Discussing social, political and religious issues that affect our community, and our country. The Board Room is more than a blog, it's a movement!



Monday, August 29, 2011

Another Senseless Murder Update (Derrion Albert)


I'm sure you all have heard about the murder of Derrion Albert that took place in Chicago back in 2009.
If you haven't, check out the video:



Five people were arrested in connection with his death, including Lapoleon Colbert who admitted to kicking and stomping Derrion in the head AFTER he was knocked unconscious from a blow to the head with a two by four.
Colbert, convicted of first degree murder stood before the judge today and pleaded,
"This is my first offense, have mercy on me."
The judge had mercy on him alright, he sentenced him to 32 years in prison.
It would be nice if this sentence could deter other cowards like Colbert who roam the streets of Chicago and every other major city in this country from committing such senseless acts like the one you saw in the above video.
But unfortunately, I think nothing short of an immediate death sentence for these domestic terrorists will get their attention.

Let's pray for that this begins the healing process for the Albert family.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Neo Soul Saturday



Today we're spotlighting New Soul sensation, R&B singer and songwriter; Teedra Moses.
Teedra was born and raised in New Orleans and later moved to Los Angeles, California with her mother, Shirley Moses, a gospel singer, after her parents’ divorce. Moses brought a little bit of that gospel flair to her own vocal style when she began singing professionally. The final song on her debut album, “I Think of You (Shirley’s Song)”, is dedicated to her late mother.


She released her debut album, Complex Simplicity (executive produced by herself and partner Pauli Pol), on TVT Records on August 10, 2004 in the U.S. The album peaked at #158 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and reached the top ten of the Top Independent Albums chart.

Since then Teedra has gone on to write songs for artists such as Nivea, Christina Milian and Mary J blige she was also featured on two songs from Raphael Saadiq’s Ray Ray album and has had her songs showcased on Noah’s Arc a LOGO network television series.
 *bio courtesy of  last.fm*

Friday, August 19, 2011

Do You Know Your Babysitter?

I sympathize with those of you who have to find a babysitter in today's world.
If I had small children, I would make them wear a wire, install hidden cameras and invest in any other device I could get my hands on.
That may sound crazy, but you have to take those kind of measures or else your child and babysitter may end up like this:



I have no words!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Can The HBCU Network Be Successful?

Check out the picture of MY band, The Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets (Fall' 89)

AS-AS-AS-AS-U!!!
I'm SO ready for the fall and all the festivities that come with Black College Football games.
That's why I got super-duper excited (Yes, I said SUPER-DUPER), when I read that a former BET exec was launching the HBCU network.
That meant I could see the bands, the stepshows, the activities on the yard and all the other hidden elements of an HBCU.
This is something that would greatly benefit our people and serve as a recruiting tool for HBCUs at a time when they desperately need it.
But my excitement was quickly shattered by a dose of harsh reality.
As in televison reality.
As in- Reality Show reality.
Although I think this network would have some success, especially during the fall;
You and I both know that people won't support it unless it has some drama.
I'm not talking about a dramatic series type of drama.
I'm talking about
"Throwing water in your ex-wife face, women fighting each other and calling each other bit*hes after sleeping with somebody's man and talking about each other behind their backs drama.

You guys know just as well as I do, that we as a people would rather watch that stuff instead of something educational and informative.
You disagree?
Ok, let me ask you this:
You have a choice to watch the reunion show of "Basketball Wives" or the premiere night of the HBCU Network.
Which one would you watch?
Case closed!
I think the idea of an HBCU Network is brilliant. But unfortunately, if it doesn't have some kind of foolishness on it, it won't be successful.

*Just calling it like I see it*

Meet The "Modern Day Harriet Tubman"

You guys have heard of Rep. Allen West from Florida, haven't you?

He's the black guy with the high top fade.....was in the military.....a tea party member- you know who I'm talking about?
Yeah, THAT guy!
I know, I know...........
"black man with high top fade and tea party member shouldn't be in the same sentence"
I know, I know...........

Well, anyway, check out what this clown had to say on Fox "News" last night.



*nodding my head up and down*
Yep, you heard him correctly!

HE is now the "Modern Day Harriet Tubman" coming to free us ignunt color'd folx from the plantantion.
For those of you who don't speak plantation- that's (ignorant colored folks).

Ummm........ looka here Rep.West- in the words of that brilliant scholar-your namesake (KANYE West)

"I'm living in the 21st century, doing something mean to.
Doin' it better than anybody you ever seen do it." -Power

TRANSLATION: I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP GETTING OFF THE PLANTATION!

