Here's What I Think . . .

Ya gotta be in the clique to roll with the BCS

2011-12-06T06:43:00.001-06:00

Lately, college football has really excited me until the bowl season. The BCS is total BS, if you ask me. If no other season presents a compelling argument for the NCAA FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) to go to a playoff system, this one certainly does. Even Boise State's coach, Chris Peterson, decided to publicly say something. It all begins with the BCS Championship, which is a rematch between LSU and Alabama. Of course Tide fans wanted this rematch but Oklahoma State fans believe the match-up is BS, because they believe a more compelling game would be the Big 12 champs versus the SEC champs. Then there are the cases of the Houston, who seemed to be Sugar Bowl-bound until they lost the Conference USA championship, and Boise State, who is also a one-loss team. Neither will be playing BCS bowls. You can easily argue that Houston screwed themselves by losing to Southern Miss, a "lesser" opponent; but Boise State's track record speaks for itself, regardless of their loss this season.

If you ask me, these debates would be easily solved in a playoff format; but it's obvious the NCAA doesn't want that. It boggles the mind, because I believe the NCAA has everything to gain by putting its biggest dogs in a playoff system. It doesn't matter where these games would be played, the entire SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 fan bases travel very well. Other teams' fans, such as Boise State's, Houston's, USC's, and Florida State's travel very well, too. But how embarrassing is it when a big dog such as Oklahoma loses to a "lesser" opponent such as Boise State (which is what happened in the '07 Fiesta Bowl)?

In 2010, the little frogs that could from the little school in Texas capped a 13-0 season by taming the ferocious badgers from the big school in Wisconsin. Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

I understand, though. Don't hate the player; hate the game. This is all about money. No matter how much sense we BCS opponents make (see great article links below), it's all about who is in whose pockets. C'mon, you don't think this is about putting compelling college football on TV, do you? If it were, we would have a playoff system just like the one that works so well in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision formerly NCAA Division I-AA). But I truly believe that this is about schools in the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, ACC, and PAC 12 being the have's and the schools in the WAC, Mountain West, MAC, and Conference USA being have not's. With the former list of schools being automatic qualifiers for BCS bowls, it's easier to understand why there has been a mad scramble of institutions to hop into conferences that they believe will give them better chances at the pot o' gold at the end of the college football rainbow. According to a 2008 article on Rivals.com, the BCS payed as much as $17 million a team at that time. It's college football's version of the rich getting richer but the "poor" just not getting as much. If it sounds a bit corrupt, I believe it is. But remember this; people who benefit from corruption don't care what the rest of us think.

This is not about pure competition. You already have the Boise State/Oklahoma example. In 1998 my Tulane Green Wave ended a perfect season by slamming a "better" BYU team in the Liberty Bowl. Last year TCU showed America what they were made of by defeating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, which was truly ironic on the heels of Ohio State's president referring to schools like TCU and Boise State as "Little Sisters of the Poor" programs. It's clear that if you give the Houston's of college football a chance in a playoff format, they could beat a Big Ten or Big 12 opponent. The NCAA has everything to gain by leveling the playing field (pardon the pun) in a playoff system. But I wonder who, in the NCAA, is going to have the balls to renegotiate this system which is so lucrative to the big dogs.

More great reading:

A relationship disease

2011-11-27T10:59:00.000-06:00

On the November 26th edition of Real Talk, I approached the topic of what I call the "dog double standard" in relationships. When a man dogs a woman out, it's widely accepted, rightfully so, as wrong. When a woman dogs out a man, there's a "good reason" for it. A subtopic of this conversation took on a life of its own, however, when I brought up some women justifying their relationships with married men as something that makes sense.

Repeating what I heard from a few women, apparently there are those women who date married men because those men are "honest" and "stable". In fact a caller even echoed this sentiment. That's pretty damn sick. These women apparently take comfort in "knowing where the man is at all times" even though he says he is with his wife when he's not cheating. Of course, this is great for the creep who is cheating, because he has control of at least two women's minds. One woman, in particular, told me she appreciated her married guy's "honesty" as he would constantly remind her that he "couldn't leave" his wife. I challenged her about his dating other women on the side. She seemed to believe that his honesty gave her some sort of control of her situation whereas "you never know" with a single man. OK.

Now, I say unabashedly that I'm a good guy. To hell with being humble. I'm a good guy, I've been a good guy, and I will continue to be a good guy. It's what my father taught me to be. I would blame the unfaithful men for some of these issues, but that's clearly a "Don't hate the player, hate the game" issue. Hey, if he throws it, and she catches it, I can't be mad at him. The issue for the good guys is that by the time we meet these women (especially those of us in our 30's and beyond), they're practically damaged goods. Their brains and emotions are scrambled beyond recognition.

You can call it over reacting but I view this as a relationship disease. The good guy gets into a relationship with these women, who also adopt the thought that there are "no good single men out there" (a problem seriously pronounced in the Black community), and he finds himself running alone in sort of an emotional and mental wilderness. This is without a doubt a poisonous way of thinking and too many women feel it's OK.

This is why I have so much respect and admiration for men who have enough love in their hearts to stick with women who often have emotionally unstable children as well. When I hear the stories of men who become step dads and accept the burden of women scorned with their children, I know there's definitely a place in Heaven for these guys. Of course, I'm talking about the good guys--faithful, responsible, non-abusive guys.

What's the cure for this? I'm not sure there is one. I would say common sense, but we all know common sense ain't common. I guess this is where we give in to the cliche "Time heals all wounds." The good guy has to know, unfortunately, that it's up to him to simply walk away.

What's wrong with Louisiana education? It's the leadership, stupid!

2011-10-10T20:19:00.000-05:00

In the interest of full disclosure, I work for a state university in Louisiana. And now, my soapbox . . .

Ironically, I found this pic on this blog.

When your car needs gas, what do you do? My guess is you stop at the gas station and put gas in it. How about blowing up a couple of gas stations when your car needs gas? If you were ask a Louisiana legislator, he or she would probably go for the latter option based on the logic these geniuses are using to "improve" public higher education in the state.

With public universities statistically not performing up to par, Louisiana education and political leaders have been looking for answers. Let me say that our institutions of higher learning need not walk away from this tough discussion of needing to improve, as a collective. Don't get mad at the statistics, get real about them. One suggestion that has been floated from the legislative side, however, has been to close a couple of the four-year universities. Why? Somebody somewhere feels that academic programs are being duplicated among these schools. The three areas in the state that have four-year public colleges within a few miles of one another are New Orleans (University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans), Baton Rouge (Southern University and Louisiana State), and Ruston/Grambling (Louisiana Tech and Grambling State). Among these three groupings I have a hard time believing that duplication of academic programs is that big an issue. What puzzles me is this weird logic that shutting institutions down in a state where education doesn't exactly rule the budget roost in the first place sounds like a good idea.

