Dr. Boyce Spotlight: Black Female Entrepreneur Teaches Math to Make Her Money

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

What is your name, and what do you do?
My name is Stephanie Espy, and I'm the founder and president of MathSP (www.MathSP.com). MathSP is a math enrichment company that helps individuals to improve their math skills. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, MathSP provides instruction to middle school students, high school students, college students, adults who need additional math-based resources alongside their coursework, and students who need an added challenge beyond their coursework. MathSP also prepares individuals for the math section of various standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT, computer-adaptive exams such as the GMAT or GRE, and state exams such as the EOCT or GHSGT.

 

Click to read

Tyra Banks Heads to Harvard Business School

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

Media superstar and modeling-model Tyra Banks recently announced that she's headed to the Harvard Business School. While it's still not clear if she's getting an official degree (I assume its a short-term executive education course; I can't imagine someone with her experience and schedule taking too much time off for school), one has to be impressed with her decision to continue educating herself. Some might think that education is simply a thing you tolerate long enough to make money to support yourself. Nothing could be further from the truth, since learning should be a lifelong process.

"I started last summer and I didn't really talk about it. It was very incognito, my name and everything, but I decided to talk about it [now]. I think it's a positive thing, especially for girls to see that you can still continue to educate yourself and you can still be fabulous and fierce and celebrate your femininity," Tyra said to MTV News.

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Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: A Couple Makes Both Money and Love

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One reason that we do the spotlights here on AOL Black Voices is to profile businesses, organizations and individuals who are doing outstanding (but perhaps unsung) work within the African American community. While most media enjoys highlighting the dysfunction of the black community, we believe that there is plenty to celebrate. What I love about Ayize and Aiyana Ma'at is that they've found a way to use their love to create the financial fuel that helps to sustain their family. As certified relationship counselors, they also work together to help other couples find the love they've been seeking as well. It is because of their empowered commitment to strengthening the black family in America that Ayize and Aiyana Ma'at are today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

 

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Spotlight: Dressing for Success in a Tough Economy

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

African Americans are suffering worse than any other group of Americans during this prolonged recession. Our unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosure rates are far higher than whites, which is a striking reality to face after electing our first black president. People like Alison Vaughn position themselves to help those of us who wish to compete more effectively in the workplace by offering training that will increase your value to prospective employers. It is her commitment to serving her community that makes Alison Vaughn today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

Click to read.

Dr. Boyce Spotlight: Prof. Laquita Blockson Analyzes Black Female Entrepreneurs

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

I've known of the work of Dr. Laquita Blockson for over a decade. I consider Dr. Blockson to be one of the leading experts on Minority female entrepreneurship in the entire United States. Given that the black female has been found in numerous studies to have the lowest average net worth of any race/gender group, the work of women like Laquita Blockson has a level of importance that is beyond words. It is because of her commitment to helping her sisters experience the freedom of socially-responsible entrepreneurship, education and wealth building that Dr. Laquita Blockson is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

 

Click to read.

Why Carol Moseley Braun Could Not Become the Mayor of Chicago

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

One of the most interesting political events in America was the race to become mayor of Chicago. After yet another seemingly endless regime under the Daley family, black Chicago had a chance to elect one of their own. Carol Moseley Braun, the seasoned politician and history-making former Senator, positioned herself to be the great black hope for the city of Chicago.

Unfortunately, the Moseley-Braun candidacy was simply not meant to be. After a series of missteps, Rahm Emanuel used the power of President Obama's backing to convince the vast majority of Chicago citizens, white and black, to give him their support. Apparently, unspoken endorsements from Barack Obama and Bill Clinton goes a long way, even if you can't readily prove that you've done very much for the African American community.

click to read.

Dr. Boyce: Oprah and Iyanla Finally Settle the Beef

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

I watched with extreme curiosity as the great Iyanla Vanzant emerged again on the Oprah Winfrey show after being gone for a full 11 years. I wasn't entirely connected to the feud between Winfrey and Vanzant, primarily because we don't think much about people that we haven't seen in over a decade. Of course Oprah is on everyone's mind, and even those who don't follow her seem to know everything she has been up to.

