on the black hand side

Move Over Mrs. Butterworth, There’s a New Syrup in Town

Meet Michele Hoskins of Michele Foods, Inc. She is a trailblazing entrepreneur who manufactures syrup that sold nationwide in stores such as Costco, Publix, Wal-mart, Winn-Dixie and Albertson's.

More than twenty years ago, a divorced ex-school teacher had children to support, a family secret and a dream. Michele Hoskins' determination to "leave my daughters a business instead of just a recipe was the inspiration for Michele Foods.

Spread the word about her products to all of your friends. If you don't see them on the shelves of your local grocery store, ask them to buy it. You can also purchase her products online. Check out her website at www.michelefoods.com. Read her bio at http://sisterceobootcamp.com/michelebio.html.

Purchase her book:

Remembering Julius Carry III and Gene Upshaw

Julius Carry III

Gene Upshaw

Actor Julius Carry, III passed away; he was 56. Although Carry appeared in several roles in movies and on television, he will always be remembered as Sho'Nuff from the movie, The Last Dragon. Professional football player and labor union leader Gene Upshaw also passed away; he was 63. Upshaw was a trailblazer moving ably from the football field to capable but also controversial labor union leader.

It's important to note that both of these gentlemen died from pancreatic cancer. A little research shows that often when pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, it's already too late. The usual risk factors of smoking, obesity, family history and older age didn't surprise me but the fact that pancreatic cancer occurs more frequently in blacks than in whites really threw me for a loop. Further issues of pancreatic cancer, weight and black women are also wake-up calls to make sure to keep my health in check.

Both Carry and Upshaw made their mark in their chosen profession. They will be remembered and sorely missed by family, friends and fans. Although we will all die as surely as we are born, let's try to live healthy lives until it is time for our transition.

Ashe'

Georgia Schools Superintendent Makes Racist Comments

J. Alvin Wilbanks, superintendent of the Gwinnett County (GA) schools, has really ticked off parents with comments some think racist and are calling for his removal.

It seems there was a presentation about the disproportionate discipline of minority students in Gwinnett, at which James Taylor, a school district administrator, reported that according to a study, discipline of minority students is a problem for school districts nationwide except in Idaho.

Superintendent Wilbanks then quipped, "Do they have any blacks in Idaho? They don't have many."

As to be expected, Wilbanks' comments angered black and white parents. His supporters say that he's an education leader that cares about all students but his others want him fired. The Gwinnett Chapter of the NAACP wants an apology but is that enough?

Wilbanks is the longest-sitting superintendent in the nation having been appointed in 1996; most superintendents tenure is about four years.

A quick perusal of Gwinnett County showed no blacks in top leadership positions. As far as the school district, all of the school board members are white. The ethnicity of all of the school district's top staff couldn't be determined definitely, but from the photos posted, none were black. County government showed more of the same. That can't be good for black people who represent about 20% of the population.

Because of the lack of diversity in key County positions; it's highly unlikely that schools chief Wilbanks will be fired or even reprimanded. However, Wilbanks should be disciplined just like the students he commented about. Ten-day suspension? Corporal punishment? What say you?

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Amazing Grace: The Story of the Power of the Black Keys and Unity Through Music

Here is an awesome lesson on Negro spirituals delivered by the renowned Wintley Phipps. Please listen and be enlightened.

Lil Wayne’s Jewelry Debt and the Reality of the Rap Game

The story of the unpaid jewelry debt of Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. aka Lil Wayne has gotten a lot of media coverage over the last few days. It seems that the rapper made a one-time payment of $24,000 towards the $170,000 debt he incurred for a diamond ring and a gold and diamond necklace from Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry. I won't rehash all of the details but I do hope that impressionable young people are really paying attention to this story.

Famous rappers have bills like everybody else only bigger trying to live up, or down, to the media image they have developed or that has been developed for them. Their houses and cars are frequently leased and now Lil Wayne is a reminder that even their "bling" does not belong to them.

More often than not, entertainers, especially those young and inadequately represented, get ripped off through their artist contract. So, folks that may appear to be living the life are actually frauds. They have to pay too many people and by the time they get their share, it's a lot less than many people imagine.

I won't even get into the misplaced priorities and the materialism. Anyhoo, in addition to the jewelry debt, Lil Wayne also owes also a million dollars in back taxes to the IRS. That's a shame but a lesson that should not be ignored.

Former LA police officer Scott Nugent indicted in taser death of handcuffed suspect Baron Pikes

Baron "Scooter" Pikes was tortured to death while in police custody in Winnfield, LA back in January 2008. Arrested on cocaine charges, Pikes was handcuffed and shocked nine times with a taser that emitted 50,000 volts each time it was used. The officer who killed Pikes was Scott Nugent. He said Pikes wasn't moving fast enough. Two other Winnfield officers were aware of the electrocution, as it occurred, but they were not charged.

Although Pike was shocked nine times, he was presumed dead after the seventh time when Nugent placed the taser directly on his chest and fired. Nugent was terminated from the police force in May, four months after the incident occurred.

The grand jury indicted Nugent and he can face up to 45 years in prison. Up to 45 years in prison? He should be sentenced to life or how about the electric chair? It would only be fair to electrocute Nugent the same way he did Baron Pikes. Nugent killed a man who was already physically restrained.

There's other foolishness going on in that town that needs to be investigated. Folks in key leadership positions have committed suicide, including Nugent's father, the former police chief. There's other mind-boggling mess going on in Winnfield but you can read Howard Witt's article for those details. In the meantime, let's monitor this case closely.

Howard Witt, Mainstream Media and the Black Blogosphere

Here is a video interview of my favorite journalist, Howard Witt, of the Chicago Tribune. He gives props to the black blogosphere (Afrosphere) and the effectiveness of the activism generated by black blogs in the case of Shaquanda Cotton and the Jena 6.

Witt has wisely and effectively harnessed the power of the media working with bloggers as opposed to viewing blogs as competition. I do hope the bloodletting in mainstream media ceases soon because there is a tremendous probability that the masses will never be made aware of injustices such as the Jena 6 and Shaquanda Cotton.

H/T = The Urban Report and The Electronic Village

The Power of Prayer

This powerful photo was forwarded to me by a friend. From research on the internet I've found that it is of the bishops of the church having prayer with Senator Barack Obama before he spoke to over 20,000 delegates at the General Conference of the AME Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

There is power in prayer. Senator Obama is shown being prayed for in this photo and surely prayed for by many throughout the world. Senator Obama's campaign has been a lot more spiritual than folks want to accept.

Some folks have allowed the spirit of fear to be injected in to this presidential race and say things about being concerned about fear for Obama's life. Well, we have no more reason to fear for Obama's life than we do for our own life. Sure, Obama is in a much more public role but if we stay in prayer and stay positive there truly is nothing of which to be fearful.

Third trial for Kappas in hazing case

A judge in a Tallahassee appeals court ordered a third trial for two members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity from Florida A&M University who were charged with hazing a young man so severely during the fraternity's pledging process that stitches were required for his buttocks.

The first trial ended in a deadlocked jury and the second ended in a mistrial for three of the five fraternity brothers with two found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. It was the trial judge's instructions in the second trial that are the crux of the case for ordering a new trial.

Tyra Banks Dresses as Michelle Obama

OK, this wasn't intended to be a Michelle Obama double play blog post but fashion icon and business woman Tyra Banks dresses as Michelle Obama in a fashion spread for Harper's Bazaar magazine. It's an interesting twist and shows just how much the Obamas have impacted international culture.

While we fully expect Mrs. Obama to be the next First Lady; if she's not, she's proven that she definitely has style and flair.