Woman Puts Cheater's Face on Billboards

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Dr. Boyce and S. Tia Brown discuss the woman who puts cheater's face on billboards

Haitian Earthquake News: Wyclef Jean’s Charity Being Questioned by Authorities

Haiti's musician Wyclef Jean, left, arrives at the airport in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, the day after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit his country. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

(AP)

Groups that vet charities are raising doubts about the organization backed by Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean, questioning its accounting practices and ability to function in earthquake-hit Haiti.

Even as more than $2 million poured into The Wyclef Jean Foundation Inc. via text message after just two days, experts questioned how much of the money would help those in need.

"It's questionable. There's no way to get around that," said Art Taylor, president and chief executive of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, based in Arlington, Va.

Taylor reviewed Internal Revenue Service tax returns for the organization also known as Yele Haiti Foundation from 2005 through 2007. He said the first red flag of poor accounting practices was that three years of returns were filed on the same day — Aug. 10 of last year.

In 2007, the foundation's spending exceeded its revenues by $411,000. It brought in just $79,000 that year.

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Why Black Women Are Not Getting Married

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Dr. Boyce Watkins and S. Tia Brown discuss some of the reasons that Black women are deciding not to get married.

News: Two girls rob a bank

Police in Ohio are searching for two brazen girls, believed to be as young as 12 and 14, who robbed a bank in a Cincinnati suburb and escaped a police dragnet that included a helicopter and dogs.

Ohio police are looking for two girls suspected of robbing a bank.

The baby faced bank robbers, one believed to be 12 years old and the other 14 or 15, entered the 1st National Bank in Symmes Township, "walked up to the bank teller, and gave the teller a note demanding money," Steve Barnett, spokesman for the Hamilton County Sherriff's Office, said in a statement.

 

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Founder of Ebony Fashion Fair Dies at 93

Eunice W. Johnson gave Ebony magazine its name and for almost 50 years produced an influential traveling fashion show that brought haute couture to African-Americans while raising millions of dollars for charity.
The widow of Johnson Publishing Co. founder John H. Johnson, Mrs. Johnson, 93, died of renal failure Sunday, Jan. 3, in her Chicago home, according to a company spokeswoman.
A close business partner of her husband's since the beginning of Johnson Publishing in 1942, Mrs. Johnson remained the company's secretary-treasurer at the time of her death and for years wrote a monthly fashion feature for Ebony magazine.
Johnson Publishing's flagship, conceived as an African-American version of Life magazine and published since 1945, was named by Mrs. Johnson to reflect the mystique of fine black ebony wood, said Wendy Parks of Johnson Publishing.
But Mrs. Johnson's greatest legacy may be her role as producer and director of the Ebony Fashion Fair, an influential event that for decades has been a showcase for the world's top designers.

 

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Black News: Tiger Gets Half Nude for Vanity Fair

Tiger Woods remains hidden from the cameras, but readers will get an eyeful of the embattled golf star in the February issue ofVanity Fair.
The cover shot shows a bare-chested Woods in a black cap lifting weights. The magazine promises more images of "a raw, unguarded Woods" taken by Annie Leibovitz before the scandal hit, when the issue reaches newsstands on Wednesday.

 

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Black News: Tiger Woods’ Wife Now Demanding Half His Fortune

TIGER Woods' wife Elin Nordegren wants a divorce, sole custody and half his estimated £370 million ($671 million) fortune, according to a newspaper report.

The superstar golfer has also reportedly reneged on a promise he made to his wife to go into rehabilitation to wean himself off the prescription drugs Ambien and Vicodin.

A close friend of Ms Nordegren told the News of the World: "Tiger was supposed to be working on getting better and he hasn't done anything. Instead he just went to stay with a friend and says he's 'trying to get better on his own'.

"Elin is livid he hasn't checked into rehab and gotten himself off his drugs. He's acting like a big baby," the source said.

"Now she wants 100 per cent divorce, 100 per cent custody of the children and half of everything. And she won't be changing her mind."

 

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Dr. Boyce Watkins: Why Is Tavis Smiley Working with R. Kelly?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tavis Smiley, whose experience in public life has been mixed as of late.    Let’s be real: Smiley’s spat with Obama hasn’t worked in his favor, and the Wells Fargo thing really hurt his stock value.  In spite of recent challenges he’s experienced over the past two years, he remains a meaningful and relevant leader in the African American community.  The voices of intelligent, principled and focused black men are among the most important in our world.

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Shocking News: Teacher Cuts off a Child’s Hair

Lamya Cammon, 7, was sitting quietly in her first grade class absentmindedly twirling her braids. The little girl's teacher, whose name is being withheld, grew tired of seeing the little girl play with her dozen or so braids, so she called Lamya up to the front of the classroom.

