15 Guys to Avoid Dating at All Costs
He’s cute, fun, smart and you can’t stop thinking about him. You’re already three steps ahead of the game, mentally planning weddings, children and that giant house with the white picket fence. Finally, after all these years, the perfect relationship has finally been found. Happily ever after sure feels good, huh? Not so [...]
Damario Solomon-Simmons: Report Cites NCAA’s Failure to Graduate Black Athletes
by Damario Solomon-Simmons Outside the fact that we now have our first Black President, no other area has had more sustained and visible growth for African-Americans over the last fifty years than the number of Black Male Student Athletes (“BMSAs”) participating in revenue-generating college sports (football and men’s’ basketball). In fact, today, BMSAs are 57.1% [...]
Dr. Boyce: Michael Johnson, Slavery and Sports – Why He’s on the Wrong Side of Being Right
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, KultureKritic.com This week, former Olympic superstar Michael Johnson brought up “the S word” when referencing African American athletes. Johnson argued that slavery is one of the reasons that black athletes from the US and the Carribean are able to dominate at certain sports. Of course Johnson’s remarks raised eyebrows and got [...]
Growing Up Black in America
Melissa Harris-Perry What does it mean to be a young black male in the United States?
Are Cookies Smarter Than Condoms?
As we suffer through what has officially been dubbed the most partisan era in the history of American politics (next to the Civil War, perhaps?), it seems there is little left that Americans can agree on. Even contraception, which used to be the fallback issue of consensus among those sick at yelling at each other over abortion, has tied if not surpassed that issue in partisan squabbling. So is there anything left that people of different political stripes can actually find common ground on? Maybe just one: cookies. Republican or Democrat, Independent or Libertarian, anyone of any political persuasion who considers him or herself a cookie aficionado holds a special affection for this time of year. Some may call it the dawn of spring, but those of us with a sweet tooth call it Girl Scout cookie time. Throughout the halls of Congress, you will find Republicans and Democrats alike sneaking a Thin Mint or two, or diving into a box of Samoas (my personal favorites). But what you may not know is just how many of those members of Congress used to sell cookies themselves. When it comes to cultivating female leaders, not a single college, university, sorority, or religious organization can come close to the alumnae of the Girl Scouts. The organization, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this month, counts 70 percent of female members of Congress , all female astronauts, and every single female Secretary of State to date as former Girl Scouts. In an interview , Congresswoman Donna Edwards said, “Every skill that I use in the United States Congress right now I know that I learned that through my experience in Girl Scouts.” Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison echoed that sentiment: “The Girl Scouts taught me the importance of honesty, fairness and respect for others. I gained confidence and learned skills I value even today,” she said in a statement . When asked if she thinks she would have ever become one of the few women to head a television network had she not spent years as a Girl Scout, BET Chairwoman Debra Lee said simply , “No. Girl Scouts were very important in my life.” But bipartisan support hasn’t stopped some from trying to politicize the century-old organization that many of us consider as all-American as apple pie, or perhaps cookies. Local elected official Bob Morris recently accused Girl Scouts of being a ” radicalized organization” that “sexualizes” girls and functions as a tool of Planned Parenthood. Though he later apologized for some of his rhetoric, if he has strong feelings about ensuring that fewer young girls find themselves in need of the services of organizations like Planned Parenthood at an early age, might I suggest that Rep. Morris buy some Girl Scout cookies? Lots of them. The reason? Because Girl Scouts probably plays an even greater role in teen sex and pregnancy prevention than your run-of-the-mill high school sex ed course. I’ve long been frustrated with how tone-deaf both sides of the sex-ed debate sound. On one side you have conservatives with their heads in the sand, proclaiming that “abstinence” is an effective educational program for preventing teen pregnancy. ( It’s not .) On the other side you have progressives proclaiming that comprehensive sex ed is the most effective method for preventing