Yes, I know it's about money but this is just plain stupid. First of all, Louisiana is already ranked near the bottom in education. Second, the state only graduates an estimated 62% to 65% of its students from public high schools. Instead of addressing secondary public high school education and a damaged paradigm in communities throughout the state, some goober with a title decides that shutting colleges down is a solution.

Supposedly, according to the Louisiana constitution the education and health care budgets are slashed first in times of financial hardship. Our legislature wasted no time doing that to the tune of millions of dollars over the past few years. These same economic development wonder kids lament that we have to do better in schools and in health with less. Instead of changing this mysterious part of the constitution, Louisiana has no problem housing a population that theoretically gets less educated and more sickly than ever. Still, politicians will campaign this season on platforms of improving education and building healthier communities.

This is where voters need to not only ask tough questions but expect intelligent answers. But then again, how can we expect intelligent answers in a state where education is clearly an after thought?

Louisianans have a chance to start improving education on October 22nd

2011-10-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

NOLA.com

In Louisiana, we lament constantly about the poor state of education. One article that has ignited a quiet but intense discussion is a piece by Sarah Carr of The Times-Picayune from September 25th. The piece covered the Louisiana Board of Regents' move to require no remedials of college bound students who wish to attend state four-year universities (LSU, LSU-Alexandria, LSU-Shreveport, Southern, Southern at New Orleans, Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, Northwestern State, McNeese State, Nicholls State, SLU, and UNO) as of fall 2014. As a result, the Black community has had an intriguing discussion about what this means for Black students. Truth be known, it affects all students, but the Black community tends to be most adversely affected by major education policy changes. The question I raised on the October 1st edition of "Real Talk" is whether or not this is forcing educational accountability or excluding communities from the higher education landscape.

The issue, to me, is that the people who often put these kinds of policies in place do so in a bubble. Louisiana's elected officials, as a collective, have no concept of leadership in the first place, if you ask me. In the consummate "It's not what you know, it's who you know" community, Louisiana thrives on placing people who don't know squat about their positions in high places. The "jobs for friends" network is a dangerous and costly one. And who loses? None other than the everyday working individual who needs to "make a dollar out of 15 cents" (quoting the rapper Shock G).

Louisianans will have the opportunity, on October 22nd, to decide who the best of their choices are to represent them on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Yes, you and I get to elect these people, and hold their feet to the fire once they get in. Not only do we get to vote for our favorite BESE candidates there but also state legislators. Legislative moves in education will most certainly be affected by BESE's decisions.

Why do I target BESE? We need folks who will make choices to best support our public high schools in getting college bound students more college-ready. The Regents, who are appointed, are trying to strengthen state colleges and universities in a state where many students are hardly ready for two-year colleges in many cases, let alone barely graduating from high school. Therefore, we have to drill down at the level which represents the most critical level of a child's development--the secondary education level.

We need BESE members who will find ways to strengthen programs such as Early Start and talk legislators into funding more summer bridge-type programs at state universities to help students catch up on developmental classes. The problem is getting Louisianans to be as passionate about this issue as they are about coaching issues at LSU. Wish us luck.

You might be better off without THAT job

2011-09-15T20:09:00.002-05:00

It's amazing that even in these lean economic times, people feel that they are better off without certain jobs. In a conversation about job hunting a lady told me that she was glad she didn't get an interview with a company because of her initial encounter with their human resources division. Our conversation went something like this:

Lady: Was there ever a time that you were glad a company didn't give you a second look, even though you might've really needed a job?

Me: Actually, yes.

Lady: I applied for a job that clearly stated in the posting "healthcare experience preferred." To me "preferred" means they would like for you to have the experience but they'll consider you if they're impressed enough with your resume and/or interview.

Me: Some would argue that point but I agree with that.

Lady: Exactly! So I get an email from the company asking for my salary requirements, leadership experience, and a time I could schedule an interview. Of course, I was elated, so I replied immediately! This idiot replied to me saying my leadership skills weren't what they were looking for and that I was lacking healthcare experience. I thought that was the stupidest thing! My friggin' resume TOLD you I don't have healthcare experience so why did they even bother emailing me???

I felt her pain. We both concluded that either this person didn't read the resume thoroughly or didn't read the thing at all. The bad news is that companies and organizations are full of people like this. It makes you truly respect a company that asks you thorough questions based on your resume.

I remember running across a legitimate opportunity that seemed way too good to be true years ago. I went to the interview and asked my interviewer about the company's work-life balance program. He looked up, repeated "work-life balance" three times, and shoveled the biggest load of ka ka about work-life balance that I had ever heard. The fool had no idea what a work-life balance program was. Even if I had gotten an offer, I most likely would not have taken it.

The damn shame of living in this economy is that companies and organizations are bending people over the barrel like crazy, and people endure blatant disrespect all in the name of getting a much-needed paycheck. At that point, it becomes an issue of personal values and pride. You can't stop companies and organizations from allowing boneheads to represent them. You can, however, draw a personal line in the sand to save your sanity.

Exactly when is Michael Vick's debt considered paid?

2011-08-30T18:17:00.000-05:00

Help me understand what makes Michael Vick the worst human being of the past 10 years. I almost feel as if people have more compassion for Osama Bin Laden than Vick. The Philadelphia Eagles have given Vick a huge vote of confidence by hooking him up with a 6-year $100 million contract, some of which is guaranteed money. And quite a few of the animal rights folks are majorly hacked off.

Like anyone else, I value life, and I'm a dog lover. I don't think what Vick did was cool at all. Vick has admitted time and time again that his financing a dog fighting ring was irresponsible and simply not a good thing. In fact, he did more than admit it. He went to jail for it. He had a great NFL career that got interrupted by his being young and stupid with too much money and a useless allegiance to his boys. And I repeat, not only does he admit that, but he went to jail for it. For a lot of animal rights folks, however, that's not enough.

Vick has been a speaking tour to steer young people away from animal cruelty. It's not enough. He said he wanted a dog. The animal rights people thought that was a travesty. He got picked up by the Eagles. They screamed bloody murder. Now, he's gotten the kind of news that would make the average person cry tears of a joy. Cue the collective cries of "This is ridiculous!!!"

Does Vick deserve that kind of money? I would argue that he doesn't. From a pure football fan's standpoint, Vick is good, but I'm not sure he's that awesome. Does he deserve the second chance that he has gotten? I say yes. He did his time, period. I mean, there isn't this kind of outrage when innocent Black men are gunned down by rogue cops! Yes, I went there, and I'll buy as many round trip tickets as I can to keep going there.

I understand where the animal rights people are coming from, but they really need to let this man live his life. If he screws around and gets into the same trouble, have at him by all means. Anybody that stupid doesn't intend to straighten up. In the meantime, respect the fact that he was caught, got arrested, convicted, did his time, and does his level best to show a better side of Mike Vick.

The anatomy of a meeting

2011-07-22T08:57:00.001-05:00

Want to have a successful meeting? It's pretty simple.

