Black Man Black Woman

Tag: America

  • Howard University Student Controversy Over Financial Aid Problems

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    Howard University has a problem. Apparently, the school’s students have taken lessons on freedom of speech to heart and actually believe they have a voice in running the campus. That problem is magnified by the fact that they are finally speaking up on issues of mismanagement and incompetence that plague many universities around the nation, particularly Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

    We all know that HBCUs can be amazing places to get an education. But we also know that many HBCUs are as slow as molasses when it comes to adopting the necessary administrative adjustments to keep up with the demands of college students. We also know that many HBCUs are not even hiring very many black professors, particularly in business and the sciences (Howard University is one of them). Not having the funds to engage in sound administrative policy is almost understandable. But ignoring calls for appropriate change because it undermines your quest to maintain power….well, that just makes you a black version of the Bush Administration.

    Diddy has come out and supported the students at Howard, and I support them too. The students at Howard University and other campuses around the country must understand very clearly that POWER ONLY RESPECTS POWER. If you are not focused in your vision and committed to fighting for what is right, the world is going to continue to abuse, mislead , exploit and oppress you. People will always enjoy walking over you if you remain committed to lying down.

    In the 19th century, the British maintained control over Chinese citizens by keeping them full of opium and low on education and ambition. By keeping their eyes off the prize, British leadership was able to manipulate the citizenry in any way they chose. When the Chinese people began to take control of their own destinies, this caused the Opium Wars, which opened the door for China to become the superpower that it is today. Whether you are referring to the federal government, university officials, or a pimp on the street, most oppressors who have power do not give that power away willingly.

    Like the British government of the past, University administrations can be as typical as any other entity when it comes to maintaining control of students and their minds. Students don’t realize how much power they can actually have, and most of them don’t even care. As long as students remain focused on going to one party after another and staying fearful of standing up for their rights, campus officials hold all the cards. University administrators have another advantage in that students are only around for 4 – 6 years, so by the time they realize they have any power, they’ve already graduated.

    When I was a student leader at The University of Kentucky (which in my opinion, is to this day, one of the most racist and segregated academic plantations in America), I remember periodically bumping into the university president. He would usually ask me the same question, “When do you graduate again?” When I became a faculty member years later, I figured out that the reason the president was asking about my graduation date was because he knew that when I left the campus, the student protests would leave with me. He was right; that’s exactly what happened. But from that experience, I learned that if you step out and fight for what is right, you might actually have a chance to win and make positive change for the good. Universities hate you for it today, but they give you an award for your efforts 30 years later. I encourage students at Howard University and other campuses across America to make sacrifices for their children and grandchildren, who will set foot on the same ground in just a few years. Were it not for students raising a little hell 30 years ago, you would not be where you are today.

    The students at Howard University have a legitimate grievance on their financial aid problems. It is as legitimate as the grievance of Kentucky State University students, many of whom are still living in hotels this late into the semester. Their grievance is as legitimate as that of the students at Morehouse College, who still don’t understand why a wealthy student can shoot a classmate and be allowed back into classes. Howard students should have their questions answered and be presented with evidence of systematic change in campus procedures.

    When it comes to bad leaadership, questions remain in the air, and they usually don’t get answered. Instead, the administration has the same formula: Just wait long enough and students will either grow weary, get distracted or leave the campus. Don’t be surprised if Howard University invites Lil Wayne on campus for a concert. Like the Chinese of 100 years ago, socio-political Opium always works to co ntrol the masses. Don’t let the leadership control you.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of “What if George Bush were a Black Man?” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Five Things You Might Not Know About The Black American Worker

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    Black American WorkerIt’s no secret that the recession is hitting African-Americans especially hard. Last month black unemployment stood at 14.5 percent, vs. 8.6 percent for whites. However, nearly 18 million blacks are still toiling in the civilian labor force, representing over 11 percent of America’s 155 million workers. As the country enjoys a day of rest on Monday to celebrate all working Americans, Black Voices is taking time to shine a much-deserved spotlight on the black worker with five facts you might not know…

    working black women1) She Brings Home The Bacon
    The black worker is more likely to be female; but then again, there are simply more black females. Fifty-three percent of black workers age 20 and over are women, while 47 percent are men – commensurate with their representation in the overall population.

    2) The Tax Collector in the Mirror
    It’s not surprising that a black person is more likely than a white one to be a bus driver or a health care aide. But did you know that blacks are also more likely to be tax examiners or collectors; dietician or nutritionists; crossing guards; bill collectors; and telemarketers?