teen pregnancy. (Well, it’s certainly better than abstinence-only , but that’s not saying much.) What both sides of the argument rarely acknowledge is that either approach fails on its own, with their effectiveness being determined in large part by the support network young people already have in place. That includes parents, teachers, and peers. According to the findings of multiple studies (which you can view here ), the greatest predictors of which teens will engage in risky sexual behavior remain family life and the peers they associate with. Another predictor? Goals. If a teen has a goal — to become a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, or perhaps a member of Congress — he or she is statistically more likely to make “safer” choices. In other words, it’s not enough to say, “Don’t have sex, because you could get pregnant,” or, “Use a condom, because it greatly decreases your chances of getting pregnant.” The connection has to be made between, “Use a condom because it greatly decreases your chances of getting pregnant, and if you want to go law school, that’s a lot harder to do if you have a child before you’re ready.” While I want to be very clear for the sake of Rep. Morris and his cohorts that this is not the messaging of Girl Scouts, it’s worth noting that the mission of the organization is to instill pride, purpose, leadership skills, and goals in girls so that they grow up to become proud, purposeful women — women more likely to make healthy choices so that they achieve their long-term goals, whether those goals take them to the Halls of Congress or all the way to space, or even just to cyberspace (shout out to my fellow former Brownie troopers!). So if you really care about the health of girls and seeing girls make healthy choices, buy some Girl Scout cookies. You never know. You may just end up purchasing a box from your future member of Congress or your future president. Click here to see a list of famous Girl Scouts, and to see my interviews with members of Congress about how the Girl Scouts shaped their lives and careers. Please feel free to share your own memories of how Girl Scouts shaped your life in the comments section. Keli Goff is the author of The GQ Candidate and a Contributing Editor for Loop21.com , where this piece originally appeared.
Are Female Voters to Blame for the Failure of Female Candidates?
During her remarks at this year’s Newsweek/Daily Beast Women in the World Summit , former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reiterated one of her favorite maxims: “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” According to a new study, it looks like the ladies’ room in hell will be quite crowded. Just in time for International Women’s Day, which was March 8, London-based company Business Environment released a study of 1,000 women, and let’s just say the results didn’t exactly scream, “Girl power!” The study found that 25 percent of female managers expressed reluctance to hire a woman who has children or is of a child-bearing age, while 72 percent admitted to judging female coworkers for what they deemed inappropriate dress, compared with just 60 percent of men. The findings seem to confirm earlier data, including a 2010 study from the Workplace Bullying Institute, that found that when women are accused of workplace bullying, the targets are almost always other women, in numbers that outpace the number of men accused of bullying other men. So why should we care if a few women engage in a bit of Mean Girls behavior around the office water cooler? Because the long-term ramifications for all women are much greater than just a few hurt feelings. The bullying directed by some women in the workplace appears to rear its ugly head in the voting booth. Though women have comprised both the majority of the population ( 51 percent ) and the majority of the electorate ( 56 percent ) in recent years, women have struggled to translate these numbers into any representative majority in elected offices. According to the 2012 Project at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics, the U.S. currently ranks 71st worldwide in terms of female elected officials — just behind someplace called Turkmenistan. While there have been some high-profile successes here and there, Governors Nikki Haley and Susana Martinez being recent examples, last election cycle the number of female members of Congress dipped for the first time in more than three decades. This step backward in the House, combined with our country’s inability to elect women — of either party — to the highest or even second-highest office in the land (something nations like Pakistan have done) begs the uncomfortable question: if women are the majority of American voters, then does the blame for the dearth of women leaders lie with women voters? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gov. Sarah Palin, and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann may have little in common, politically speaking, but one common bond they all share is running, and failing, at the highest level and on the biggest stage in politics — and being a lightning rod for female voters while doing so. Though some female voters were their biggest supporters, many others were their toughest critics, with few occupying the middle ground. According to the Associated Press , these two extremes are not limited to these three women, who many consider polarizing: An AP analysis of data from the 2006 American National Election Study Pilot Test found that when it came to selecting a candidate for president, gender matters more for women than for men. But it’s a two-way street; women are more likely to vote for a candidate because she is female, and also more likely to dismiss a candidate because of her gender, according to the analysis. While it would be easy to dismiss the opposition of these women among women as being partisan-based, it’s not that simple. It was noted during the panel discussion on female leadership at the Women in the World Summit (a panel that featured Gloria Steinem and Jill Abramson of The New York Times , among others) that while Hillary Clinton enjoyed support from women over 50 during the 2008 election, she trailed behind two male opponents for the support of younger women (Barack Obama and John Edwards, respectively). Polls showed that Sarah Palin’s favorability rates were always higher among men even before her personal baggage and struggle to answer questions about her reading habits came to light. At some rallies headlined by Palin during the height of the 2008 presidential campaign, the gender ratio in the crowd reportedly skewed 70-percent male to 30-percent female. “If you look at Sarah Palin, men supported Sarah Palin more than women did,” said Anne Kornblut, who covered the 2008 election for The Washington Post . She added, “Women also look at women’s appearances and judge them just the way men do, and sometimes more harshly… I think women are critics across the board in ways you may even consider sexist if you didn’t know who was saying it.” Tiffany Dufu, president of the White House Project, a nonprofit organization committed to increasing female leadership at the highest levels, including the White House, was more circumspect. “Yes, female voters are tougher on female candidates. Male voters are tougher on them, too. Any individual who does not fit the leadership status quo has to meet a higher bar.” Congresswoman Jackie Speier recalls being surprised by the reaction of female voters to her candidacy for Congress: “When I first ran for Congress in 1979, I was 28 years old, and I kept hearing, ‘I’m not going to vote for her just because she’s a woman,’ and it wasn’t men saying it but women.” Kornblut, who also authored the book Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and What It Will Take for a Woman to Win , adds, “Women look at women running for office and say, ‘I couldn’t do that. I’m a mom with two small kids, and I couldn’t be governor. How could she do that?’ Or they say, ‘Why is she so ambitious? Why does she want to do that when she has a family at home?’” Rep. Speier echoes this sentiment: “For whatever reason, there’s a competition that some women see when other women succeed. We’ve got to change that dynamic. Men see an opportunity of both rising. Women see a threat that somehow if one woman succeeds, another falls.” So how do we begin changing that dynamic? “I think we change it in part with our young girls in soccer and baseball and playing a team sport, so they recognize the power of working together,” Rep. Speier said. “When I was a youngster, that wasn’t available, but it is for this generation. I’m hoping it will have an impact on how they view each other as they move forward.” (Click here to see my interviews with Rep. Speier, Angelina Jolie, and other speakers at the Women in the World Summit.) In the new book INSPIRATION: Profiles of Black Women Changing Our World , CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King weighed in on the competitiveness that so often seems to rear its head among professional women. “It saddens me when women think there’s not enough to go around, because there’s more than enough,” she said. “It’s a big old pie out there. I believe that when you’re good at what you do, it only makes me better.” If only more women agreed. Keli Goff is the author of The GQ Candidate and a contributing editor for Loop21.com , where this post originally appeared.