The meeting chair (or leader) should have an agenda, even if it isn't written. Just know what needs to be accomplished.
Keep the conversation on the agenda items until the floor is opened up for extra comments at the end. Even then, keep the conversation on the subject at hand (I just don't like wasting time on crap that has nothing to do with the price of pralines in the French Quarter).
Either turn your damn cell phone on vibrate or silent, and for the love all that is Holy on Earth PLEASE don't answer it at the meeting table. One day I'm going to lose it, grab a phone, and chuck it out of a window.
Know what you want to accomplish. Know what the primary message is or know what the action items are. Also, know who will carry what task out if action items are given.
Know when the job needs to be done and communicate that.
If there needs to be a follow-up meeting, KNOW when that will be by the time everyone leaves the room.
Have a time limit. People have things to do.

It's not about the paddle at St. Aug, it's about parents' right to choose and 60 years of successful self-governance

2011-06-06T01:26:00.002-05:00

Tonight, I spanked my son. He's 7 years old and a joy to be around. He's a happy kid who makes me laugh consistently. Tonight, however, I instructed him to do something; and he ignored me. I wasn't angry at all. In fact, I knew exactly why he ignored me. So I walked into the room where he was, asked him if he heard me, he acknowledged that he did; and I gave him one swift whack on his left buttocks then walked away. He didn't cry, and it left no mark. It startled him more than anything else, and that's exactly what I wanted. It was a wake-up call to never ignore dad again.

Now, some bleeding heart, tree-hugging liberal (I am neither a conservative nor a Republican) is assuming, I'm sure, that I have this habit of arbitrarily beating my son at the drop of a hat. Nope. The last spanking he got from me was two years ago, and he hasn't repeated the behavior for which he got the spanking since. That was the goal. I don't "get off" on spanking my little dude. The idea is to send the message that a bad decision will lead to a bad consequence in life. Instead of talking to him until I'm blue in the face, I provide a non-violent physical reminder that something will happen when he makes not-so-great decision. It works.

Yes, I have the nerve, bleeding-heart expert on abuse to say that my action was "non-violent". Let's look at a definition from dictionary.com:

"1. acting with or characterized by uncontrolled, strong, rough force: a violent earthquake.

"2. caused by injurious or destructive force: a violent death.

"3. intense in force, effect, etc.; severe; extreme: violent pain; violent cold."

As we can see, there are specific characteristics that go with violent acts. So, all of these folks who believe that there are administrators and teachers who stand around at St. Augustine High School, my alma mater, just waiting to rip through poor defenseless boys with paddles need to chill out. I've been reading blogs that claim that using the paddle is an outdated, violent method of discipline, yet St. Aug is a school that has continued to impress the general public. With a proven record of academic excellence and excellence in extracurricular activities, critics of St. Aug's method of discipline have yet to quantitatively prove that paddling does more harm than good. In fact, it's more of a philosophical argument than a fact-based argument, because neither Archbishop Gregory Aymond nor other critics have yet to present an air-tight argument to show the public that paddling has done students more harm than good throughout the school's 60-year history.

And there are so many weak arguments against St. Aug's methods:

Corporal punishment compromises kids' self-esteem. The class of 2011 earned more than $5 million in scholarships, the basketball team won the state championship, the school won the 2010 ACT College Readiness Award, the school boasts six Presidential Scholars throughout its history and there is more. This is definitely not a school with students suffering from low self-esteem. In fact, St. Aug grads are often accused of having too much self-esteem.
No other school paddles so St. Aug shouldn't either. St. Aug carved its success path by taking bold, unique steps. In the late 60's the school sued both the Krewe of Rex so the Marching 100 could participate in the then-all-White parade and it sued the Louisiana High School Athletic Association so the athletic teams could play in the then-all-White league. St. Aug is also an all-boys, historically Black, Catholic institution. Attempting to compare the school to most others is comparing apples and oranges. Black teenagers often have unique issues that require sometimes unusual but hard-nosed methods. That approach is what made St. Aug the success story that it is.
Paddling breeds violent behavior. A man once told me that he made a delivery to St. Aug and thought the school had given the students the day off because the hallways were so quiet. I told him that they were quiet because young men were in class learning. How many schools would love to have that luxury?
"It's a new day." Well, this is nothing but an ambiguous way of saying, "I got nothin'." Black America went through a dreadful decade, in the 90's, of watching its young people turn to Gangsta Rap for lessons in pride and common sense. It was during that time that America mistakenly backed down from young people. A decade later, America begged for tough love to be introduced back into the rearing of young people as the children of that damaged goods decade are now parents.
Black teens need hugs. Absolutely true. When our boys do well, St. Aug alumni, educators, and parents shower them with compliments. When they mess up, we shower them with advice. When they mess up in school, teachers shower them with wisdom and encouragement. Similarly after my little one got his whack, I treated him to a nice tickle session upon the successful completion of his mission. Hugs are great, but life doesn't always deliver the wonderfully comfy vibe we want it to deliver in order to learn our lessons.

At the risk of becoming public enemy number one, I have to mention a situation I know of at another school. It has been said for years, and it has been publicly supported by both students and parents, that there is a long-standing practice of deliberately holding talented students back so they can excel in athletics at this school. Curiously, neither the New Orleans community nor the national community has raised any hell about this. Parents know what they're signing up for when they enroll their kids in certain schools. In fact, parents send their kids to particular schools, because they like what those schools provides. It's all about understanding what will help your child become the best that he/she can be. In the case of St. Aug, many graduates have uttered the words, "That school and the discipline saved my life." What parent wouldn't want that?

I will attempt to be as clear as possible. Everything isn't for everybody. There are school policies that simply don't fit certain students even at some of the best schools in the land. Therefore, you would be hard-pressed to find an alumnus of St. Augustine High School who believes that every school in America should or can educate their students the same way.

One thing most of us agree on is this--you can't successfully educate any student if he or she isn't ready to receive the lesson. There is a way that St. Aug gets its students to receive the message, and it has been a proven formula for 60 years.

Message to the college class of 2011

2011-05-25T21:40:00.001-05:00

It is that special time of year for folks grabbing degrees and taking on the world. As a university employee, I have the honor of watching hundreds of these great folks work their way to dreams, and here are some things I would love to tell each and every one of them as they move on to bigger and better things in life.