The first graders watched in disbelief as their teacher took out a large pair of scissors and cut off one of Lamya's braids. Amid the snickers of her students, the Milwaukee teacher threw the braid in the garbage, sent the crying youngster back to her seat, then said, "Now what you gonna go home and tell your momma?"

Lamya claims that she was not twirling her hair loudly nor was she being disruptive. When the child told her mother, Helen Cunningham, what had happened, she immediately went to the school to confront the teacher.

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Your Black News: Ashanti Has a Stalker

A 31-year-old former janitor turned fitness trainer has been charged with sending dozens of lewd texts to the mother of Grammy-winning singer Ashanti.
Devar Hurd, of Griffith, Indiana, is awaiting trial at Rikers Island prison in New York on stalking and other charges.
He allegedly bombarded the Grammy Award winning former chart-topper's mother, Tina Douglas, with crude text messages about her, including with his comments graphic photos and a picture of their family home.
According to the Associated Press, the messages gushed lewdly about Ashanti's performances and jealously lamented her relationship with the rapper Nelly, court papers stated.

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Your Black Gossip: Was Whitney snubbed at the Grammys?

Of many unexpected admissions and omissions in last night’s Grammy nominee announcement, few are as surprising as the total absence of Whitney Houston on the ballot. Granted, her August release I Look to You was not her finest hour, and it yielded few commercial singles; her often uneven performances to promote it didn’t help.

But she’s also the stuff these shows are made of (26-time Grammy nominee, seven-time winner); her label even moved the release of her album up a day to make sure it was eligible, and Look’s redemption tales seemed calibrated to hit Academy voters right in the solar plexus—and the voting-finger.  And yet, not a single nod for the chest-thumping title track or slinky “Million Dollar Bill,” penned by Grammy darling Alicia Keys. So is it the notes Houston hit (or didn’t) that kept her out?

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Tiger Woods Divorce might cost him a lot of Money

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Tiger Woods and his financially costly divorce - what's he going to have to pay?

Your Black Love: Towanna Freeman on Domestic Violence

Dr. Towanna Freeman 

One in every four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime, women 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk, and most cases of domestic abuse are never reported to the police. Victims of domestic abuse often feel as though no one will believe them, or they think they have nowhere to go for help. Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors used to control and dominate someone.  Domestic abuse comes in many forms; the most common includes criminal behavior such as physical assault, sexual abuse, and stalking, as well as noncriminal behavior including emotional and psychological abuse.  An abuser can be a spouse, former spouse, or any other person who is a present or former household member.

The following are a few red flags that should be taken seriously:  jealousy, isolation, threats of violence, verbal abuse, controlling behavior, does not respect privacy, and disrespects others.  If someone you know demonstrates one or more of these characteristics on a consistent basis, he or she has the potential of being an abuser.  Often these red flags are not obvious at the start of any relationship, but if you see these characteristics get out of the relationship and seek help immediately. Here are some steps you can take to help a friend experiencing domestic abuse:

1. Tell your friend, “I see what is going on.”

2. Tell your friend, “Abuse is not their fault and it is not normal.”

3. Tell your friend, “You deserve a healthy non-violent relationship.”

4. Tell your friend, “The number to the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.”

5. Ask your friend, “How can I help support you?”

Everyone has the power to prevent domestic abuse not just those who are directly affected.  The proactive actions of a bystander in the prevention of domestic abuse send a powerful message to both the victim and the abuser. 

To report domestic abuse or learn about prevention and services call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why Are Black People Not Getting Married?

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Are the men or the women to blame for the reason that black people are not getting married?

Dr. Boyce Watkins: Should Black Preachers Be Preaching about Money?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, Your Black World 

Nearly every African American knows just how important the black church is to our community. We also know about "prosperity gospel," the act of preaching about God within the context of wealth building. I admit that this form of faith is a bit odd to me. I am a Finance Professor and I become confused when my pastor talks about money more than I do. The saddest truth is that it's hard to tell the difference between a pastor and a pimp: Most pastors aren't pimps, but any pimp could be a pastor. The same skill set is required in both professions.

My father is a preacher, but he almost never preaches about money. I've never heard him asking for money on the pulpit, or mentioning that giving money to him is one of the keys to gaining access to heaven. But I don't presume that my father is right about all things, and given that I write about money on a regular basis, I have gained an appreciation for what financial resources can do to enhance your life. Also, one must be aware of the pragmatic realities of running a church: You have the building fund, bills to pay every month and any community service initiatives that the church chooses to pursue. The proper use of money can certainly enhance your ability to do God's work.

 

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News: Heather Ellis Case Gets a New Prosecutor

Heather Ellis is shown alongside her mother, Hester Ellis, outside the Justice Center at Bloomfield last month following her pre-trial hearing in a case that has gained national attention. At right is Ellis' attorney, Timothy Hunsaker from the St. Louis firm of Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers and Glass. Also pictured (at left) is an unidentified member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
(Staff photo by Noreen Hyslop)

A motion filed in a Dunklin County courtroom brings a new twist to the case against Heather Ellis, a case that has garnered national media attention.