As the guest came to the stage, even a man from Mars could tell that there was latent mega-beef between Oprah and Iyanla. Both women seemed to overcompensate when it came to doing all they could to prove that the past was the past and that everything was OK. But the tension was so thick that it seemed to suck the oxygen out of the room.

click to read.

Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: From Harlem to Harvard – Giselle Marcus Sets the Standard

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

I was impressed with Gisele Marcus from the very first day we spoke. She has enough energy to light up Las Vegas and an intense drive to succeed in corporate America. She has done assignments around the world, most recently in South Africa, and has been identified as a rising star in executive circles. She also came from humble beginnings, growing up in a single parent household in Harlem, with a mother who pushed hard for Gisele to have a better life. In fact, her mother's story reminded me of that of Kelly Williams-Bolar, the woman was sent to jail for sending her kids to a school outside their district. I don't care what the law says, there's nothing unethical about a mother fighting to give her children hope for the future. Just like the days of slavery, there remain systemic barriers to keep our kids away from opportunity, but also like our ancestors, good mothers don't allow anything to keep us away from our dreams. It is for her dogged pursuit of excellence and the remarkable example she sets for young black women that Gisele Marcus is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices.

 

Click to read.

Condoleeza Rice Asked on CNN: “Why Are You Not Married?”

by Alexis Stodghill, AOL Black Voices

Condoleezza Rice, the first black woman to become a U.S. Secretary of State, was interviewed recently on the newly minted CNN show, 'Piers Morgan Tonight,' to be asked of all things: Why are you not married? That question no successful African American female can escape. The single, black (semi-successful) woman that I am couldn't help but shrink in insecurity as this ubiquitous puzzler was posed even to one of the most prominent black women alive. Why the embarrassment?
Yes, such questions make for great ratings. It's a question Piers Morgan might have asked any single V.I.P. Watching a woman who used to wield massive diplomatic and military power talk of cooking fried chicken was a hoot. But despite the innocence of the utterance, for black women everywhere that question is the articulation of aGreek tragedy-style family curse: An unsolvable source of suffering for black women that just keeps getting passed down. Piers may not have known that, but refering to it even obliquely is enough to make one's heart hurt.

 

click to read.

How Mass Incarceration Affects the Marriage Market for Black Women

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

In a very compelling article, The Economist Magazine stepped away from its standard delivery of international political updates to dig deeply into the experience of the African American woman. In the article, economists analyze dating for black women as a market, where men and women enter the market to search for a suitable mate.
The author starts off with a simple example to help make his point. He says "IMAGINE that the world consists of 20 men and 20 women, all of them heterosexual and in search of a mate. Since the numbers are even, everyone can find a partner. But what happens if you take away one man?"
Then, citing the work of Tim Harford, an economist in England, the author says that because one out of the 20 women faces the possibility of never finding a husband, she tries harder to get a man, perhaps by dressing more seductively or doing things the other women might not do. She may even steal a man from someone else. This then affects what other women do to find and keep their own men, and also the behavior of the men themselves.

 

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.

Oldest Black Church in Georgia Now Facing Foreclosure

 

 

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

 

The oldest black church in DeKalb County had to recently shut its doors after facing foreclosure proceedings on its building. Flat Rock Community Church is 150 years old. According to Binita Miles, a senior pastor, the church is now having to deal with significant financial problems as a result of declining membership.
The church's mortgage is $6,500 and parishioners are now meeting in a local elementary school.

The challenges being faced by Flat Rock are being felt nation-wide. Quite a few black churches have found themselves to be victims of the recent foreclosure crisis and are working to find a way to pay the bills. African Americans at large were disproportionately impacted by the economic downturn and many of us are on the brink of homelessness. Not only do African Americans have the highest unemployment rates in America, we have less wealth to fall back on in the event of economic problems.

 

Click to read.

Gap Between the Rich and Middle Class Keeps Growing

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

It turns out that the gap between the rich and the middle class is larger than it's been in recorded American history. Much of the growth in the gap is due to the recent housing crisis taking place over the past three years.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, the wealthiest 1% had an average net worth that was 225 greater than the average American. That's higher than the previous record, which was 190 times in 2004.
An intriguing aspect of the divide is that it occurred while the wealth of all Americans declined on average. The richest households lost 27% of their wealth between 2007 and 2009, while middle class Americans lost 47% of their wealth during the same time period. So, the growth in the gap was mainly due to the fact that the middle class and poor suffered more during the recent recession than the wealthy.

