Before the borough hosts the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time, Kim shows us where the Brooklyn MC used to hang. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
“You talkin’ to me?!?!” Tavis Smiley Says President Obama Should Be More Like Martin Luther King Jr. With the 50th Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s march on Washington approaching this Wednesday, the White House announced that President Barack Obama will take the podium to deliver a much-anticipated public address commemorating MLK’s legacy and his lauded “I Have A Dream” speech. Obviously there will be many comparisons drawn between Dr. King and President Obama before, during, and after this speech, but Tavis Smiley asserts that Obama and Dr. King are dissimilar not necessarily in form, but in function. Via WashingtonPost Since the White House announced that President Obama will speak to the nation on Wednesday from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, I have been asked the same questions again and again: Is it appropriate for the president to occupy that sacred space? Does Obama have the moral authority to speak where King spoke? Does anyone? My honest answer to these questions: I don’t know. But here is what I do know. The future of our democracy is inextricably linked to how seriously we take King’s legacy. A legacy of unarmed truth and unconditional love. A legacy of brilliant prose and prophetic witness. The president’s decision to honor the march is proper and commendable. But when he stands where King stood and delivers a speech of his own, he inevitably invites comparisons between his words and King’s. I hope Obama rises to the challenge to be truly King-like, not just King-lite. His speech cannot be full of great sound bites but devoid of sound public policy. Smiley goes on to say: The unsettling truth is that during the Obama era, black America has fallen even further behind. The African American unemployment rate, for instance, remains stubbornly and disproportionately high at 12.6 percent, compared with the national rate of 7.4 percent. And while private-sector jobs are experiencing a slight uptick, the lack of public-sector jobs is suffocating black livelihoods. Sadly, a few black chief executives notwithstanding, race still matters in the private sector. Education is not the great equalizer. I know too many black Ivy League graduates whose degrees cannot close this gap, and heaven help you if you’re applying for a private-sector job with a “black-sounding” name. Researchers have found that these applicants receive up to 50 percent fewer callbacks than applicants with “white-sounding” names. Black misery is the fierce urgency of now. Do we want history to record that black folk fared even worse under the first black president? I certainly do not. We all understand that Obama is a politician and King was a prophet. But does that mean that the president, even with the structural and political constraints of his high office, cannot speak more truth? …But if Obama is to be transformational and not just transactional, a statesman and not just another politician, a thermostat and not just a thermometer, then it’s time for him to use his power to help regulate the temperature of our society and not just settle for recording the temperature of public opinion. It’s time to take some risks. To stop playing it safe in the second term. To tell the truth about the suffering in America that’s being rendered invisible simply because we choose not to see it. What kind of speech do you expect from POTUS Barry on Wednesday? What issues and topics to you want to hear him address? Image via AP
We told you Breezy was trying to bang out … What the hell has he been smokin?!? Now he’s actually spraying gang affiliated graffiti? Via TMZ reports : Another brilliant move by Chris Brown — the singer has affiliated himself with a dangerous street gang in L.A. called the Pirus (a subset of the Bloods) … and he’s bragging about it all the way to Hawaii. Sources tell TMZ, Brown was in Honolulu Thursday, where he hired a guide to take him and his entourage around to places where they could legally spray paint. Keeping it “legal” was responsible, but then Brown tagged up his signature monster artwork with the phrase “Fruits Piru,” an apparent reference to the Fruit Town Piru gang … next to the phrase, “F*** police.” Brown’s even been claiming Piru on Twitter. He’s gotten so cocky, he called out Jay Z for not letting Beyonce collaborate with him, and bragging he’s not worried about Mr. Z because he’s got Blood ties. Strange … just last year Chris tweeted, “I’m no gangbanger! where im from we say cuz,blood, folk, woadie, homie, patna, its slang and ebonics! US KIDS USE THESE TERMS.” For the record, Brown’s not doing anything illegal by giving a shoutout to a violent gang — it doesn’t even violate his probation. It’s just not smart for someone with his record. Really not smart. But at least it helps explain Chris’ red outfits and cars … SMH… Hit the flip for some crackish looking photos and big news about a possible Breezy movie? AKM-GSI
Rich Gang boss stopped by ‘RapFix Live’ Friday — tune in today for more BK hip-hop at 4 p.m. on allaccess.mtv.com. By Maurice Bobb, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Robin certainly knows who butters his bread… Despite the brewing controversy with the Gaye family , Robin isn’t letting a lil’ litigation stop his train. Robin Thicke Releases “Give It 2 U” (Remix) Music Video Featuring 2 Chainz And Kendrick Lamar Hate it or love it??? Image via YouTube Continue reading →
Dean Meminger is now hoopin’ on the shiny new court in the sky… Ex-Knicks Player Dean Meminger Dies At Age 65 Via HuffingtonPost Dean Meminger, the former Marquette guard who played a reserve role on the New York Knicks’ 1973 NBA championship team, was found dead Friday in a Manhattan hotel room. He was 65. New York City police said staff at the Hamilton Heights Hotel found Meminger unconscious and unresponsive inside a room and emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead. Police said there were no signs of trauma and that the cause of death hadn’t been determined. They said an investigation is ongoing. “We want to thank everyone for their prayers and condolences during this difficult time for our family,” Meminger’s family said in a statement. “Dean ‘The Dream’ Meminger touched the hearts of so many on and off the basketball court. Through basketball and education, he helped countless people around the country receive scholarships, high school and college admissions, and even employment.” Meminger averaged 6.1 points in six seasons with the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. A former New York City prep star at Rice High School, Meminger led Marquette to a 78-9 mark in three varsity seasons, averaging 18.8 points. He averaged 21.2 points as a senior in 1970-71 and was drafted 16th overall by the Knicks. Meminger had short coaching stints with the New York Stars in the Women’s Basketball League, the Albany Patroons in the CBA and the Long Island Knights in the USBL. He coached Manhattanville College in 2003-04. R.I.P. Dean Meminger, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Image via BirchBox
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