    3) On The Government Payroll
    Who says big government is a terrible thing? While facing discrimination in many sectors, blacks are more likely to work for the federal government than other Americans. We represented 17.8 percent of the federal workforce in 2007 compared to 10.1 percent of the general population

    4) Bearing the Union Label
    For years blacks have been more likely to work in a union, bringing them 12 percent higher wages than their non-union counterparts. However, black union participation has been falling for years, from nearly 32 percent in 1983 to less than half that today. In 2008, 14.5 percent black workers were union members vs. 12.2 percent of white workers. It’s no wonder that on average blacks are….

    In More News About Black Workers:

    +NAAIA is Recruiting Black Insurance Professionals

    +Dr. Boyce and Michel Martin on NPR Discuss the Minimum Wage

    +Dr Boyce Money: First Black Female to Run Fortune 500 Company

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    Before These Stars Quit Their Day Jobs…
    Mary J. Blige and other stars had important jobs before they were famous, even if they may have been low-income. What are the most underpaid and underappreciated professions?
    Getty Images

    Before They Were Famous

      Mary J. Blige is known for her creatively coiffed crown of hair for good reason…

      Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

      Mary J. Blige:
      At-Home Hairdresser
      From Starpulse.com: “Blige spent the first few years of her life in Savannah, GA, before moving with her mother and older sister to the Schlobam housing projects in Yonkers, NY. Her rough life there produced more than a few scars, physical and otherwise, and Blige dropped out of high school her junior year, instead spending time doing her friends’ hair in her mother’s apartment and hanging out.”

      Mary started to make her own way in the world in a profession that many take for granted. The at-home hairdresser is a very important staple of many communities, as she uses her skills to help women who can’t afford a professional salon to stay pampered and beautiful. We salute you!

      Getty Images

      Denzel Washington is no stranger to the hair business himself…

      John Shearer, WireImage

      Denzel Washington: Barber
      From Tiscali: “It’s often been said that the boy picked up his desire to act from the flamboyant communication that went on around him at this time. He certainly picked up a desire to work – the family ethic was very strong – and young Denzel found himself labouring in barber shops and beauty parlours from the age of 11.”

      The neighborhood barber is an important institution in many communities. Even though they don’t get paid much, men’s salons are like private social clubs that allow them to relax and connect at an affordable price. Workers in these establishments not only groom the body — they soothe the soul.

      WireImage

      Ellen is known for her dancing, but she used to be a different kind of mover back in the day…

      Jordan Strauss, WireImage

      Ellen Degenres: Car Wash Driver
      From CareerBuilder.com: “I actually liked my first job. I was driving cars out of a car wash, you know, once the car comes out, you get in and you wipe it. That was exciting to me to drive the nice cars and wipe down the [dashboard] with Emerald.”

      We often take for granted all the folks at the local war wash. They may be working for little more than tips, but they keep our cars clean and fresh, making a huge positive impact on our daily lives.

      WireImage

      Jennifer Lopez has displayed a high level of discipline and organization in plotting her megastar career. She must have learned those skills during one of her first jobs…

      Steve Granitz, Getty Images

      Jennifer Lopez: Legal Assistant
      From 2spare.com: “Long before Jennifer Lopez sang, danced and acted her way to superstardom, she briefly traded in her velour tracksuit for a suit of the pin-striped variety while working at a law office.”

      It’s hard to imagine someone as driven as Jennifer Lopez being an assistant, but J.Lo paid her dues by helping her bosses meet their goals. It’s hard for anybody to put others first, but that’s what assistants do in every field. They deserve to be appreciated for this.

      WireImage / Getty Images

      Before Angela Bassett became a huge star in front of the camera, she earned her living doing business on the other side of the lens…

      Michael Tullberg, Getty Images

      Angela Bassett:
      Photo Researcher
      From Yuddy.com: “After working as a beauty salon receptionist and photo researcher, Bassett got started with her acting career in New York Theater, after which she landed her first role-as a prostitute-in the 1985 TV movie ‘Doubletake,’ starring Richard Crenna and Beverly D’Angelo. The following year she landed her first official film role as a TV reporter in ‘F/X.’”

      Whenever we look at a magazine, or in a book with pictures, we are seeing the work of some one like Bassett in her early career. We never think of the faceless, nameless men and women who look for all the photos that illustrate concepts, news and ideas in every facet of our daily lives, ranging from Web sites to education. But every one of those photos was hand-selected by someone, most often an anonymous, but dedicated and not-too-well-paid pro. What would life be like without all the hundreds of pictures we enjoy every day?

      Getty Images

     

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  • The Real Game Is Business

    It’s just the prelims of the 2009 Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge and it’s already clear that once again the best and brightest moves and players in business and corporate America not only came to play–they came to win. It’s what I like most about G&T, hosted once again by title sponsor Pepsi: whether attendees are registered to play golf or tennis, or do some serious rest and relaxation at the world class spa, they know that the real name of the game is business.