 

Click to read.

 

 

 

Visit Your Black World for more black news, black politics,  and black celebrity gossip!

Julianne Malveaux: Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays

by Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President – Bennett College

When I look at the data that define the reality for African Americans in the economy, I am often alarmed and discouraged. One in four African American lives in poverty. Nearly one in three is out of work, according to unofficial data (official data says one in six). African Americans have lost billions of dollars worth of wealth in the foreclosure crisis. We aren't alone in our pain - our nation is hurting. But our pain is more pronounced, more acute, more debilitating.
This is hardly the first time African Americans have experienced disproportionate pain. Indeed, the story of our presence in this nation has been a story of us shouldering more than our share of economic pain. When people ask me about the wealth gap, I remind them that black folks used to be the wealth white folks accumulated. Under those circumstances, it is difficult to imagine that the wealth gap will ever be closed.

And yet we rise. I wrote my latest book, Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History, to remind me, to remind all of us, that even in harsh times African Americans have been more than survivors, we have been thrivers. We have made it despite horrible conditions, despite unfairness, despite racism. The playing field has never been level, and yet we have played on the slanted field, returning, returning, and sometimes winning. In the middle of a week of running around, talking about the book in Detroit and in Chicago, I had to smile at myself with air of satisfaction and acknowledge a job well done.

 

Click to read.

 

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From AOL - Should You Be able to Sue Someone for Dumping You At the Alter?

What would you do if the love of your life up and left you days before your wedding? Well, you couldsue his butt off.
Dominique Buttitta, a lawyer in Chicago, is taking her ice-footed former fiancé to court for bailing on their big dayjust four days before the ceremony was supposed to go down. The jilted bride claims that by calling it quits, the groom "intentionally inflicted emotional distress" on her. She's reportedly seeking more than $95,000 from her ex -- money, she says, that she'd already spent on the wedding.
I think she may have a case, and not just because people sue for less than this every day. I've had neighbors sue other neighbors when their dog crapped on the lawn. Buttitta's fiance crapped on her life. Not only is she now being portrayed as a bitter, spurned woman, she's in the hole for a whole lot of zeros.
Planning a wedding is a big, long, intricate process. I know; I'm in the middle of planning mine. Pick up any issue of "The Knot" and they'll tell you: planning a wedding takes about nine months to a year. And those are a packed nine to 12 months of making lists, touring venues, tasting cakes and spending thousands of dollars in nonrefundable deposits. There's the dress, the rings, flowers -- Buttitta says she spent over $12,500 on those -- invitations, escort cards and a ton of other things that take up a whole lot of time and even more of your money. It's ridiculous.

Click to read.

Black News: Woman Sues Tobacco Company and Wins $152M Verdict

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

Marie Evans grew up in a housing project in Boston. In those projects, the children in the neighborhood were given free samples of Newport cigarettes, which Marie first received at the age of 9. By the time she was 13, she was a regular smoker, and in 2002, she died of lung cancer.
Marie's family decided to confront the maker of Newport cigarettes for their negligent behavior and won a stunning $152 million lawsuit against the company. The judgement consisted of $81 million in damages and another $71 million that had been awarded earlier this week. It took quite a few years to get there, but justice has been served. This is the largest judgement in history against anyone in the tobacco industry.
"It was her wish to sort of bring this suit, and I've honored that wish. It's been my mission to see this to completion. I'm sure she feels vindicated. I'm sure she feels thankful for the 14 members of the jury that they ruled that they committed these offenses," said William Evan's, Marie's son.

Click to read.

 

Visit Your Black World for black news, black politics and black celebrity gossip! 

Dr. Boyce Watkins on TheLoop21.com - 12/2/10

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• Cyber Monday Isn't Shopping, It's Mind Control

  Thu, 12/02/2010 - 01:00

  Black Friday, Valentine's Day and 'Sweetest Day' are all contrived to empty your wallet ...