As I've said many times before on this blog, I have no problem with black people being conservatives. But what Mr. West (Allen not Kanye) fail to understand is, HE is the one who needs deliverance from the plantation.
He is the one who has a slave mentality- a SLAVECATCHER mentality at that.
If he truly understood the evil essence of slavery and the bravery of Harriet Tubman, he wouldn't dare invoke her name as criticism of the CBC fighting for the rights of the black unemployed.

But then again, he IS a black member of the tea party, so what should we expect?

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

A Poverty Bus Tour?


So now the haters.........Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornell West are going on a "Poverty Bus Tour" where they will be highlighting the failure of this administration to create jobs for people of color.
INTERESTING.............
I have a few questions:
Where was this "Poverty Bus Tour" during the Bush years?
Is this really about jobs?
Is this really about poverty?
OR.......... is this still about the fact that the POTUS don't have them on speed dial?

Can somebody let these two know it's a new day- a day of Hope and Personal Uplift.
And since it's a new day, those yesterday attitudes of "Woe Is Me" are gone.
People no longer need to go to a conference on the State of Black America to hear someone "tell" them how they should feel.............oh and what book they should buy to "help" them better their lives.
All they have to do is look at the First Family that resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
and realize they can do anything they put their minds to if they believe in God and themselves (in that order).

So good luck with the "Poverty Bus Tour". Maybe the two of them can tell people exactly HOW they're suppose to find a job while being reminded that they don't have one.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Happy 50th Birthday, Mr. President

Who would have thought 50 years ago, that a son born to a white woman from Kansas and a Kenyan economist would grow up to inspire an entire generation by becoming the 44th President of The United States?

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

Hope you and the First Lady are enjoying yourselves.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Have You Done Your Homework?


Take a look at this guy.
Looks like a normal middle-aged average guy, right?
His name is Frank Borzellieri and two years ago, Mr. Borzellieri was named principal of a Catholic school in the Bronx where the students were mostly black and Latino.
Everything sounds normal so far, right?
Well, there's one "small" problem with Mr. Borzellieri.

HE'S A WHITE SUPREMACIST!

Yep, that's right!

Mr. Borzellieri once pushed for a ban on the entire biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, claiming "It poisoned the mind of the youth."
 In 2004, Borzellieri wrote the book "Don't Take It Personally: Race, Immigration, Crime and Other Heresies," in which he declares "diversity is a weakness" and says the rising black and Hispanic populations in America will lead to the "New Dark Age."
There are several other things this man has written and done, many of which was brought to the attention of the school board before he was hired.
But I'm not writing this to challenge Mr. Borzellieri or the school board that hired him.
I writing this to challenge YOU!

You see, there are Frank Borzellieri(s) in every walk of life.
They have the ability (among other things) to determine who gets hired and who gets fired.
Personally, I believe that's part of the reason unemployment spiked among black folks after the election of Barack Obama.
Many of those "Frank Borzellieri(s)" wanted to get even with the people they thought were responsible for putting a man of color in the White House.
So they started downsizing........
Still, people like Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West will have you believe that the President should be doing more to "put black folks back to work."
He may be the most powerful man in the world, but he's not that powerful.
As adults, we have to navigate our own way through the maze of closet racism- the New Jim Crow- if you will.
But we are the ones who have the power to make sure our children are well educated and properly prepared so they can start their own business and call their own shots.
Which brings me full circle to the purpose of this blog.

Have You Done Your Homework?

How well do you know your child's teachers?
Have YOU done your personal interview with them?
Have you made sure they will follow the curriculum?
I'm not talking about the standard education curriculum, I'm talking about a "parent curriculum."

It's my prayer that you remember this blog and this story as you prepare to register your child for the upcoming school year.

Monday, August 1, 2011

I'm Back.........(again)

What's up er'rbody!

You good?

Cool!

Well, I'm back after taking another vacation to the great state of Florida.

No, no, no..........I wasn't laying poolside getting a tan.

Nor was I chilling on the balcony of a plush suite overlooking the beautiful Atlantic ocean.

*daydreaming*


*waking up*
No, this time I was in Kissimmee, Fl. watching my son's baseball team play in the 16 year old World Series.

But I'm back and I have a lot on my mind. So stay tuned for what may be the busiest month of the year here in The Board Room.

Also:
I'm taking my laptop to get cleaned out this weekend. Hopefully, that will allow me to respond to your comments. Until then, please join us on Facebook by clicking the tab to the right.