Archive for July, 2009
Will Cops And Black People Ever Get Along?
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 31st, 2009
Within 20 seconds five cops fired 50 shots in Sean Bell’s car. Sean Bell was a groom on his way to his wedding.
New York cops fired 41 shots at Amadou Diallo in 1999.
March 3, 1991 Rodney King was beaten by Los Angeles police officers prompting riots.
White cops in Philadelphia refer to black kids as ghetto monkeys. (Source: Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner)
We have heard the many incidents of black men being injured and/or killed at the hands of white police officers. And today on the show I will be talking to Attorney Willie Nattiel about race relations between black men and cops.
Are the perceptions that have been heard about the relationships between cops and black men really as tense as projected or nothing more than big misinterpretations? Are some of the actions taken on either side warranted because of the various situations and interactions, which may have previously ocurred between cops and black people? Are they just antiquated mind sets needing to be reconditioned?
According to www.nattiel1law.com: The Law Office of Nattiel Seay & Associates, P.C. is a full-service African American owned firm committed to providing legal services of the highest quality. Our attorneys have special expertise in areas of Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Corporate Law, Bond Issues, Personal Injury and Domestic Relations. Such services are provided to a diverse clientele of individuals, small businesses, non-profit corporations and religious organizations. The firm is comprised of senior attorneys who have a broad range of experience including substantive areas and successful litigation with major trial experience in both federal and state courts. The firm has built its reputation by providing comprehensive professional service to its clients in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.
What About My Money?
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 30th, 2009
The Stock Market’s been showing signs of bouncing back from the downward spiral it endured during this recession. But what does it mean to and for us when the Wall Street types are suddenly smiling and living it up over the stock market’s latest surge?
If Wall Street is doing better, then that means that you and I should be doing better, too…. right?
Are you smiling about your money?
What should you be doing to make sure you’re happy with your finances next week, next year and when you need the cash most?
Is it time to show your confidence in the economy by buying a new fridge, a TV, a car, or a house?
Wait…before you do…
Let me first ask Julianne Malveaux an economist, author and commentator, and the Founder & Thought Leader of Last Word Productions, Inc, a multimedia production company, based in Washington DC. She is also a student of the economy and a teacher – - in fact the 15th PRESIDENT of Bennett College for Women in North Carolina.
The finance expert, economist and educator joins me to talk about your money, my money and our money, and I’ll get her financial outlook, and opinions on some of the issues of the day, when it comes to race and the economy.
According to www.juliannemalveaux.com, Dr. Malveaux is a committed activist and civic leader, who has held positions in women’s, civil rights, and policy organizations. She was President of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs from 1995-1999, and is currently Honorary Co-Chair of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Malveaux also currently serves on the boards of the Economic Policy Institute, The Recreation Wish List Committee of Washington, DC, and the Liberian Education Trust.
I hope you are ready as she provides valuable insight on today’s show.
A New Definition Of News
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 29th, 2009
She’s one of the best known African American journalists in both Africa and America.
Charlayne Hunter – Gault brings a unique perspective to her work in Johannesburg, Africa and today we’re calling upon her upbringing in the United States.
She was, after all, an icon in the civil rights era as one of the first two African Americans admitted to the University of Georgia.
Ms. Hunter-Gault watched coverage of the Cambridge police arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates from a distance, and then got on the phone with him to find out what happened.
Next, she wrote an article headlined ‘Cambridge, Mississippi’, in a daily online magazine called The Root (http://www.theroot.com). There she describes how the arrest of Skip Gates remindes her of the violent days of the civil rights movement and I’ll talk to her about .
Also on the program, a study out this week that looks at the ‘financial mobility gap‘ between black and white people… are white people making way more money than black people or is it the reverse? What are the causes of the gap and will they change?
Some people may even say that if you live in a poor neighborhood, and start to make middle class money, then maybe you should move out of the poor one and move to an “upper class” one for the sake of your kids.
About Mrs. Hunter-Gault: ( Courtesy of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlayne_Hunter-Gault)
Hunter-Gault is on the board of the Committee to Protect Journalists. She was the Johannesburg, South Africa bureau chief for CNN from 1999 – 2005. She is a former chief national correspondent for PBS on The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour (later renamed The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer) from 1983 to 1997, chief correspondent in Johannesburg for CNN from 1977 to 1999, and is currently a foreign correspondent for National Public Radio. Additionally, she was the first African-American reporter for The New Yorker in 1963, and the second after Nancy Hicks Maynard at The New York Times where she remained for more than ten years, and received the New York Times Publisher Award. She was an investigative reporter and anchorwoman for WRC-TV from 1967 to 1968.
Hunter-Gault won two Peabody Awards and two Emmy Awards for her work on the series “Apartheid’s People.” She also received the Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in 1986 and was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame in 2005.
The academic building at the University of Georgia where she and Holmes registered for classes was renamed the Hunter-Holmes Academic Building in 2001.
In 2005 a memorial to Hunter-Gault in the Myers Hall dormitory at the University of Georgia drew criticism for the use of an un-attributed racial slur. Hunter-Gault herself petitioned for its inclusion in the memorial as being of historical value, but it was ultimately replaced with a quote from her book In My Place, along with her letter to the student paper supporting the slur’s use following intensive regional media attention and protest by the campus branch of the NAACP.
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, the second intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established for African American women.
Gates’ Gate
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 28th, 2009
His client has agreed to join Officer Crowley and President Obama for a beer.