  Read More

• Four Loko and the Crazy Money-Making Machine

  Mon, 11/29/2010 - 09:46

  The dangers of the caffeinated alcohol in a can are a perfect example of why we need consumer protection ...

  Read More

• Will Your Parents' Golden Years Be Paid By Plastic?

  Thu, 11/25/2010 - 23:14

  More retired Americans are relying on credit cards to live out the end of their life ...

  Read More

• Getting rich and giving back, the Magic Johnson model

  Fri, 11/19/2010 - 17:40

  Johnson has become a glowing model of black entrepreneurial success ...

  Read More

• Michael Vick re-emerges as the greatest quarterback in the NFL

  Fri, 11/19/2010 - 10:48

  Vick is proving himself to be an exceptional player, but he's still seen as a financial risk ...

  Read More

  MORE STORIES

How are Black Women Making It in the Workplace?

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

When a very important member of my management team told me that she was going to take time off to have a child, my brain stopped in its tracks. I wondered how we were going to remain fully productive, how long she would be gone, and how I should respond to such a sensitive situation. I then realized that, like so many American business owners, I was thinking like a man. Once I came to my senses, I let go of my personal concerns and focused solely on supporting her in this important step. I then realized that this interaction happens in workplaces across America, and the results are not always so amicable.

The United States is among the worst of industrialized nations when it comes to comes to making allowances for the professional challenges that women face relative to men. A woman who stops working in order to have children and/or raise a family may find that when she returns to the workforce, her opportunity set has diminished significantly. This doesn't even consider typical gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and other daunting barriers to advancement.

You may already know that according to the US Department of Labor, women now outnumber men in the workplace (64.2 million to 63.4 million). This takes us a long way from the days when women weren't allowed to vote, or female attorneys couldn't be more than legal secretaries. Given that we have grown so much as a society, our nation has to step into the 21st century when it comes to equalizing the employment landscape.

 

Click to read.

Black Celebrity Gossip Blogger Necole Bitchie Shares Her Celeb Money Insights

Necole Bitchie is a much loved urban media maven who came onto the blogging scene in 2007, and has remained a major player in the field ever since. Her eponymous blog,NecoleBitchie.com is one of the most popular Web destinations for discussing celebrity dish, offering a fresh voice and unique perspective on African American stars. How did Necole Bitchie make such a profound impact in such a short time in a crowded field? She shares the amazing business insights -- and a few celebrity finance secrets -- that have contributed to her stellar success. Here's what Necole told BV on Money:

What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Necole Bitchie and I am the voice behind the celebrity entertainment blogsite NecoleBitchie.com.

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

Click to read.

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien Has an Issue with Jesse Jackson

Below is an excerpt from her book “The Next Big Story.”

Even though I am not sure what he is saying, I can tell he is angry. Today he is angry because CNN doesn’t have enough black anchors. It is political season. There are billboards up sporting Paula Zahn and Anderson Cooper. He asks after the black reporters. Why are they not up there? I share his concern and make a mental note to take it back to my bosses. But then he begins to rage that there are no black anchors on the network at all. Does he mean covering the campaign, I wonder to myself? The man has been a guest on my show. He knows me, even if he doesn’t recall how we met. I brought him on at MSNBC, then again at Weekend Today. I interrupt to remind him I’m the anchor of American Morning. He knows that. He looks me in the eye and reaches his fingers over to tap a spot of skin on my right had. He shakes his head. “You don’t count,” he says. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I don’t count — what? I’m not black? I’m not black enough? Or my show doesn’t count?

Click to read more.

Cutting Taxes for the Rich? Yes, that’s Bad for the Economy

 

Watch Dr. Boyce Watkins explain on CNBC that extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy is bad for America.   Click here to watch

Black Men See Biggest Dip in Unemployment

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

How one analyzes the black unemployment numbers for the month of October really comes down to whether you see the glass as being half empty or half full. On one hand, most of the indicators of black unemployment went down, but they still remain remarkably high relative to the numbers for white Americans.
According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, black unemployment dropped by .4 percentage points, from 16.1 percent to 15.7 percent. The number is still nearly double that of white unemployment, which lies at 8.8 percent.
Black male unemployment actually saw the steepest decline among all race/gender groups, dropping from 17.6 percent to 16.3 percent. The number is still 83 percent higher than white male unemployment (which is 8.9 percent).
Black women saw a slight increase in their unemployment rate, which went from 12.6 percent to 12.7 percent. The unemployment numbers for black women are 74 percent higher than those for white females (at 7.3 percent, lower than any other group in America).

