gene Chizik is due for a multi-million dollar bonus and millions will flow into the pockets of administrators, coaches, commentators, and corporate sponsors, almost none of whom are black.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: Meet Ms. Keri Hilson

What is your name and what do you do?
Keri Hilson and I'm a R&B/Pop Singer and also write songs for other artists.

What are some of the misconceptions people have about celebrities and their money?

People tend to think that celebrities are impenetrable to making mistakes, that because they see you in a video with expensive things that your life revolves around that. I've found that my strongest foundation has been my family and friends now more than ever.

What has been the scariest/funniest/best moment in your career?

The best moment in my career is every time I'm on stage, going over lines and about to perform and I think, "Wow. I'm actually awake. I'm living my dream!"

 

Click to read.

And this lady is a Republican Congresswoman?

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack has been caught on camera in a lurid scandal where another woman is apparently licking her breast. – this is why you don’t need to let random people take your picture when you’re drunk.  But hey, you’re drunk, so why would you care?

Michael Eric Dyson Gives Obama a C- on Black Issues

Diamond’s House: Relationships are Complicated

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Professor Mark Anthony Neal on CNN American Morning