Sharpton-Smiley fight reveals rift in black leadership over Obama
11:09 AM on 02/24/2010
OPINION - While the battle between Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton makes for good radio, it does not make for good black leadership...
Why Obama should reconcile with Rev. Jesse Jackson
8:05 AM on 02/23/2010
OPINION - President Obama should embrace the legacy and wisdom of Rev. Jackson--and so should the rest of us...
Malcolm X's legacy ignored 45 years after his murder
5:20 PM on 02/19/2010
OPINION - Malcolm's legacy has been treated like the neglected step-child of the African-American struggle for freedom and equality...
The stimulus one year later: A bold move that began a jobless recovery
8:14 AM on 02/17/2010
OPINION - Abysmal disparities in economic opportunities prove that equality has not yet been achieved...
Corruption in the Congressional Black Caucus threatens African-Americans
9:03 AM on 02/15/2010
OPINION - The CBC must understand that money is really like a drug: powerful, addictive and capable of changing your incentives almost immediately...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Dr. Boyce on Black Politics
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Dr. Boyce: Russell Simmons Rants on Banks
Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons seems to feel that banks are not treating the poor in a proper fashion. This week, in a rant on his site, “The Global Grind,” Simmons had this to say:
“They trick customers into doing things that are not good for them through lack of transparency, and surprise them with new fees when they can least afford it. I’m learning an important lesson about ethics or lack of ethics in this industry. In fact, I’m fighting with a bank right now that doesn’t know what kind of ass whipping they are going to get when I expose them for the abusive practices and exuberant fees they are charging the poor. What they are doing is trying to double their already outrageously high fees in exchange for providing absolutely nothing to my customers.”
Simmons went on to try to create a “movement” by adding a call to action:
“Let’s start the biggest public discussion ever about how banks treat us and expose these banks for their unequal treatment and unconscionable conduct. The time is now.”
Monday, February 15, 2010
Dr. Boyce Watkins: Congressional Black Caucus “Funny Money”
From left are, Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y. and Rep. Charles Rangel D-NY. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Does anyone think that the Congressional Black Caucus works for the interests of the African-American community? Well, think again. It appears that, according to a scathing report in The New York Times, African-Americans don't have the money to buy the CBC's loyalty. At the very least, they do not appear to be the top priority for a legislative group that has allowed dollar signs to complicate its priorities.
The New York Times article details a highly suspicious network of foundations and charities that seem to funnel money to CBC members in exchange for influence in Washington. The political and charitable wings of the CBCtook in $55 million dollars between 2004 and 2008, with only $1 million of that coming through their political action committee; the rest came through their unregulated network of foundations, which are allowed to escape campaign finance laws designed to keep legislators from being bought by corporate America.
While the CBC argues that the funds are used to support charitable causes in the African-American community, it seems that the foundation spends more time "big balling" with elaborate corporate events than it spends actually doing work for the community. Federal tax records show that the CBC Foundation spent more money on the caterer for its annual dinner, $700,000 dollars, than it spent giving out scholarships. As my mama used to say, "That's just trifling."
Even more disturbing are the relationships that the Congressional Black Caucus has formed with industries that clearly do not have the interests of the black community at heart, including the Internet poker industry, cigarette manufacturers, alcoholic beverage producers and rent-to-own companies. Many rent-to-own companies operate in predominantly black neighborhoods and are effectively electronic drug dealers: They give consumers a quick high today in exchange for unethically high fees and massive amounts of debt. Well guess what? The CBC is one of the reasons that the rent-to-own industry has been allowed to expand its operations in urban communities where CBC members don't even live.
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