Your degree is not the answer. It is the tool with which you sculpt your future.
Sharpen your writing skills. People DO judge you based on your writing.
It doesn't matter where you get your degree. What matters is how you use what you learned in the classroom.
Employers want you to prove that you can separate yourself from the crowd, not follow the crowd.
What you did outside the classroom counts. Folks want to know that you can lead.
Don't be big headed about your degree. There's always someone who can outwork you.
That class you think won't matter, may not. But nothing's wrong with knowing more than you did before.
If you're headed for Corporate America, get to know the janitors. They see and hear everything.
Remember what Bill Gates said about being a nerd possibly being your boss one day? Listen to that piece advice.
Pride in your alma mater can actually help your career opportunities.
PLEASE have someone help you with your resume before you send it out.
Make your job interview an interesting conversation about what you bring to the table.
It's OK to be a loose cannon every once in a while. Just don't be a loose idiot.
Get a mentor in your field as in a seasoned, reputable professional.
Financial management. That is all.
Thank the professor(s) who inspired you the most. It means the world to them.
That picture of you on Facebook with your a$$ and tongue sticking out at the party? It'll come back to haunt you.
Learn the difference between who you are and what you are. Who are you is the person. What you are is comprised of the choices you make.
When you screw up at work, just be honest. You'll save yourself a lot of unnecessary BS.
Learn professional damage control. Admit it, apologize for it, correct it, and move on.
Learn leadership skills. You'll earn the respect of everyone around you even if they don't like you.
Learn how to chair meetings. People appreciate getting in, getting the plan, and getting out.
Take a page from the book of marketing. Learn how to brand yourself for potential employers.
Focus on the the most important things you can do in life--sit down, shut up, and listen.
Don't EVER let anyone tell you that you wasted your money on your education.
Learn to be versatile on the job.

Good luck!

Let this be a lesson to HBCUs

2011-05-20T10:17:00.001-05:00

Describe it how you will. You can say Southern University at New Orleans dodged a huge bullet, if you like. What matters is that SUNO will get the opportunity to continue as a public HBCU, offering the dream of a college degree to students at a very affordable price. By virtue of politics at its purest, SUNO was eliminated from the controversial Louisiana House and Senate bills to merge the university with the University of New Orleans. The bill's primary author, Jim Tucker, lamented that he didn't have the votes to push the bill through. So, instead of stating his case before the legislature, he ungracefully bowed out.

HBCUs truly need to learn from this experience. There are only 100-plus HBCUs in America, a few of which are cash-strapped and easy pickin's for culturally insensitive conservatives. Understand that some conservative types choose to be culturally insensitive. Others are so busy with their heads buried in statistics that they completely miss the human element of educating students.

What HBCUs across America should learn is how to make the argument for their existence more effectively. As long as these proud institutions don't match up with majority institutions on paper, stat line readers will continue to attack HBCUs as if they are completely devoid of responsibility and accountability. That's unfortunate because I have never met college graduates as proud as the ones who graduated from HBCUs. Pride, however, only gets you so far. The next step is for HBCUs supporters to steer the national discussion about HBCUs slightly away from race and toward the need for students of all cultures to have the option to be educated in a way that helps them build confidence in their abilities. Why? Because there are those communities outside of the Black community that benefit from HBCUs' sensitivity to their needs.

The most used graduation rate formula will continue to be used against HBCUs. As of now the formula only includes those who start college in the fall as full-time freshmen. All others are counted out of the formula, including transfer students. America, however, doesn't see that. All they see is the number on paper, and judgments are cast from there.

HBCUs have the daunting task of redefining quality in higher education.That means turning America's attention to having more appreciation for equal opportunity in higher education. It also means that all associated with HBCUs--administrators, employees, students, alumni, and boards--have to adopt an "all hands on deck" mentality. Improvements cannot be made casually but with the same urgency we have when we're in trouble.

An open letter to the Louisiana House of Representatives (HB 537)

2011-05-14T16:16:00.002-05:00

Dear Representative,

I urge you to vote NO to HB 537 on Monday and this is why.

Southern University at New Orleans' publicized graduation rate leaves the public to assume that everyone who graduates within 6 years counts. The only people who are counted in the current graduation rate formula are those who are first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen who enter college in the fall. That means three groups of students are EXCLUDED from the formula: (1) those who enter in the spring, (2) those who enter college on a part-time basis, and (3) those who transfer from other institutions. Only 14 of the university's almost-450 2011 graduates count toward the graduation rate. I would hate to see my elected officials vote for a bill based on information that seems to have been deliberately delivered to the public as a half-truth.

A study done by Hanover Research (based in Washington, DC) determined that "SUNO contributed $176.1 million to the State of Louisiana in 2008 alone." http://www.suno.edu/Alumni_and_Friends/docs/Value_of_SUNO_as_an_Autonomous_HBCU_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Recently SUNO was praised by a visiting accreditation team for its progress even with the significant challenges of compromised facilities and resources. The SACS on-site review concluded that SUNO complied with all standards with no recommendations for corrective action, which I understand is rare. Despite public perception, SACS sees that SUNO is headed in a positive direction, serving its unique student population even with a serious lack of resources.

SUNO is the most cost-effective option for a selective four-year institution in the region (possibly the South). Statistics show that most students drop out of college because of financial challenges, so why take away that option?

The University is a place of dreams where people mostly not counted in the graduation rate and not even counted in life at times enter college desiring an opportunity to live a life of redemption due either to adverse educational or life situations. The best example is SUNO's Substance Abuse Counseling program, the only one of its type in Louisiana, where some students are reformed abusers. A few of these wonderful students credit SUNO with saving their lives; and the University arms these individuals with degrees, prepared to help those who are at-risk in the community.

Finally, SUNO was charged with implementing selective admission in Fall 2010 as a means to enhance its academic quality and accountability. It takes any selective institution four to six years to bear the fruit of such measures. If that is the case, why is SUNO not being given the same opportunity to show its effectiveness as an autonomous institution serving a unique student population with a unique mission?

In closing, I am urging that you vote FOR an institution that, in the past five-plus years, has routinely done more with less. Isn't that the story of the winning human spirit? Isn't that the story you would like to promote as an elected leader of Louisiana? Furthermore, wouldn't you like to be someone who made sure that this resilient institution continued its climb? I would hate for America to see that Louisiana, once again, fails to produce a true vision of improving education by focusing attention in the wrong place.

You can help SUNO enhance Louisiana higher education by letting it continue as a diverse, cost-effective option for Louisianans, not just New Orleanians. In fact, students from around the country are showing that they want to be part of that new winning tradition. The enrollment has risen from under 2,100 (spring '06) to over 3,300 (spring '11) and the graduation rate is rising. There are students of ALL cultures and socio-economic levels, such as our past SGA President who is a Caucasian non-traditional mother of three, who benefit from SUNO's unique brand of social and academic support. Please vote yes for people being treated like people and not like numbers by voting NO TO HB 537.

So it is "politics as usual" after all

2011-05-09T13:42:00.001-05:00

Full disclosure: I am an employee of Southern University at New Orleans, but my views do not necessarily reflect the views of SUNO, the Southern University System, or its stakeholders. My views in this commentary are those of a concerned citizen of the Greater New Orleans area, a citizen of Louisiana, and, most importantly, an advocate of access to higher education for all who choose to pursue it.