  • Black CEO says that the MBA is Worthless

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    I don’t have an MBA, and I’ve never wanted one. I earned several masters degrees and a PhD, but I never found the MBA to be a good investment when it came to actually understanding what I needed to do with my career. But unlike many of my friends, I wasn’t headed to Corporate America. Instead, I wanted to be a professor and entrepreneur, neither of which requires an MBA.

    My brother Lawrence is also getting an MBA from Cornell University, but he doesn’t want a job. Instead, he wants to utilize the network of the university to build his own business. I agree with this philosophy, since ownership is the key to building black wealth in America. Understanding business from all angles is critical to running a top notch organization.

    What is surprising, however, is that there are some captains of corporate America who are starting to question the value of an MBA when attempting to reach your goals. Mind you, this does not imply that the MBA cannot be an important piece of your long-term career plan, but it says that the MBA might not be enough.

    What is underemphasized by many who attempt to climb the corporate ladder is the necessity to learn the intangibles that come with corporate success. Fenorris Pearson, CEO of Global Consumer Innovation, Inc., argues that playing the game at the top of corporate America involves a set of skills that are not taught in a typical MBA program. Instead, Pearson believes that things like managing your peers and forging the right alliances can be critical to corporate success.

    In his new venture, called “The Corporate Climb,” Pearson lays out strategies he learned during his years as a Vice President of Global Consumer Innovation for Dell. He explains that having the credentials is only the beginning when it comes to managing life at the top. An MBA can open doors, but you must have quite a few additional skills to walk through the doors that have been opened.

    As someone who has taught MBA students for over a decade, I can also testify that the MBA should only be one piece of your long-term career building plan. This expensive piece of merchandise will only give you top value if you use it in the proper way. At the same time, I advise all of my business school students to get an MBA eventually, since you need all the advantages you can get. Based on my experience teaching MBA students, here are some quick thoughts on the value of the MBA.

    1) The MBA is important: Some kind of post-secondary education is highly recommended for most college students, especially those majoring in business. You shouldn’t just go to college: you should be at the top of your class and get as much education as you can. Mediocrity should not be on your agenda.

    2) You have to supplement the MBA with work experience: Just having the degree doesn’t mean that companies are going to come banging down your door. You have to do internships and find other valuable experience which will help you convince your employer that you can add to the bottom line. All the credentials in the world are not nearly as valuable to a company as a person who knows how to “make it rain” financially.

    3) The MBA is expensive: Many schools simply sell MBAs, meaning that if you pay a massive amount of tuition, you are probably going to get the degree. The average price of an MBA has spiraled to over $100,000 and now serves as a major money maker for most business schools. So, if you make this investment, make sure you are getting what you expect on the back end: more job opportunities and a salary high enough to pay off your student loans. If the investment pays off, then this can be a solid career move.

    4) Make sure your school helps you to find a job: The quality of the career placement center is incredibly important. If the school can’t place its graduates into high salary positions, then you may find yourself disgruntled.

    5) Don’t leave your fate in anyone else’s hands: The National Black MBA Association and other organizations hold networking conferences which can allow you to find opportunities for yourself. Do not be afraid to use these resources. You have to pound the pavement and create your own luck. Don’t let anyone take control of your future.

    6) Consider owning your own ship: Remember that the key to financial, social and psychological freedom is to own something. Black entrepreneurship is incredibly important to our community and your corporate experience can be a good foundation for you to own your own business. So, as you build your career in corporate America, don’t be afraid to create your own job via entrepreneurship. It might be the most rewarding decision you ever make.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Dr. Boyce Money: What Chris Brown Can Learn From R Kelly

    I spoke about Chris Brown on CNN not too long ago, and I am sure I’ll be talking about him now. Given his shocking 5-year probationary smackdown by a judge, I am sure that Chris has been humbled beyond belief. Even I was surprised to see him get this kind of punishment. But the truth is that when we make personal decisions, there is a piper to be paid, and sometimes that piper wants more compensation than we wish to deliver.

    But Chris Brown is far from finished, and I expect him to be back on top in no time. The Chris Brown brand is still worth hundreds of millions of dollars, since corporate America is very good at working around the emotional to secure the logical value of their financial assets. Here are some things to keep in mind as Chris tries to rebuild his damaged career.

    If R. Kelly can make a comeback, anybody can. I confess that R. Kelly honestly sickens me. I hate to say it this way, but the idea of a man doing what he is alleged to have done to that little girl makes me as angry as you can ever possibly imagine (and yes, I do believe that was him in that video). What disturbs me even more is that the American public let the entire issue go as soon as Kelly released another hit song. This sends a horrible message to young black women, reflecting the fact that our culture does not value their well-being as much as we value a hit song about going to the club, getting drunk and having irresponsible sex at the end of the night. Sorry homeboy, but you can’t serenade your way into my good graces or that of any other conscientious African American. There are simply some lines entertainers cannot cross and being found “not guilty” is not the same as being found innocent.