Click to read.

Boyce Watkins on CNBC: Why are Republicans Fighting So Hard for the Wealthy Already?

 

Dr. Boyce appears on CNBC to ask why the Republicans are already fighting to extend Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.  To watch the video, please click here.

The Importance of Owning Your Own Business – Dr. Boyce Video

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

In case you didn't know this, one of the things that most people think about every single day is how they are going to make enough money to get by. Life is tough and finding enough money to live can be even tougher. What's worse is that the black community's struggle to build economic institutions and obtain financial security are things that keep us from being truly liberated in a fundamentally and historically racist society. The link between civil rights and economic prosperity was the seminal reason for my book, "Black American Money."
The commitment I made to the black leadership and the audience at the "Measuring the Movement" forum this year (hosted by Al Sharpton and the National Action Network) was to promote the idea of black entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is not just a matter of having your own business. It can also be as simple as finding some extra streams of income in order to obtain critical financial security. In this economy, you have no job security if you've only got one job. You have to find (what I would call) "a side hustle."

 

Click to read.

The Latest from The Invested Life – 10/29/10

 

Chicago:

(video) Tom Forde talks about whether a Roth IRA is right for him, and what he’s learned as he’s researched it:

http://bit.ly/aGO9uC

(text) while Matt Sapaula says that financial security is important, but insuring yourself is every bit as vital:

http://bit.ly/bhh8eC

Portland:

(video) Kathleen Lansing explains why her road to retirement is scary, but it makes the small business owner proud to hear about the value of her life’s work:

http://bit.ly/9XdF7n

(text) While Jenn Meacham looks back on the most important financial lesson she learned, at age fourteen:

http://bit.ly/cY3cUS

Los Angeles:

(video) Lisa and Brandon Schindelheim explain how switching roles taught her about finance, and him about he difficulties in being Mr. Mom:

http://bit.ly/bkM7w5

(text) While Candace says that’s it important to educate not only yourself about finances, but your kids as well:

http://bit.ly/aDm6yX

New York:

(text) Jennifer Sherwood explains why shopping in fancy stores might be a rush, but so is saving money:

http://bit.ly/cAQsyV

(text) While Dr. Boyce Watkins says that you don’t need to have big money to build a portfolio:

http://bit.ly/a4e8YR

Colorado:

(text) Michael Jake is glad to hear that his business has grown enough to start hiring, but has his concerns:

http://bit.ly/ajLbzk

Dallas:

(text) On our show, we’ve seen former NFL star Winfred Tubbs thinking about buying a house. In this new blog, he reveals that he’s had to scrap those plans and live in his condo instead until the real estate market improves:

http://bit.ly/bZNNn6

(text) While Ed Butowsky talks up the value of utility stocks:

http://bit.ly/cQiuZW

Miami:

(text) Suzan McDowell reveals her list of the 10 must-by priorities she can’t live without, and what she learned about herself while compiling it:

http://bit.ly/bWYiX7

(text) While Ben Tobias explains that if you don’t know what’s important to you, you’ll never effectively maximize your happiness:

http://bit.ly/9e6k3c

Is Racism an Occupational Hazard for African Americans?

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

Most of us know Hanes Brands as the company that has Michael Jordan peddling underwear. The company is also responsible for other leading brands such as Champion sports apparel and Playtex, among others.

The company is now in the middle of controversy after an African American employee, Yunusa Kenchi, filed suit for discrimination. An embarrassing email has allegedly surfaced in which Kenchi was referenced using the n-word. The employee has taken the case public, and Hanes has yet to respond.

 

Click to read.

Study Says Black Single Moms Getting Hurt Most by the Recession

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

NYU’s Women of Color Policy Network recently released a report citing some disturbing trends in the economic status of single mothers of color. Basically, the report shows that women of color have a median net worth of zero. Yes, you heard that correctly, nearly zippo in the bank account, and maybe a little bit of debt.