Finally, the general public is starting to understand that there is more to the SUNO-UNO merger discussion than the simplistic notion being presented via Louisiana House Bill 537 and Senate Bill 183. If you ask the authors and the supporters of these measures, this is a simple common-sense approach to improving higher education in the New Orleans area. Through hours of testimony, however, the public is learning that what sounds like a simple process is way more complicated than they realize.

When HB 537 was brought before the House Education Committee, there were six hours of discussion and testimony. From Jim Purcell's (the new Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education) admission that he doesn't know the SUNO admission policy to Rep. Pat Smith's peppering supporters of the bill about their lack of thorough consideration of the impact of a merger, it hit home that this is politics as usual. Six hours of compelling testimony that produced more questions than answers yielded a clearly partisan 10-5 vote to move the bill to the House Appropriations Committee where it won a 17-4 decision. In both instances, Democrats helped things along with one supporting the measure in Education and four supporting it in Appropriations. That's a pretty strong indicator of how "strong" the Louisiana Democratic Party is, but that's for another blog entry.

Louisiana taxpayers need to take heed. This legislature is telling citizens that they are willing to sacrifice tax dollars on a "maybe". Legislators and educators in opposition to the merger have consistently questioned how contracts, land transfers, tenure, grants, FEMA funds, IT systems, student credits, etc. will be handled. As a marketing guy, I'm counting the dollars that will be spent to brand this UL-New Orleans campus in terms of web site redesign, logo development, creation of collateral materials, marketing consultation, etc. The whole time, Rep. Tucker jovially answers questions like he's quarterbacking a flag football team on the Lakefront. Merging universities is a big deal, and these guys are acting as if they're converting savage natives . . . while playing flag football on the Lakefront.

This tense discussion reveals also that politicians are devoid of cultural sensitivity or competence. With its HBCU status in jeopardy, SUNO supporters are being viewed as people who are going to cry and take their toys if they don't get their way. I admit that my people need to find better ways of expressing their opposition rather than to cry racism in fiery, emotional, finger-pointing speeches. They know, however, what they don't want. They don't want to be treated as if they're commodities. The notion of "sending" students to "appropriate" institutions through an academic funneling system is simple-minded at best. An HBCU does not treat a student like some poor waif who can't do his/her ABCs but rather as a person who needs a confidence boost in order to succeed inside the classroom and outside the classroom, regardless of academic ability.

Every college has a mission to serve specific students. SUNO, as a regional urban teaching HBCU, has served scores of non-traditional and economically disadvantaged students who have benefited greatly from the cultural sensitivity and competence that I mentioned above. Students who thrive at UNO do not necessarily want the kind of personal attention that SUNO students receive. If this were really about improving higher education in the New Orleans area, wouldn't Gov. Bobby Jindal have brought all parties (the Southern University System, the LSU System, and the University of Louisiana System) to the table to provide updates on their progress with the Louisiana GRAD Act which enacted just last year? With SUNO just becoming a selective admission institution, wouldn't the governor give them time to show improvements in retention and its graduation rate?

The public is finally realizing that these bills are a joke, and Jindal has deliberately taken SUNO's graduation rate completely out of context to satisfy his agenda. Nearly 450 students received degrees from SUNO in 2011 but only 14 were counted in the final six-year graduation rate. Now, citizens are realizing that their governor initiated this merger process with the gloves off from the very beginning. Citizens are also putting two and two together to realize that the feasibility study that Jindal asked for has been nothing more than a smoke screen. That was revealed when he publicly announced the merger legislation would be drawn the night before the Board of Regents took a vote that he asked them to take on the report (not the issue itself). In fact, the Regents voted to accept one of the consultant's recommendations and added a proposal from Southern University System President Ron Mason. Mason's proposal doesn't even seem to be a player in the legislature, even though the Regents specifically added it as their recommendation.

So the question is, who gains from this? On paper it looks like the poor SUNO waifs are being saved, but in reality there's more to this. SUNO's Lake Campus is on prime real estate, and there is FEMA money that SUNO has yet to receive years after it had been allocated. And, by the way, Jindal used to head the UL System. We understand that Louisianans outside of New Orleans could care less. I just wonder how much these folks care about the word of a "golden boy" who is showing that he fits perfectly into the reputation of self-centered, career-satisfying corrupt Louisiana politics.

A cool celebrity moment

2011-05-06T18:22:00.001-05:00

With Paula Patton on Earhart Blvd. in 2006

I'm divorced but I'm not one of those bitterly divorced folks. I love to see and talk to happily married couples. One half of a celebrity couple that I truly enjoyed meeting was Paula Patton.

In 2006, during a post-Katrina clean-up, Paula took her time to help out a great group called the Katrina Krewe. It was during the filming of "Deja Vu" with Denzel Washington. During the clean-up, I stopped in the WYLD van to promote the effort and interview her for a sec. After walking away from me, she doubled back and said, "Hey, my husband is trying to get his music out there. Will your radio station play it?"

I asked, "Who's your husband?"

"Robin Thicke," she said.

"As in the son of Alan Thicke?" I asked. "Yeh, he has a pretty nice song I heard called 'Lost Without U'. He'll be alright. We'll play his stuff. Just give it some time," I said with a smile.

In a lovingly childlike manner she said, "Please get your station to play it. I really want him to take off."

So, as I see Paula climb the celebrity ladder with the release of "Jumping the Broom", they have a new child, (and of course Robin is doing great) it just makes me happy to say I met her at the beginning of their climb.

A masterful performance by President Obama

2011-05-01T13:01:00.001-05:00

There's a reason for St. Aug's success

2011-02-25T00:42:00.001-06:00

St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Louisiana is without a doubt one of the great African-American educational success stories in America. Since 1955, young men have graduated from this school more prepared than they could imagine for life. St. Aug has produced a mayor, judges, state congressmen, highly successful businessmen, an NBA head coach, NBA players, NFL players, CFL players, MLB players, feature film actors, an ESPN personality, world-renowned musicians, highly decorated military men, an award-winning playwright, media personalities, and other renowned professionals who dot various parts of the world. Perhaps the greatest compliment that the Purple Knights have ever received came from a former university professor who said that the school's biggest success was making education a "masculine thing."

And how has this success occurred? Through good ol' fashioned, hard-nosed discipline via corporal punishment. Yes, even in the 21st Century a school uses the paddle to steer its students in the right direction. I got the paddle in my first week of school as a 5-foot-nothin', 100-plus pound eighth grader. I'm still here, I'm alive, I have no permanent injuries, and there has been no emotional harm done to me. So, for Gregory Aymond, the archbishop of New Orleans to cite a study that says corporal punishment causes permanent physical and emotional damage is absolute B.S.

Since 1951, St. Aug has had to march to the beat of its own drum. Born to provide Black teenage males with a college preparatory curriculum and a spiritual foundation, hundreds of boys became young men at a time when Jim Crow set out to remove the heart and soul of every Person of Color. St. Aug, through its signature discipline, taught every young man who entered its hallways that the best way to learn is to sit down, shut up, and listen. Those who could not comply, would be taught to comply with swiftness or they would leave the school. What hundreds of young men learned, through the paddle, was that those who manage the unforgiving waters of life, would become successful.