Time To Rush “Rush†Off The Air
For years, Rush Limbaugh has virtually gotten away with making some of the most outrageous and insulting statements about everyone from Blacks and minorities to women. But his now infamous comments regarding Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke hit a new low, even for Rush. Attacking a woman whose only crime was to testify, Rush proved that he has absolutely no respect for women and our voices in society. And his non-apology “apology†satisfied no one, not even his own advertisers. It’s seriously time for Rush to start rushing off of our airwaves everywhere. RELATED: Rush Limbaugh Has Lost 42 Sponsors Since “Prostitute†Incident Rush Limbaugh Defended Joseph Kony And Lord’s Resistance Army Since the Sandra Fluke scandal, several stations have already dropped “The Rush Limbaugh Show.†Over 40 advertisers have pulled their spots from the broadcast, and several members of Congress have spoken out against Rush and his deplorable remarks. And on Wednesday night, Sen. Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he would like the Armed Services Network to also drop the show. As a woman, and as a mother, I couldn’t agree with these leaders more. It’s time for Rush to go. There’s no place in our discourse for someone who calls an innocent woman a “slutâ€, a “prostitute†or worse. Freedom of speech doesn’t give people with a platform and bully pulpit to openly spew hatred. In 2007, Don Imus thought he could make bigoted comments and get away with it, but he soon learned that racism would not be tolerated. Similarly, Rush will wake up to the reality that sexism won’t be tolerated either. In November, voters will head to the polls and decide who will lead the country for the next four years. A majority of these citizens — like the majority of our population itself —will be women. And these women (myself included) will not forget the vicious attack against Sandra Fluke. Nor will we forget the lack of leadership from Republican leaders in calling out Rush Limbaugh. Women, and the men who love us (including our fathers and grandfathers), will not forget. Rush foolishly thinks he provides some sort of entertainment. We are not amused, Rush, and neither are your advertisers. During this Women’s History Month, how dare you insult us. Someone please turn his mic off. SEE ALSO: Radio Stations Pull Out Of Rush Limbaugh Show Rick Santorum Thinks NY Press Is Out To Get Him
Back to the Future: All Roads Lead to Selma, Alabama
Last night, we watched Willard Mitt Romney give another lackluster speech following his victory in Arizona and extremely slim win in Michigan. Once again devoid of passion, it was as if he was reading someone else’s words without any clear vision of what his platform would be in office. At the same time, you had Rick ‘I don’t believe in higher education’ Santorum give his own speech as if he didn’t lose yesterday. And whether it was Romney or Santorum speaking, it’s important to note that neither mentioned the other by name last night, indicating therefore that they’re in it for the long haul. The truth is, it really doesn’t matter who becomes the eventual GOP nominee because all of the contenders and the Republican Party as a whole have proved that they would indeed like to take the country back — back to a time when systematic maneuvers suppressed the votes of people of color and the marginalized. While they try to regress us back, we must do something today for the sake of our collective future. From March 4-9th, my organization, National Action Network, will partner with congressional leaders, activists and everyday citizens as we once again make the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. We will begin at the Edmund Pettus Bridge this Sunday, march at least 10 miles per day, stay in tents along Route 80, convene rallies and teach-ins along the way, and finally gather in front of the Alabama State Capitol on Friday, March 9th. After the state of Alabama passed the most draconian anti-immigration legislation, and at least 31 states now have voter ID laws on the books, we must take immediate action if we hope to preserve any notion of progress. The Selma to Montgomery March consisted of three different marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. Beaten with billy clubs and attacked with tear gas, it was the third march which lasted five days that made it to Montgomery after soldiers from the Army, members of the Alabama National Guard (under federal command), FBI agents and federal marshals eventually protected the demonstrators. It was because of these marches, and the national and international attention they garnered that Congress rushed to enact legislation that would protect voting for all Americans. It was called the Voting Rights Act, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law later that year on August 6, 1965. It’s amazing that almost 50 years after this historic legislation was enacted that we now find ourselves under attack yet again. After countless sacrifices — including many people of all races that literally gave their lives for equality — we are watching the very gains we achieved being slowly and covertly stripped away. It’s important to remember that our Selma to Montgomery March next week isn’t about the past, however — it’s about the future. Your future, my future, our children’s future and the future of this very nation. Without any validation, individual states are passing these strict voter ID laws that are clearly designed to disenfranchise the poor, people of color, the elderly and young folks. Instead of allowing utility bills and other items that were used for years as appropriate forms of ID for voting, supporters of these new laws would like nothing more than to discourage people from participating. Rather than making the process easier and open to all, they are working diligently on finding new ways to suppress the vote. The state of Alabama is where the civil rights movement found its heart. Today, when voter ID laws have crept into dozens of states, and one of the toughest and most reprehensible anti-immigration bills passed in Alabama, we will gather once again in the deep South and march. Congressman John Lewis, who helped lead the march in ’65 will join us, as will leaders from across the country. To learn how to participate in the Selma to Montgomery March, please visit nationalactionnetwork.net . Whether you march along this historic route with us, or help organize buses, or participate in any fashion, make sure you do something. We have fought far too long and sacrificed far too much to allow anyone to repeal justice. Say no to voter suppression and anti-immigration laws. Let’s remind the world once again what’s at stake here. It’s time to go back to the future: all roads lead to Selma on Sunday.
