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Dr. Watkins has put us up on why Bill O’Reilly is really going at him; and the fact that this whole thing about the “happy Negro” comment is about 8 months old; bolsters Dr. Watkins. Why is Bill bring it up now; because it’s all he has to try to slander Watkins with since Watkins recently started going after O’Reilly’s advertisers.

The Back Story

You remember when Al Sharpton foolishly took O’Reilly to dinner at Silvia’s (famous Black resturant) in Harlem; and O’Raistly said he was surprised that Blacks conduct themselves in a resturant just like white people, and no one was screaming “bring me an ice tea M-fer”.

Well CNN had Dr. Watkins and Negro protector of white racist, conservative blogger LaShawn Barber (who I’ve appeared with on NPR) on to talk about it.

When Ms. Barber tried to excuse O’Reilly’s racism by saying that he made the Statement to Juan Williams and Williams wasn’t offended, Dr. Watkins rightfully responded that “Juan Williams sitting there as sort of the happy Negroe agreeing with Bill O’Reilly, doesn’t impress me. A man cannot walk into your home, and congradulate your mother for not being a prostitute; and not be offended.”

Here’s the video

Fast forward

Recently, through his Your Black World website, Dr. Watkins started a campaign of accountability to hold specifically O’Racistly, Sean Klannity and Rush Limbaugh accountable for their distortions and degridation of Black people; saying:

Why The O’Reilly Factor is Becoming a Non-Factor and why Bill O’Reilly is Feeling Threatened. (Juan Williams lost his credibility a long time ago)

A few days ago, we began talk of holding Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity accountable for their racialized smearing of Senator Barack Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. This event was only the latest in non-stop racial attacks by those in the “Axis of Ignorance”, engaging in consistent social terrorism of people of color. Many of us sat angry and hurt as we felt defenseless to counter the lies being told on airwaves and media channels that distort elections and mute black voices across America.

The attack launched by O’Reilly this week is nothing but go old fashion retaliation. Watkins is going after O’Reilly’s advertisers, O’Racistly is starting to feel the heat; and so he’s try to discredit and scare Watkins to back him off.

Watkins goes on to write about his campaign that:

“While O’Reilly, Limbaugh and Hannity have a right to speak freely, I am sure many of you agree that they should not be allowed to attack your leaders using your money. So, to help the cause, we’ve gathered a list of corporate sponsors for Fox News. I would like to thank Andrea Hatter, a respected novelist and member of the Your Black World Family, for providing this list. If you would like to write or call these sponsors and also complain to the FCC about what you’re seeing on the airwaves, the information is there for you. You can also email us at info@yourblackworld.com to share your frustrations. ”

Go here for the list.

This is what O’Reily and Happy Negro Juan Williams are really upset about. This is the reason for the character attack, and false race-baiting claim of racism against Dr. Watkins.

Back in the day everybody wanted to rap or have a wicked jump shot so they could get up out of the hood, and escape the game.

Today rappers who were never in the game; but were hidding in their bedroom, peering from the window at the hustlers on the block, writing the raps that would later make them famous; once they reach the dream, then they decide to become gangstas. Ball players are doing the same.

Now with their newly found fame, and usually money, or at least the leased trappings of it; they are the man on the block and surround themselves with a bunch of real thugs, who they then want to impress and gain the respect of. Likewise, the thug wants to curry favor with the rapper, so he can be on the video shoot lot to lay on the casting couch with the “video ho” or maybe get a deal himself; so he’s down to do violence on the rapper’s behalf at any moment. Being an uneducated gangsta, it’s all he has to offer to stay in the famous rapper or ball player’s circle.

Remy Ma, you made it fool. Why are you poppin gats? You have no one and nothing to blame but yourself. It’s not your mommma, society or your environment. It’s you and your choice to resort to violence first, and not even explore other options to resolve a problem. Save the tears now mama!

NYC judge sentences Remy Ma to 8 years in prison

By SAMUEL MAULL, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - A weeping Remy Ma was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday for shooting a woman outside a Manhattan nightclub.

“I feel so bad for all the physical and mental pain you’ve gone through,” the Grammy-nominated rapper told the victim. “This has taken a toll on us and both our families. I would never wish you harm[you mean like shooting her???] and I pray the best for all of us.”