That hard-nosed, signature discipline is what produced a marching band which broke the color barrier in the 60's, six Presidential Scholars, scores of National Merit Scholars, a 95% college bound rate, three state championship football teams, a national championship basketball team, and scores of other academic and extracurricular honors. It also reinforced the stately code, appearance, and reputation of the Purple Knight.

The paddle teaches that for every action, there is a reaction and for every transgression, there is a price to pay. The paddle establishes the alpha male relationship that every teenage boy needs from his elders. St. Augustine High School never asked for anyone's permission to achieve greatness, and it should not have to ask now. Greatness is born of discipline. Archbishop Aymond's unfortunate interference in the school's business is a clear message that he does not understand how the unique brand of St. Aug greatness has been cultivated for 60 years.

Being a seasoned veteran does not put you above criticism

2011-02-13T10:35:00.002-06:00

There has been a minor controversy brewing in New Orleans, because nationally syndicated radio legend Tom Joyner criticized 2-Cent Entertainment for their parody "Every Book". "Every Book" is a parody of Lil Wayne's "Every Girl", and the parody aims to promote literacy among youth. Joyner, whose show broadcasts on 98.5-WYLD where I co-produce and contribute to the talk show Sunday Journal with Hal Clark, completely missed on this one. For the record, I find the parody hilarious, effective, and hat bothers me is that Joyner's veteran pride seems to be getting in the way.

Let me make it clear that I have a wealth of respect for Tom Joyner and his illustrious career. Unlike these "Just-Add-Water" radio hosts who have been given jobs simply because they're comedians or generic celebrities, Joyner has dedicated his career to the craft of radio. He set out to build a prestigious career, and has done so with excellence. His efforts to promote and support the missions of historically Black colleges and universities as well as the hard-working students who attend them have been nothing short of outstanding. I have nothing but respect for this man. Unfortunately, he didn't realize that the very people he criticized are entertainers who have become an important component of working with Black youth in New Orleans.

I've lost a little respect for him, because Joyner made critical errors in his criticism of "Every Book".

1. He never played the parody for the rest of the country to hear.

2. During his critique, he played an excerpt of "Every Girl". If you're criticizing the parody, why play the song that was parodied?

3. It's obvious that nobody on his team even visited 2-Cent's web site.

4. No one contacted 2-Cent to get their side of this.

5. His team could have posted the video on Joyner's site, Black America Web for the "Tom Joyner Morning Show's" listeners to make their own judgments.

6. Although he invited Brandan Odums of 2-Cent for a follow-up interview, he pushed him into Roland Martin's segment.

Wild Wayne and I had the pleasure of having 2-Cent on our weekly show Real Talk on 98.5-WYLD's sister station, Q93. It was nothing short of a pleasure talking to these folks about the criticism and new school leadership. What I regret is that we didn't talk that much about the great things they are doing outside of entertainment. The "Every Book" video, for example, featured scenes from a book drive that they did at an elementary school (in addition to a great endorsement by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson). The team also does a media arts summer camp for kids. On May 21, 2011, 2-Cent will have its Listen! Literary and Arts Festival.

Once again, I have nothing but respect for Joyner and his career. God-willing, I'll have something close to his presence one day in radioland. But Joyner is anything but above criticism on this issue. He ironically suggested, in his initial critique, that 2-Cent should have used Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand". Wait until you hear 2-Cent's next parody. :-)

The value of an HBCU goes beyond statistics

2011-02-10T13:23:00.003-06:00

At any given time on the campus of an Historically Black College or University you will find a non-traditional student, someone who enters college after the age of 25. That student may be a full-time working parent who selected this institution because of its affordability or because of the recognition of a particular academic program. What's most important is that this individual will most likely benefit from the signature academic support and social environment of an HBCU.

I must offer full disclosure that I am a public relations director at an HBCU. I am also a graduate of a

predominantly white institution or majority institution, as some of us may call them. This commentary has nothing to do with butters my bread, however. It is about understanding that colleges have specific missions and students benefit from those missions.

The statistics aren't very flattering for a few of the nation's 100-plus HBCUs. Some struggle with enrollment, some struggle with graduation rates, and others struggle with financial issues. These places are not perfect, and there are those badly in need of leadership that will effectively implement the education industry's best practices. But statistics, as we know, do not sum up the best that the Black American experience has to offer.

One night I was satisfying my Twitter addiction (follow me @eddiefrancis), and I ran across some great HBCU Tweets from Roland Martin. To paraphrase, he challenged the majority population on its collective questioning of the relevance of HBCUs. Martin, who is also a majority institution graduate, astutely pointed out that if you're going to question the relevance, or even the existence, of HBCUs you have to also question the existence of gender-specific religious schools, Christian colleges, Jewish institutions, etc.

In the three and a half years I have worked for an HBCU, I have noticed something very special. These folks genuinely care. A student may come in questioning his ability to manage math and leaves on a path to becoming a Ph.D. in science. A student enters looking like she just walked the streets and leaves looking like a seasoned professional. Just about any college or university can do that for its serious students. The difference is that HBCUs possess the cultural competency necessary to address Black students' specific needs, concerns, fears, and desires. And these professors accomplish these daunting tasks of finding diamonds in the rough without judging their pupils in a vast majority of the cases. It's all about helping a student develop the necessary confidence to succeed in his or her career, regardless of his academic level.

Whereas I used to question why someone would be a fifty-year-old freshman, I now congratulate those who show the world that it's never too late to take your life to the next level. What I have to question is the attitude of those who seem to easily dismiss how much room there is in the world for places who serve those whose lives and needs are simply different.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to win in everything

2010-10-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

Recently I have not been able to figure out my high levels of frustration with life. It finally hit me at a recent volleyball game at the university where I work. I left the game beside myself, because I watched a team try to claw their way back into a match that they lost control of. The student "cheering" section was non-existent at the most critical times of the game. The game was by no means boring. In fact, it was a match against a major rival for the conference lead. It occurred to me that I witnessed people who simply don't understand what it means to win, and it arouses a part of me that has been lulled to sleep.

I come from a winning tradition. My parents were successful educators, I attended a high school that prides itself on winning inside and outside of the classroom, my career began with the number television station in the market, I continued my career with a radio station which would eventually become rated number one in the market, and I worked for the most-recognized career development organization in the world. It has taken a severe dip in my attitude to realize that I have always been surrounded by success. I guess ya gotta get down to get up.

I learned the value of winning at a young age. At St. Augustine High School, I was a member of the Speech & Debate team. Even at the age of 40, I run into former speech & debate competitors from other schools who remember our team. I guess we left an impression. We wanted to win, and we believed that we were unbeatable. We came within a few points of winning the overall 1988 state championship, but our national championship dreams were smashed in the first round of the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament. Still, we walked away from that year believing that we were simply the best, hands-down, no questions asked. For most of us, that attitude extended well into our professional careers.