    In spite of the obvious critique one can thrust on R. Kelly, the oddest thing is that R. Kelly’s model of career recovery can serve as an instruction manual for Chris Brown. The first segment of that lesson came during R. Kelly’s first BET interview after the child pornography allegations were made. During the interview, I noticed that the singer kept repeating the phrase, “Just focus on my music.” He repeated the phrase several times, as if his business manager had coached him to do so. Upon processing things later, the translation here was simple: If you are focused on his music, you will forgive him for the fact that he’d been accused of doing nasty things to someone’s 13-year old daughter. Yes it’s sick. Yes, it bothers me. But yes, it’s the truth and it has worked quite well for R. Kelly and his business model (notice that it took him a while to release his latest album after the trial – the public typically cools off and forgets almost anything you’ve done if enough time passes).

    Similar to the R. Kelly situation, I’ve noticed that many female music fans really don’t care that Chris Brown is a man who seems to believe that it’s O.K.to use a woman’s face as a punching bag. The report that he used the big ring on his finger to inflict even more damage to Rihanna reminds you of the late Ike Turner. I hope he takes his domestic violence counseling seriously, since he can’t go on living like this.

    In the music industry, fans are quick to accept eccentric behavior from celebrities. The public took no issue with Michael Jackson’s problematic relationships with children and there are many other scenarios in which a hit record is enough to take value judgments off the radar screen. Personally, I find myself in constant shock at the kind of language Lil Wayne’s female fans allow him to use to consistently disrespect them. It almost seems that a polite Lil Wayne would not sell nearly as many records as the drunken, outlandish rapper who appears to have a serious drug problem.

    Value systems aside and with the focus back on business, a black entertainer can rebuild his career after an arrest by doing the following things:

    1) Just say that Jesus healed you. People always buy that one. It worked for R. Kelly. References to God, even when insincere and blatantly hypocritical, invoke deeply entrenched sensibilities within African Americans. Personally, I need proof that you’ve really changed, not just your statement that Jesus came to you in a dream.

    2) Sincerely apologize. People always love a good apology.

    3) Make a really hot song. If people are dancing to your music, they usually forget that you might want to punch out their daughter or think that she’s a garden tool. Unfortunate, but true.

    4) Remember the truth: People really don’t care that much about the celeb’s personal life and are looking for an excuse to forgive him anyway. I recall speaking to someone who works for a major network, and I was in awe over how nonchalant she was about the R. Kelly situation. All she kept saying was, “Well, he ISSSS talented,” as if his talent forgives him for any sin committed in the present, past or future. I bumped into a radio exec at a major station in Chicago and listened to him essentially say the same thing when explaining why his station adjusted its policy against playing R. Kelly music shortly after the allegations. The fact is that people just don’t care.

    Chris Brown’s brand will remain strong in the music industry. From a business standpoint, it is also ironic that being arrested may actually be a “coming out” party for him, reinventing him for the world as the tough, borderline thug that many women seem to love (remember when Lauren London said she had a crush on Ol Dog from Menace to Society – a man known for being the craziest gang banger in entertainment history?). These coming out parties are common, as you typically see young actresses do sexy magazine covers on their 18th birthday (i.e. when “Simply Raven” became “Sexy Raven” and when Rudy Huxtable played a prostitute in her latest film), or male entertainers trying to look mean and “tatted up” to break away from their good boy image (i.e. Lil Bow Wow….I mean, Bow Wow). It’s all about branding. The craziest thing about the Chris Brown situation is that being arrested for beating a woman could actually work to his advantage. So, our adoration for Chris Brown (actually, other people’s adoration, since I don’t respect any man who would do that to a woman) is a reflection of our society and a nasty look in the mirror for all of us. I should say, however, that I consider Chris Brown to be far different from R. Kelly: He is still a very young man who makes mistakes and could possibly become a decent adult with guidance and significant intervention – which spoiled celebrities seldom receive.

    Don’t be surprised to see Chris hanging out with more rappers, where it’s actually a good thing to be arrested. He’s going to have a few more tattoos, a meaner “mug” on his next album and present a brand that embraces the hardcore image, yet not so hardcore that you won’t believe him when he sincerely apologizes and says that Jesus saved him. The new Chris Brown will be interesting.

  • Tribute to a Titan of Public Service

    During a legislative career spanning five decades, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was a powerful, often irresistible, force for change in America.