The entertainer, whose real name is Remy Smith, had faced up to 25 years in prison for assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion for shooting Makeda Barnes Joseph last July in a dispute over money.

Smith, 26, begged the judge for leniency for the sake of “my little boy,” [you weren’t thinking about your little boy when you shot her - selfish] saying she grew up “surrounded by failure, violence and poverty,” but “made something out of nothing” from her life.

State Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller said she recognized that Smith had had a difficult childhood, but noted the victim had nearly died and will never be the same physically. Uviller called the rapper “a young woman whose anger is out of control.”

After the sentencing, Smith’s fiance, fellow rapper Papoose, began screaming in a hallway outside the courtroom. “All you want is money!” he said, apparently referring to the victim.

“Lock me up! Lock me up!” he then shouted to court officers, who escorted him out of the courthouse.

The couple had planned to wed last weekend at the Rikers Island jail, where Smith has been incarcerated. Correction officials said they called off the wedding after Papoose showed up with a handcuff key.

Smith’s lawyer, Ivan Fisher, said Papoose had a key but denied that it could be used to open handcuffs. Papoose, whose real is Shamele Mackie, hasn’t been charged.

Fisher said the couple still plan to wed.

The fight in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District erupted after Smith accused Joseph of taking $2,000 from her purse.

Prosecutors said she then fired two .45-caliber slugs into the woman’s abdomen and fled without calling police or for medical help.

Fisher said the sentence would be appealed.

He said the women struggled and the gun went off accidentally. He said Joseph’s story changed when her lawyer was preparing a $20 million lawsuit, which was later withdrawn.

Smith was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 smash “Lean Back.”

R Kelly, you’re next!

This is “an excerpt from the recently released DVD of some of Marvin’s greatest live performances on TV and film, “Real Thing: In Performance 1964-1981,” This live performance comes from the long out-of-circulation 1973 film, “Save The Children” with James Jamerson on bass.” - brainchild9 at youtube

This is a powerful video through and through, both musically and visually. As well , it is treat for all Marvin Gaye fans. I’ve been a fan of his music since I was introduced to Heard It Through the Grapevine in a 5th grade Arts class, though he was dead before I knew he existed. I would’ve been abut 4 when he died.

I’ve never been treated to his personal musicianship before.

I never heard this extra verse to What’s Going On before either.

In the case them seemingly never happens, The Chicago Sun-Times brings us some new info

Exclusive: Witness to testify she had a threesome with R. Kelly, victim
ERIC HERMAN Criminal Courts Reporter

A woman is set to testify at R. Kelly’s upcoming child pornography trial that she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the allegedly underage girl shown in the video at the heart of the case.

The 41-year-old R&B superstar is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl estimated to be 13 or 14. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is set to begin Friday.

As part of the case, prosecutors claim to have identified the girl in the videotape. This alleged victim is now in her 20s. Kelly’s lawyers plan to argue — and the alleged victim will reportedly testify — that she is not the girl in the tape.

But the prosecution’s new witness could undermine that defense, since she will identify the girl, sources with knowledge of the matter told the Chicago Sun-Times. In addition, the witness is expected to say the girl was underage at the time of their encounter.

“She was involved in a threesome with [the girl] and R. Kelly,” one source said.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers declined to comment, citing a gag order in the case.

The witness’ testimony was among the evidence discussed in secret hearings last month before Judge Vincent Gaughan. The judge, citing concerns about pretrial publicity, closed the hearings to the public and put multiple court filings under seal…

In the past, Kelly has faced civil lawsuits from underage girls accusing the singer of inducing them to have sex with him and a second woman. The title track of his 2007 album “Double Up” refers to a man arranging a ménage a trois.

The Kelly case has been pending since June 2002, when the R&B star was indicted on multiple counts of child pornography. It has been delayed repeatedly, but lawyers and courthouse personnel expect it will finally begin May 9.

www.suntimes.com/news/metro/kelly/929564,rkelly050308.article

Did she know how old the girl was, cause that make her a rapist too if she did. Guess she’s getting immunity or something.

More than anything I want him to go to jail just so he can’t make no more Trapped In The Closet Videos.