Ellis, an African-American woman from Kennett, is charged in connection with an incident at the Kennett Walmart in 2007 during which she was arrested and charged with two counts of the Class C felony assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of the Class B misdemeanor peace disturbance and one count of the Class A misdemeanor resisting arrest. Ellis was charged as a result of a scuffle that broke out in a checkout line at the store, following Ellis being accused by associates employed by Walmart of cutting in line.

The motion in question, filed by Ellis' attorney on November 2, involves Ellis' legal representation requesting Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff to recuse himself from the case.

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How Your Family Can Manage the High Cost of Health Care

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Get health care tips from Dr. Elaina George - how is your family going to afford it?

Mother, Wife and Businesswomen: How do you Balance?

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In this episode of Financial Lovemaking, Dr. Boyce and Tia talk with Towanna Freeman, an author, speaker, wife and mother on how to balance love, life, and success.

Your Black Health: Don’t Eat the Whites in Your Food

by Dr. Deborah Stroman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Your Black World 

Do you need a simple rule to begin a smart nutrition routine? Try to make a change in your diet by “avoiding the whites” – those additives that supposedly will make your food taste just right or have the right consistency. To live well and be healthy, we need to make changes that may feel uncomfortable at first and possibly illogical to friends and family.

Salt, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, accounts for nearly 150,000 premature deaths every year primarily due to complications from high blood pressure. We do need ~ 6g of salt per day to live. Sadly, the average intake of salt is between 9g and 10g a day! Salt is a commonly occurring mineral, the technical name of which is sodium chloride. It is the sodium part of salt that is important. Sodium helps to maintain the concentration of body fluids at correct levels. It also plays a central role in the transmission of electrical impulses in the nerves, and helps cells process nutrients.

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Dr Boyce Watkins: The Craziness of Megan Williams’ Story

by Dr. Boyce Watkins 

• Megan Williams, left, and her mother Carmen Williams stand outside of the Logan County Courthouse Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Logan, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

Megan Williams, an African-American woman who was allegedly raped, tortured and kidnapped by a group of seven white men in West Virginia two years ago at the age of twenty is now claiming that she was playing with our minds. It is a shock to hear that Williams is now saying that the story is a lie, a complete fabrication. She is set to recant her story in a press conference today.

The stomach-turning story that involved drinking urine and eating human feces while being raped repeatedly and subjected to racial slurs was something she apparently made up for fun. If Williams were playing with our heads, I only wish she'd come up with a less disgusting way to do it. The problem is that the prosecutor, Brian Abraham, isn't buying Williams' new story, and neither am I.

The prosecutor's position is that he did not convict the defendants based solely on Williams' testimony. Abraham has stated in published reports that he learned early on that Williams tends to exaggerate and embellish details, perhaps due to the fact that Williams has been described as being "mentally slow."

Abraham also claims that he did what any good prosecutor should do: achieve a conviction based on physical evidence and the defendants' statements. If there is evidence that a sexual assault occurred and proof that Williams endured kidnapping and torture, such evidence should certainly outweigh the significance of any statements made by Williams. There are also other possibilities in this case, such as the chance that Williams may be receiving threats that have pressured her to change her testimony.

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Financial Lovemaking: Shooting Your Daughter's boyfriend

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We all want to protect our kids, but does it make sense that Wade Edwards shot his daughter's boyfriend?

Baby Survives after Being Hit by a Train!

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Amazing video to see.

Remember What Wesley Said About Black Women?

HIS career is red hot, yet the man himself--actor Wesley Snipes--is super cool. Not cold as in icy, for he is very warm gracious and personable. And not cool as in nonchalant, for the man is engaging and intriguing and exudes sex appeal up close and personal just as he does so effectively on the silver screen.

That sex appeal, intrigue and personality, in addition to exceptional talent, have helped Snipes carve out a niche for himself in Hollywood and etch his way into the hearts and minds of movie fans with roles that are as diverse as they are compelling. Memorable are his intense architect in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, his ruthless drug lord in New Jack City, his audacious, martial arts expert-hero in Passenger 57, his colorful drag queen in To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Love Julie Newmar, and his intense police detective in Murder at 1600.

Snipes is among a small, elite group of Black male actors who have established themselves as powerbrokers in Hollywood. Like fellow heartthrob Denzel Washington, Snipes commands $10 million per film; but while Washington may do one film a year, Snipes consistently has done two or three a year.