A woman called 911 and reported that two men with suitcases were trying to get into a Cambridge home…through the FRONT door in the morning daylight with suitcases beside them.
One of those men was a driver, the other was the home’s owner Henry Louis Gates, the well-known Harvard professor.
Professor Gates’ attorney Charles Ogletree-a professor of law at Harvard and who is well known himself – joins me today.
Then we will have Dr. James Peterson, an associate professor from Bucknell University check in with us and weigh in with his thoughts on the arrest of Bill Gates.
To hear more of Dr. Peterson’s thoughts, views and opinons, please visit: http://www.hiphopscholars.org.
Law, Order, Crime And Punishment
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 27th, 2009
Today’s show is on punishment, crime, decisions, and consequences.
First we’ll have a political round table and look at the brief and some question-significant punishment given to Professor Henry Louis Gates by Cambridge police. A sanction that has received a huge amount of attention due to the circumstances and because of the status of Professor Gates.
Professor Gates was attempting to open his front door with help from his taxi driver. Professor Gates had a key in his door as he attempted to push open the jammed door.
Then, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying that she has enough votes to win in the lower House of Congress, as it pertains to the debate on Health Care. Does she?
And while we are on Capital Hill -Is Sarah Palin the leading Republican contender for the White House even though she is no longer the governor of Alaska?
We’ll talk with Ron Christie and Sherrillyn Iffil and let them weigh in on those matters and more.
Lastly, my son Dyce comes on with me to dive into the continuing punishment of Michael Vick, the quarterback who was convicted and sent to prison for allegedly holding dog fights at his home nearly two years ago. Vick is out of jail and wants to play in the NFL again. Should he be allowed or is his career over?
Technology Made Just For You
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 24th, 2009
Today we will take you through an array of topics, ranging from technology to entertainment to the breaking news of the passing of author E. Lynn Harris.
We’ll take the last part of our show today to remember E. Lynn Harris, the brilliant writer of topics both gay and straight. A literary giant…. we’ll begin – - – only begin – - to talk about his legacy and writing style that challenged African Americans.
But first I’ll talk with our tech contributor…. Mario Armstrong about the company Microsoft and what they have new to offer-an internet version of OFFICE in an attempt to keep up with Google.
This new move could be a boom to computer users who don’t have the cash to buy the regular software off the store shelves.
And we talk about all those mobile phone and Smart Phone applications out there. Millions of them. What applications are available that could be really, really useful in your everyday life…. or just plain entertaining. As if it was made just for you?
Do you have more questions for Mario please visit his website at www.marioarmstrong.com.
Speaking of that…. entertainment contributor Kelley Carter of USA Today is on board to begin our talk about the life and recent death of E. Lynn Harris… followed by literary critic James Peterson.
Will Obama’s Healthcare Plan Pass Or Fail?
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 23rd, 2009
The public is growing more and more skeptical and the president’s numbers are dropping.
So he decided to go PRIME TIME again to try to reassure Americans about the need for an overhaul of the healthcare system.
He put in terms that he hoped even those with great coverage could understand.
But it’s not looking good for getting this thing done by his deadline of early August.
You’ll hear a debate on the program today… about which way is the best way forward.
Including whether those making a million a year should shoulder much of the burden in the early going.
Or whether the government should be allowed to compete with private insurers.
Click Here To Watch Pres. Obama\’s Speech on Healthcare Reforms
Later on, a little bit of my Today Show debate over the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates. The president responded to that incident last night, saying the Cambridge Police handled it “stupidly.”
Journalism That Makes You Wonder
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 22nd, 2009
Hang in there today NEW MEDIA geeks because we’re going OLD MEDIA:
Television, black radio and international newspapering.
You’ll get something out of ALL of it.
First off, a preview of CNN’s follow-up to Black in America.
You’ll hear from Soledad O’Brien, the anchor who reported on the original, and the sequel called – of all things – - Black in America 2.
A little later, I’ll focus on what the Detroit Free Press calls an ‘epic brawl unfolding in Congress’… it’s over a bill that black radio executives say is going to kill their stations.
And last… I’ll bring in a Moscow newspaper journalist who remembers well a colleague in Chechnya assassinated earlier this month.
She was apparently murdered… like others before her…. for criticizing the human rights record of the president and its Moscow – backed government.
It’ll make you wonder.
TV, radio and courageous newspapering on this edition of the Michael Eric Dyson Show.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka: The Princess of Africa
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 21st, 2009
I’m all – Africa today.
If you know South African music, you know the name Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
And if you don’t that name, well, welcome to her world….at least her world within the walls of our studio.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is known as the Princess of Africa for good reason.
She seems to have audiences there bowing…. then bouncing to her every song.
She’s come a long way: rising through the horrors – - and then the ashes – - of apartheid.
Now she’s pushing and pulling to bring South Africa into the 21st century when it comes to Malaria and HIV.
Songstress Yvonne Chaka Chaka….
…Preceded by an update on news from the continent.
–What are they saying in Ghana now that the Obama entourage is long gone?
–The life and death of a Minneapolis man….apparently recruited to fight in Somalia.
–And where’s the Liberian love for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf?
Exploring Space Vrs Unemployment
Posted by Staff in As Heard On-Air on July 20th, 2009
On this 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, I’m asking if it’s it worth the costs of expanding the space program in 2010 and beyond…. when healthcare and huge deficits, two wars and high unemployment are bringing President Obama’s polling numbers down.
I’ll talk about NASA later on with the LIVELY and OPINIONATED scientist, Neal DeGrasse Tyson.
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