Don’t Discount the Underdog
Earlier this week, die-hard Knicks supporter and filmmaker Spike Lee joined my MSNBC show ‘Politics Nation’ to discuss a little non-political news: basketball is back with a vengeance. Thanks to the impeccable, almost unbelievable skills of 23-year-old Jeremy Lin, the sport and the Knicks themselves have seen a shocking resurrection from fans who grew increasingly exhausted of lock outs and negotiations. The timing couldn’t be better; the story, some say, is ‘Cinderella-like.’ I prefer calling it a tale of perseverance; a narrative about the underdog triumphing after being consistently discounted. Perhaps, most importantly, it’s a lesson for all of us to never look down upon the marginalized. Some people believe life is a lottery, that if you’re born into the correct circumstances, you will excel. I view life as an opportunity, that given an equal shot and a level playing field, anyone can achieve their dreams and reach excellence. Lin’s rags-to-riches story is about more than just basketball. Continuously dismissed by teams — including his own — and literally sleeping on his brother’s couch in Manhattan, the Taiwanese American is living proof that the underdog can and will win. After being benched for so long, Lin is finally given a chance by default and goes on to save the Knicks and bring such renewed craze to the game that it’s virtually impossible to find any available tickets at Madison Square Garden for the season. The Harvard grad who nobody believed had such fantastic sports skills now has the fastest-growing athletic brand according to Forbes — $14 million and rising. Every day we walk past or ignore another Lin — people who may not look like what society deems a ‘winner.’ People who have been silenced or beaten down by injustice. People who are suppressed with unequal access to quality education, employment, fair housing and safe neighborhoods. People who may be working multiple jobs, struggling to feed their children or figuring out how they will pay their rent. But given the right circumstances, all of these folks would shine just like Lin; there’s a Lin in every school, church, job, etc. And just like Lin, you may be ignored, but it’s vital to never lose sight of your own strengths and your own abilities. No matter how many times they try to force you down, rise and stand tall yet again. Keep fighting until the world knows your worth. There’s an old saying that teaches us to be the best at whatever it is we’re doing. So if you’re mopping floors, do it to perfection. If you’re driving a bus, be the best bus driver there ever was. If you’re teaching kids, prove that your knowledge can make a difference in someone’s life. If you’re an artist, practice, practice and practice until they can no longer overlook your talents. Regardless of what you’re doing in life and how many doors have been slammed in your face, stay on track because sooner rather than later, your good work and gifts cannot be hidden. And just like Lin, the right opportunity will create the perfect circumstance for you to showcase your genius to the world. And for those that would like to easily ignore or further disenfranchise people, just remember that the person you think may look like an easy target may very well be the one dunking over your head tomorrow.
Happily Ever After?
Every sports fan was outraged by the video of former Rutgers men’s head basketball coach Mike Rice physically and verbally assaulting his players. Lebron James and New Jersey Gov. Christie spoke for most of the country when expressing anger and disappointment in the behavior of head basketball coach Mike Rice. As the video [...]
April 8, 2013No CommentRead More