Despite his high-profile career, Snipes says he lives a "very simple, down-to-earth" lifestyle between homes in Los Angeles, New York and Florida (See companion story beginning on Page 194). His passions include motorcycles, and he loves hiphop, acid jazz and reggae music. "I still go to places I've been going to for 10 years. I eat in the 'hood. All the people know me," he says.

However, that does not make him immune to the pitfalls of celebrity and success. "I mean, people want your time; people want your energy. So if you have strong energy, people who don't have it want it. They want to be around it, and sometimes they want to be it. There's struggle, a tug-of-war for your attention by everybody from friends to family to people in the business to people who are trying to get into the business," says the actor who is known for his generosity. "And yes, they definitely want the money. They always want the money."

 

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Toni Braxton Reported to be Facing Foreclosure

TMZ is reporting that she might be losing her house too.  Damn.

Your Black Money: Fenorris Pearson Talks to Steve Harvey about Reaching Your Goals

by Fenorris Pearson, CEO Global Consumer Innovation, Inc. 

If you measure some of today’s top performers by yesterday’s gold standards, they simply wouldn’t measure up. Industry icons, business mavericks and game changers like Bill Gates, Walt Disney, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Rachel Ray and Michael Dell didn’t finish school or have a great education; and based on those two metrics alone, no one could have measured their full potential. By focusing only on such metrics, you might be missing the most valuable components of a person’s engine of success.

As a guest on Steve Harvey’s show, I was recently talking about success, potential and the wide gap between good grades and pure genius. Steve said something that I’ll never forget. When coming up “the hard way” he would interview for jobs or audition for various roles and, based on purely measurable qualifications – school records, his one-page resume, or whether he has movie star looks – he never quite measured up. “But what they couldn’t measure,” said Steve Harvey, “was how big my dream was…”

What a difference the power of dreams can make. As the star of The Steve Harvey Show, Steve won four NAACP Image Awards as “Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.” He also won an NAACP Image Award for his performance as host of the variety series It’s Showtime at The Apollo. In March 2001, Harvey received the ultimate honor: NAACP Image Award’s “Entertainer of the Year,” and now has a NY Times best-selling book on the market.

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Dr. Towanna Freeman: Protecting your Children from Sexual Abuse

Dr. Towanna Freeman, a leading youth advocate, was asked about the case of the 12-year old pregnant girl who was kidnapped by her father.  When asked how people can protect their children, Dr. Freeman had this to say:

Sexual abuse can absolutely devastate a person’s life.  No matter how small the act, it can take a lifetime to reverse the damages.  Here are five easy steps you can take to protect your family and loved ones from sexual abuse.

1. Have open discussion about what is healthy sexual behavior and what is abusive sexual behavior.

2. Let children know they can come to you if they are not comfortable being around a particular adult or older child.

3. Talk openly and often about inappropriate sexual behavior that you see on television or hear about in the media.

4. Inform other adults or older children who spend time around or supervise the children that if the child does not want a hug or kiss, then a simple handshake is perfectly acceptable.

5. Finally, educate yourself to recognize warning signs that a child may have been sexually abused.

 

Life Coach, Management Consultant, Inspirational Speaker and Author. Principal consultant of Towanna Freeman & Associates and founder of the Young Women’s Empowerment Network, Towanna Freeman is a proven leader in developing and implementing successful leadership, teambuilding and strategic change initiatives in major corporations. Her particular expertise is in shaping corporate strategy and developing quantitative and qualitative measures of bottom-line benefits. To reach Towanna for speaking or media appearances, please call (901) 413-0203.

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Usher Sings about his Divorce???

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Usher sings about being "ready to sign them papers - listen up.

Love and Sex: Does too much "self-pleasure" ruin your relationship?

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Do you "handle your own business" sometimes?

Black News: Beyonce Breaks her silence over Kanye

Beyonce Knowles is finally breaking her silence aboutKanye West storming the stage at the VMAs to declare that she should have won Best Female Video instead ofTaylor Swift.

"Well, I knew his intentions, and I knew he was standing up for art; and he told me before, when they said the nominees, he's like, 'You have this award,'" Beyonce, 28, told O: The Oprah magazine editor at large Gayle King (viaMTV News) at the Billboard Awards over the weekend, when she was named Woman of the Year.

See what the stars wore to the MTV VMAs

"When they didn't call my name, he was, like, completely shocked," Knowles says. "And when he walked on the stage, I was like, 'No, no, no!' and then he spoke, and I was like, 'Oh, no, no, no!'"

Knowles -- who handed the mic over to Swift after winning Video of the Year later that night -- continues, "But in the end, it ended up being a great night, and Taylor Swift did get her moment -- and I didn't have to make an acceptance speech."

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Tags: black celebrity gossip, black gossip, kanye west, beyonce

BET Co-Founder Gets Caught on Camera Making Fun of a Politician's Stuttering

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BET Co-founder Sheila Johnson gets caught on camera making fun of a politician who stutters.