Back when Snipes first got convicted I said I hope he goes to jail, because the rich shouldn’t get away with this, when the little man gets punished for just making mistakes on his taxes.

Weeeell, I wasn’t thinking 3 year; lol. I was thinking more like one. But what a punk thing to go to the pen for.

I think 3 is a little tough, but I can’t feel too sorry for him, he brought it on himself by robbing the rest of us. We have to pay our taxes, the rich should pay theirs. We have to pay our taxes though we can’t afford it. The rich cheat paying taxes all the time even when the difference won’t change their life anyway.

So Screw’em!

Mo’ money, mo’ problems for Snipes

Even if you’re a Hollywood star, the courts don’t take kindly to you refusing to pay income tax…

US actor Wesley Snipes has been given the maximum sentence of three years in prison after being found guilty of tax evasion. The trial followed almost ten years of ‘brazen defiance’ of the US Internal Revenue Service, during which the star of Blade and White Men Can’t Jump refused to pay tax on nearly $60m of income. Apparently some dodgy advisers managed to persuade him back in 1999 that the whole tax thing was entirely voluntary, and ever since he’s been busy concealing funds offshore, falsely applying for tax rebates and challenging the authority of the IRS.

Believe it or not, this ‘tax denial’ idea is quite a popular movement in the US. Its proponents say that they’re not technically required to pay income tax on domestic earnings, basing their argument on some dubious interpretations of old court rulings and constitutional amendments (since rejected by the courts). Snipes appears to have fallen hook, line and sinker for this idea when it was peddled to him by his tax advisers, and has since been engaged in a long-running battle with the IRS…

On the other hand, Snipes isn’t in prison yet, and apparently his lawyers are already planning a raft of appeals – so whether he’ll actually serve any time is debatable. And given that he’s a martial arts expert, we’re sure he’ll be able to look after himself even if he does…

I understand that he’ll be free while on appeal.

I thought we got rid of this guy in South Carolina.

But I hope he keeps talking though, as 3 important primaries approach. The last time he shot off his mouth, he helped to increase Obama’s momentum on the way to a big victory.

Johnson said to the Charlotte Observer that:

“What I believe Geraldine Ferraro meant is that if you take a freshman senator from Illinois called ‘Jerry Smith’ and he says I’m going to run for president, would he start off with 90 percent of the black vote?” “And the answer is, probably not.”

Ferraro’s ridiculous comments have already been deconstructed, but now Johnson adds new fallacy to it; which in truth is simply in contradiction to the FACTS.

Obama didn’t start of with 90% of the Black vote, in fact he started off with way less than half the Black vote right after he announced, and Clinton with the majority; 28% to 52% respectively. Then in the next month Clinton’s lead went up to over 60% amongst Black voters.

Even by the time the primaries rolled around in January of ’08, Obama still only had about 60% of Black vote in the national polls, and in the first state where Blacks voted in any significant numbers; after Bob Johnson and the Clinton’s shot their race baiting mouths off; he still only got 71%, a far cry from 90% even more than a year into his candidacy.

So apparently this billionaire has a problem with basic arithmetic; or, he’s just a propagandist; and like his candidate, will say anything to help her get elected.

Bob Johnson is a North Carolina native, where he lives and owns the Charlotte Bobcats. He makes these comments ahead of an upcoming May 6th primary in his state. The founder and former owner of BET also must have problems with history as well as math.

If being Black gave you an advantage, and made you a front runner; then why’d Al Sharpton and Carol Mosely-Bruan’s candidacy’s not even get off the ground just 4 years,ago? Neither placed first or second in even one primary or caucus. And no matter how much the race-baiters try to gerry-rig Geraldine Ferraro’s comments, she didn’t say that race was a factor; she said that people were voting for him simply because they’re wrapped in the “concept” of a Black president; which is to say that there are no substantive reasons why anyone’s voting for Obama, it’s all affirmative action. And she said the same thing about Jesse Jackson in ‘88; so we have a long pattern of her dismissing any Black candidate who gets any level of popular support.

Here’s another fact the pair obviously don’t bother with; the fact that out of the 9 states that have an 85% or better white population Obama won 7 of those and tied for delegates in one other. You can’t come close to winning the nomination with only Black support, as Blacks represent less than a quarter of the Democrat’s electorate.