The numbers compare with a net worth of $25,000 for single fathers of all races, and a net worth of $6,000 for white single moms. Young single moms are in the worst shape, with more than half of the moms under 40 having zero or negative net worth.

 

Click to read.

CNN’s Almight Debt

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/09/23/inam.trailer.almighty.debt.cnn

Documentary Clips

CLIP#1
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/05/inam.almighty.debt.clip1.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/cHsGQR
CLIP #2
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/05/inam.almighty.debt.clip2.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/aAYp0W
CLIP #3
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/05/inam.almighty.debt.clip3.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/9RKoRK

CLIP #4
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/06/inam.almighty.debt.clip4.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/bDH99C
CLIP #5
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/06/inam.almighty.debt.clip5.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/9L9cd5
CLIP #6
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/06/inam.almighty.debt.clip6.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/bYEDlA
CLIP #7
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/06/inam.almighty.debt.clip7.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/9biKix
CLIP #8
CNN.com URL http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/10/06/inam.almighty.debt.clip8.cnn
SHORT URL http://on.cnn.com/cAVC4n

Townhall clips

CLIP#1

Should pastors provide financial advice?

http://on.cnn.com/dgDg5h

CLIP #2

Sources of the wealth gap

http://on.cnn.com/c4uUvF

Townhall Photos

http://imftp.turner.com/User/ImageListing.aspx?f=19dp

Why Some Black Men Date White Women

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

First, I’ll start this article by saying, “just kidding.” I have immense loyalty to black women, and that’s all I’ve ever dated in my adult life.  But after reading the article “8 Reasons to date a white man,” I just had to respond for the brothers.   We know white men are just as imperfect as the rest of us.  But the idea that the author decided to put white males on a pedestal above black men without considering the challenges of being black in America had me fuming.  So, here are some reasons that those brothers who date white women might have decided to do so:

 

Click to read.

Lack of Funding is a Huge Hurdle for Black Entrepreneurs

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

Danielle Douglas, an entrepreneurship expert and CEO of Inspire Enterprises, conducted a survey of African Americans interested in owning their own businesses. The survey,which can be found here, was qualitative in nature, asking questions about the pitfalls that people run into when trying to become either full-time or part-time entrepreneurs.
Douglas made it clear that the greatest obstacle that African Americans face when trying to start their own business is a lack of access to capital. In an interview with AOL Black Voices, Douglas said this:
"Overwhelmingly, respondents number one frustration is lack of financial resources as it relates to start up capital , access to capital in general, and identifying viable resources to help them attain capital."

 

Click to read.

Why are Corporations Not Hiring the way we need them to?

 

Click here to watch Dr. Boyce Watkins on CNBC

Dr. Boyce Watkins joins MSN’s “The Invested Life”

 

Click to watch Dr. Watkins’ episodes.

Black Scholars Watkins and Metzler on CNBC – 9/15/10

Click to Play

Black Scholars Dr. Boyce Watkins and Dr. Christopher Metzler Discuss "Keeping The Bush Tax Cuts" on CNBC

Black Relationships 101: What’s Up With Black Couples?

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

I have a theory that I've wondered would hold up to empirical scrutiny. My theory is that there are quite a few women who might be willing to settle for part of a good man rather than having 100% of a mediocre man. For example, men like Tiger Woods might have more girlfriends than most of us can count, and some would wonder if any of those women expect him to be committed to just one person. Not to say that I condone one lifestyle over another, but we all know how things go down in the real world.

 

Click to read.

African American Unemployment Rises 700% More Than White

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

This weekend, I was on the radio with Rev. Jesse Jackson. He'd just completed a march in Detroit, for jobs, peace and justice, only to find that his SUV was stolen upon arrival. But when I asked him if he was OK, his response was quite telling of the leader that he is: He simply said that the car doesn't matter at all when there are so many people suffering across America.
Well, the nation-wide suffering for African Americans has just intensified with the recent unemployment data delivered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It's most recent report showed that while white unemployment only went up from 8.6 percent to 8.7 percent, black unemployment went up from 15.6 percent to 16.3 percent. This increase of seven percent is at a rate that is 700 percent of the increase of white Americans.

 

Click to read.