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Hooray for the Grads, but What About the Others?
“I believe the children are our future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.” Most of us can sing along with that familiar tune,…
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Puck Dreams
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 257 pounds, Dustin Byfuglien is easily envisioned as a pro athlete in football, basketball or baseball. But unlike most African Americans in major team sports, the Minneapolis native found his soul on ice. Byfuglien (pronounced BUF-lin) scored three game-winning goals in the Western Conference semifinals, including the winner on May 23,…
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Since When Did Character Count in Sports?
Folks are judged by the “content of their character” less frequently than the norm in certain professions. Take big-time sports, for instance. The most-valued traits for athletes are usually based on prowess, such as their time in the 40-yard dash, or their jump shot, or their ability to hit a curveball, or their serve, or…
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Detroit School Leader Otis Mathis Can't Write
According to his memoir, The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read, John Corcoran graduated from college in 1961 and taught high school for 17 years, all without being able to read, write or spell. Finally, at age 48, he sought help and now serves as a public speaker and fierce advocate for literacy. The John Corcoran Foundation…
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Obama Shouldn’t Trumpet a Black Agenda
Let me see if I have this straight: talk show host Tavis Smiley blasted Rev. Al Sharpton and other black leaders because they’re not pressing President Obama to promote a black agenda? Yeah, that would be a brilliant move for Obama. It’s not enough that he’s under constant assault from birthers, Tea Partiers, neocons, Fox…
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No Question, Tiger Woods Said What Was Necessary
“I’m deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior … I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame. Any questions?” No, Tiger Woods didn’t utter that last line and hold a Q&A Friday morning after his 13-minute apology, which drew about…
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Tiger Said All He Needed To Say
“I’m deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior … I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame. “Any questions?” No, Tiger Woods didn’t utter that last line and hold a Q&A on the morning of February 19 after his 13-minute…
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Black National Anthem Disgraced At White House
The Black National Anthem, aka Lift Every Voice and Sing, should never suffer the indignity afflicted upon it Wednesday night at the White house. There was Smokey Robinson, one of America’s best singer-songwriters, smiling at the camera while drawing an absolute blank. There was Jennifer Hudson looking similarly perplexed, along with Morgan Freeman, Natalie Cole…
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Big-Time College Sports: A Waste for Many Athletes
Considering the sordid underbelly and gross hypocrisy of major college sports—namely big-time football and men’s basketball—enjoying the action is a guilty pleasure for fans with any conscience. So many (primarily black) young men … so many of them ignoring academic pursuit in favor of athletic exploits. All while administrators wink and nod, or simply look…