This cultural pimp, who made his money off of selling drug culture, gang fanaticism, and strip club hooker culture through hours of crass videos everyday beamed into our homes, should just sit down somewhere and be quiet. Well, on the other hand if he keeps talking he’ll keep burying himself and his candidate.

The answer I’m sure is yes, but I’m sure it’s not the only reason. For one, you can’t be on top forever, and as is pointed out in the video there are going to be dips in popularity from time to.

Nacy Giles, the woman on the right in the above video, totally miss the whole point on the Obama thing, though. I assume she is not familiar with voiting patterns in this election.

She keeps making the point that Ellen is showing obvious support for Clinton and her favorability isn’t slidding, as some kind of proof that supporting a candidate must not be the reason. Actually, that proves the point that Oprah is losing favorability because of her vocal support of Obama.

The majority of both Oprah and Ellens audiences are middle aged to older white women. Hillary Clinton’s strongest voting base is middle aged to older white women. So of course a host with this audience would take a hit for supporting Obama; but not take much if any hit for supporting Hillary Clinton amongst Hillary’s base.

In other words, duh!

When Oprah appeared with Maria Shriver and Caroline Kennedy in California more than a month ago she mocked women who she said asked her “Oprah, how could you” — as in how could she vote for a man over a woman, as if genitalia should be the only deteminate with which a woman votes. So clearly this was building, and should be no surprise.

These are the Steinem and Ferraro feminist that I talked about before who think it’s a litmus test of being a loyal woman to vote for Hillary; though they had no such litmus test when the Black woman was running for president.

Also, I don’t think that new age thing helps so much as that is turnoff to a lot of people; but I don’t know why that would be a turn off now, as opposed to when she started doing it years ago; unless people are out there making a point of it at this moment in time.

…well, final at least for now anyway.

The Black Women Bloggers campaign, that was joined by myself and other fellows, has declared a position of satisfaction in that the NAACP and Al Sharpton have refrained from using their advocacy powers to try and set the alleged Dunbar rapist free; particularly with NAACP Florida State President Nweze going to prosecutors to enquire about capturing the other suspects.

West Palm Beach Chapter President Maude Ford Lee still has never retracted her statement that keeping brutal rapist locked up is “unconscionable”. Nonetheless, she was rained in by superiors in the organization, and has ceased and desisted from active rapist advocacy.

Shecodes of the Black Women Vote! blog and Villager of Electronic Village appeared on NPR last week to discuss the issue amongst a couple of other things. Listen here

The success of this campaign highlights again how determine activism can win over naysayers skepticism.

The Philadelphia Tribune profiles the rise of Black internet based activism in it’s April addition. A number of BlackPerspective.net blog partners are quoted or mentioned in the piece.

Here are a couple of favorite highlights:

“While most blogs are created for leisure, and better reflect an online dairy, a group of bloggers know as the Afrosphere is dedicating its efforts to the progress of African Americans.”

It goes on a little while latter to say:

“This network has used it’s heft to rally around social causes and draw the nations attention to overlooked injustices, such as in the town of the once little-known Jena.

Though many have vied for credit, the organization of the mammoth descent in Jena was the property of Black bloggers, wrote Rachael Christie of the American Journalism Review in the first assessment of the media’s response to the story. For months after the fight of the Jena High School students now as the Jena Six, the media and traditional civil rights organizations were silent.”

Shaw of the Dallas South Blog also got in a mention and description of the AfroSpear.

I told you all previously about the American Journalism Review story by Rachael Christie that is quoted in this story, as I was interviewed for and in quoted in it.

You can read the article at this Phili Tribune site It’s on pages 18 through 24.

To add to the comment of the Jena 6 turnout being “the property of Black bloggers”; I was talking to Alan Bean last night, who was the first civil rights activist on the ground in Jena (January of ’07) and is the single most responsible person for what later came as he’s the one who got the story out of Jena to the rest of us. Anyhow, he noted how the issue became a “Black blog phenomenon” and how it didn’t resonate even with white progressive bloggers even after Howard Witt of the Chicago Tribune started reporting on it.

Speaking of Howard Witt, congratulations are in order for his Pulitzer Prize nomination for his reporting in breaking the Jena 6 story nationally; though he didn’t win.