Having a winning attitude is neither limited to sports nor is it a sign of some twisted obsession to outdo others as some pseudo-politically correct folks would have you think. Having a winning attitude is about self-esteem. It's about an individual knowing that he or she has what it takes to contribute to the success of a team in addition to his or her own success. It's also about a person understanding that he or she possesses the skill set to become successful. Some people may not have the skill set, but they may have the sheer will to succeed. See those of the "I will outwork anybody" ilk.

Winning isn't everything, but it sure feels good.

Albert Haynesworth: What a prick

2010-10-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

Let me get this straight. You had a check for $21 million, and you're complaining? About what? The bank wouldn't deposit it? The Washington Redskins missed a "0"? Your car broke down on the highway? You stubbed your toe on the way out of the door?

Thabiti Lewis, an author and professor, made a nice case for Haynesworth's recognition of certain dynamics that exist outside of the deal that he's not too happy with as a member of the Skins (http://newsone.com/entertainment/sports-entertainment/thabiti-lewis/did-albert-haynesworth-really-mean-slave/comment-page-1/#comment-1831755). My issue is that it's hard to make a case for a guy who had a $21 million check, so I don't buy the notion that Haynesworth is in an unreasonable position.

In Haynesworth's defense, this isn't as cut-and-dry as we normal folks would like to think. We haven't seen his contract nor do we walk in his shoes. We don't know how he or his situation has been addressed behind closed doors, either. And many of us joke that people can "do whatever they want to me" for even $100,000 knowing that we literally don't want people to do "whatever they want" to us. And I'll be the first to scream to the mountain tops that I despise the employer's "You're lucky to have a job" argument, but this isn't just any job.

Haynesworth is considered the best defensive lineman in the NFL, and he has been paid according to that claim. His beef is that he doesn't like the Skins' defensive scheme. I understand that the team basically demanded that he change his position, techniques, and thought process to satisfy the new scheme. I understand that changing may expose weaknesses that Haynesworth can't afford to let opposing teams see on a week-to-week basis. I get it. As a P.R. guy, it's like asking me to concentrate more on marketing than media relations. Oh, wait, I do that. OK, it's like asking me to be responsible for the very involved duty of being a sports information . . . Oh, wait, I do that, too. It's like asking me to take on web . . . Geez, I do that, too, and I have yet to get my $21 million check. Hmf, I still work for the same salary with more responsibilities than I expected to have. Sounds like the modern workforce to me. Sure it's football for Haynesworth, but the New England Patriots ask their players to learn several positions in order for the team to maximize its winning potential. And they win.

Lewis noted in his piece that there has been a comparison made between Haynesworth's and Brett Favre's demands with Favre getting a more favorable response from fans and the media. I'm not buying that one, either. True, Favre has been demanding and has created a circus for the past three offseasons (which talking heads have criticized him sharply for); but we're comparing apples to oranges here. Favre, whether folks want to admit it or not, has earned his way; and he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. PLUS it only took him one season to get the Vikes one play away from the first Super Bowl they would have been in since the ’70’s. The problem is that the Vikings gave in to his circus.

Let’s say Donovan McNabb, a Black quarterback, had the same issue as Haynesworth. I think that would be apples to apples, because of the dynamic of race which has entered the discussion. McNabb is the consummate professional and leader who’s gotten results through numerous trips to the NFC Championship plus a Super Bowl trip. If McNabb felt that he had a lucrative deal with unfair demands on the table, I would say that he has enough credibility to put up an argument. It seems that the McNabbs of the world, however, have an understanding of several cliches--"The more money, the more problems", "To whom much is given, much is expected", "With great power comes great responsibility", etc. I also believe that people of McNabb's character understand what a rare and beautiful opportunity exists in putting on an NFL uniform.

Maybe it wouldn't be fair to tell Haynesworth to take the money and shut up, but he has been afforded the rare opportunity to work in one of the world's most unique and admired fields--professional sports. What is a mere dream to men who have only a high school memory of that time they kept Albert Haynesworth from getting any sacks, is a high-profile and financially rewarding career for Haynesworth. I'm an intelligent and a very talented guy who gets excited when I negotiate a mere $500 for a gig. What the hell is Haynesworth complaining about?

And what am I waiting for, sir?

2010-08-26T22:21:00.000-05:00

I had to help a younger brother out last night. I was at an event in which I noticed a man in his 20's doing something that rubbed others in the room the wrong way. Afterward, I advised him against his action, and he took it very well. It made me want to extend my hand to share more feedback which I think would improve his professional stock among his older peers. I later thought about the times that I had been told that in order for me to establish myself in a position of recognition in the community, I had to "wait my turn."

For what?

Telling a young buck to wait his turn is the easy way out. During a recent project, I witnessed some rather immature behavior by a young member of a group. He was later ejected from the group, but I felt it would have been more to the group's benefit if he had been assigned a mentor. His actions, while ill-advised, were to be charged more to his head than his heart. By pushing him aside without any hint of education or mentorship, he may never know what he did or why it his actions were not acceptable. I guess it would have taken much more time and work to work with him.

Many of us in Generation X heard the "wait your turn" speech in our 20's and 30's. Many of us feel that it was the result of folks who have been feeling protective of their positions in the market or their notoriety throughout the community. If that's the case, not many of us had any intention of taking anything from anybody but advice. Years later, those who advised us to wait our turn, now lament that they didn't teach enough. Now I'm old enough, educated enough and aware enough to say, "I got it. Kiss my a$$, because I needed you 10 years ago."

I can only implore my fellow Gen Xers to not make the same mistakes that were made on our time. There is no such thing as a generation that figures it all out before it's too late. The concept of growth dictates that we do everything in our power to make sure that the generations behind us are more productive in their communities and more prosperous than we can dream. If that's what we truly want, this isn't a game; and life could care less whose turn it is.

Me and the Mob

2010-08-23T17:33:00.000-05:00

Stelly

Here's something really cool. My brother-in-law, a great writer, asked if I would feature him as a guest blogger. The answer was "Of course!"

By P. Augustine Stelly

As an old Deaniac, I was floored by Gov. Howard Dean’s position regarding Cordoba House in New York (See: “Dean Stands By Mosque Remarks, Charges Liberal Critics With Being Inflexible,” HuffingtonPost.com, 8/18/2010 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/dean-stands-by-mosque-rem_n_687049.html?ref=fb&src=sp). Let Gov. Dean tell it, my father should have been more “flexible” applying traffic laws in 1957 in a small Louisiana town. As one of the town’s three black policemen -- a feat in itself at the time – my father should have anticipated the hue and cry from white citizens after the “Negro policeman” arrested some white kids for speeding. “He should stick to arresting his own kind,” an angry white citizen opined at the time in the local newspaper. Fortunately his police chief assured my father that he was sworn to protect and defend all citizens as the nation’s laws and U.S. Constitution guarantee.