For more on the rise of Black blog activism power, you might want to read my

Okay, via my phone message Friday to Chairman Bond that I left with Mrs. Brice in his office; I got a call today from National Communications Director Richard McIntyre, who I referenced in the call.

He wanted to verify my email address so he could send my the NAACPs statement about the email campaign, though I figured out half way through the convo that it was going to be the same one that’s been on the website for a week, and that’s largely been debunked (and that’s going to lend itself to a point I’m going to make later.)

First, Villager and SheCodes are of the opinion that the campaign is over, they got what they want out it. I don’t know if there is group consensus on this or an official “its over position” that’s been discussed or not, but here’s my opinion, and one I shared with Mr. McIntyre.

First I’ll report that he took a more conciliatory tone this afternoon then he did on the podcast Thursday night. He says he’s frustrated over people not hearing and understanding where they’re coming from. He actually said that the WPB branch holding the press conference was “wrong”. I don’t recall him saying that previously, unless I missed it under all of his defensiveness.

Here are the problems I still have. For one, he maintains his “so be it” posture regarding the alleged rapists going free. I put this issue to him directly. In response to him saying he doesn’t understand what people want them to do; I told him part of it is a problem of attitude, as when asked about his position on the defendants getting bail that “you said so be it”. His response still today, “that’s right”.

He says Maude Ford Lee of the West Palm Beach branch was reprimanded. That’s great, as before, if I remember right, I think he said that the branch violated procedure and was counseled on it; but I don’t think it was described as a reprimand. But why doesn’t Mrs. Lee retract her words and actions? So, I still have a problem with her. She stills the WPB president, and she thinks rapists being locked up is “unconscionable”. I have to oppose an organization that is lead by such a person.

He made the same point to me that Witcha Branch President, and fellow AfroSpear member Kevin Myles made a week ago, which is that they don’t provide legal representation; which is understood and beside the point. As I noted to Mr. Myles, nobody asked the NAACP to be the Dunbar Village victims lawyers, but instead of pretty well ignoring the issue, it could have used it’s advocacy powers, notoriety, and resources to advocated on behalf of equal protection under the law for poor people living in Dunbar Village who are often neglected by authorities; rather then there first big splash on this issue being on behalf of the defendants. And even if they are now disavowing the press conference and stance of freeing the victims, why not take a positive and active position to ADVOCATE (not do legal work) on behalf of Dunbar Village?

In response to your question Mr. McIntyre that “I don’t know what people want us to do”, this is it! Stand up for little people instead of doing free PR work for Michael Vick. Mr. McIntyre mentioned the Vick thing and about local branches having “autonomy” (another thing already explained by Mr. Myles) and that being a play by the local Alanta Branch because Vick is such a big part of the Atlanta community; which underlines my point. The NAACP can come out for rich people in the community; but it’s not in their scope to come out for the the nobody’s in the gutter.

Again the issue is how these incidents of coming out for likely criminals, but then saying “we don’t do legal work” when we ask you to come out for victims; is emblematic of the NAACP’s apparent priorities. Though you don’t do legal work for the criminals, you still advocate for them. Why do you all so hardily resist advocating for victims?

And here is why I don’t think the campaign should end. They still don’t get it!

At least on my part, I can’t speak for the whole campaign; I’m tired of top Negroes defending criminals, always making excuses for somebody just because they’re Black, as if Black folks are pro-crime. In conjunction, I’m tired of the entire Black political and social activist apparatus that always gets to be on t.v., always glossing over the issue of victimization of Black people by our own. We need both a change of some of the developing mentalities and a foot up the ass of some folks in our communities.

If the NAACP doesn’t want to do that, then I wish they’d just come out and say so; but stop this halfway hedging B.S.

Just come out and say that you’re not concerned about blacks victimizing other blacks and destroying our communities from the inside, and that you don’t care about addressing the psychological maladies that are producing Dunbar Village type sociopaths. Just straight forwards let us know that you’re just here to complain about the white man (the same white man that’s funding you), and that’s it.

Defending Black people to the hilt no matter what they do, no matter right or wrong; I guarantee you is not what W.E.B. Dubois had in mind; but if that’s where you guys want to go with the organization, just admit it, and we can ignore you and leave you alone.