By that was 1957, you say. Well, what about the mid-1970s, when my brother and his wife moved into an all white neighborhood in Flint, Michigan? I suppose he should have been more flexible and moved elsewhere. He should have been more sensitive to his white neighbors who were concerned about their own property values now that a black family had moved in.

He really should have been sensitive to the crazed crowd when he was awakened in the middle of the night to find a cross burning in his front yard. What more proof did he need that he wasn’t being flexible and that he should have sat down with his neighbors, as Dr. Dean says, and “work something out?” I’m sure he could have relocated so as not to upset the majority of his neighbors.

But that was the mid-70s, you say. I say, what about the mid-1980s, when my wife and I moved into a house in Northeast Miami? As practicing Catholics, we looked around for the closest Catholic Church. Sunday came and we drove to the church attached to offices of the Archdiocese of Miami. That’s when a priest met us at the door and coldly suggested we would be “happier” at a nearby Catholic Church with a majority of black parishioners. Wow! Why didn’t I think of that?

Of course, as the priest was suggesting, I should have been more flexible in my choice of places to worship. Like my father and my brother before me, I should have been sensitive to the feelings of the white parish mob and decamped to the black Catholic parish. (Note to the Catholic Church: There is no need to apologize, again, for the insensitivity of one priest.)

Times were different, you say. I say, what about 1992? Two months before Bill Clinton was elected president, we moved to Jupiter, Florida to be closer to my new job. When my wife stepped out of our rented condo, the condo association manager, without any pleasantries, approached my wife and asked her why a particular condo unit had not been cleaned yet. She tersely, but correctly replied, “I am not the maid. I’m a tenant.”

By today’s standards, I suppose my wife should have been more sensitive to prevailing attitudes: that an Ivy League-educated black woman seen in certain sections of Jupiter, Florida in the early 1990s could only be the maid. As a couple, I suppose we should have been more flexible about our housing choices, that is, relocate far away from white residents so as not to force them to reveal their bigotry.

As my family can attest starting in the late 1950s and as the location of the proposed Cordoba House demonstrates, folks get really cranky when they are force to reveal their social or religious bigotry. Harboring bigotry is one thing, having it revealed is quite another. And when bigots get cranky, their solution is for you -- the black, the Muslim, the Jew, the Asian, the gay, the disabled, the elderly, the immigrant, the Native American, the other – to show some flexibility and sensitivity toward them and relocate elsewhere or otherwise modify who you are to accommodate their prejudices.

Right now, this country would benefit from more policemen like my father and his police chief, people who were inflexible in defense of the Constitution and sensitive enough not to be swayed by mob rule. But 9-11 happened and the mob has gotten louder. And Gov. Dean has apparently heard them. If propagandists postulate that the sky is falling, would you conclude that since today is a gray day the propagandists might have a point?

Good people of all persuasions need to defend the U.S. Constitution and that which is right and honorable, lest we all become consumed by mob rule.

-30-

P. Augustine Stelly is a freelance writer living in North Palm Beach, Florida.

An open letter from New Orleans to America: Stop asking us stupid questions

2010-08-22T00:41:00.001-05:00

Yes, America, it's time for folks to remind New Orleanians of the gloom 'n' doom death 'n' destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Yes, we New Orleanians are well aware that the anniversary is on the way. For the sake of clarity, we will not be "celebrating" the 5th anniversary of Katrina. We will reflect, commemorate, get bummed out and that other jazz (pardon the New Orleans pun), but there will be no celebrating.

If we celebrate anything, we in the N.O. will celebrate the joy of life. For those who survived Mother Nature's fatal blow, joy is the pinnacle of existence. With that, a bunch of us have decided to entertain you since that's what New Orleanians do best--entertain. We won't entertain you with voodoo, Madea quotes, Second Lines, our "funny accents" or jazz music. We will entertain you, instead, with . . . you and those questions and phrases that annoy the hell out of us as we commemorate (reflect or get bummed about) Katrina.

Side note: As a New Orleanian, I can't even look a woman named Katrina in the eyes nowadays, but I digress.

I got some help from some of my friends on Facebook, by the way. Thanks, y'all! Here we go:

Is it still flooded in New Orleans? Sure it is! In fact, I had a great swim to work the other day.
Since that oil spill, is there oil in New Orleans? Yep, at Jiffy Lube.
Did you get out OK? Nope. I drowned.
Why do you talk like that? You don't sound like you're from New Orleans? Does everybody from your piece of sh*t town/city sound like they came from there?
Does it look the same? *sigh* No.
Do you want to go back? OK, let's be honest, family, half of the displaced say yes and the other half says no. This really isn't as stupid a question as it sounds.
Why would anybody want to go back? OK, that's a stupid question. Seriously, I shouldn't have to explain that some people love and have pride in their cities.
Why did you vote that guy back in office? OK, I have no defense or sarcastic comeback for this one.
Why are your politicians so corrupt? Why are ANY politicians in the world corrupt? It's called greed and power trippin'.
Why would anyone blow the levees? Do you, or do you not, understand classism and racism?
Do you practice voodoo? Do you have a small replica of yourself I can stab?
Don't you think God gave y'all a Blessing in disguise? No, but for you to lose your voice in the next minute wouldn't be a disguise to me.
Why did that lady from "When the Levees Broke" have such a filthy mouth? Why the f*ck do you think? Did you WATCH the news, ya dumb "bastid"??? (That one's for you, Phyllis!)
Are you happy the Saints won the Super Bowl? Does an alcoholic love happy hour?
Don't you think it's time to get over Katrina? How weak of me not to get over the death of thousands and the destruction of my city. I'll get on that "get over it" thing right away.
Why don't you guys just move the city? Hell, I don't know. The same reason people won't move California off the San Andreas Fault or the Plains States out of Hurricane Alley.

Your mission really IS your GPS for success

2010-07-26T22:30:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing a woman who is passionate about both her work and her cause on 98.5-WYLD's Sunday Journal. Her name is Sonya Chatman-Leathers, the founder of The Charity Collection, a fashion line which heightens awareness of HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases. The interview consisted of a great conversation, but what struck me is how connected Sonya is to the mission of her organization. She spoke about the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness and her goal to use her fashions to address the deadly disease with great conviction. If I didn't take anything else away from that experience, I had the privilege of listening to someone who truly believes in what she is doing.

In my recent Expose Yourself! media relations workshop, I strongly advised the participants to take their respective missions seriously. Whether it was someone with a non-profit, an author, a business owner, or someone looking to promote him/herself, I expressed the importance of understanding the importance of the mission.

A mission is a guiding principle for any entity. It is where you express to your customers or constituents what it is you truly stand for. A mission serves as a GPS. It gives the driver of said organization or business directions so that these folks can arrive successfully at a series of destinations during the existence of their respective efforts. No, we don't all need that good ol' GPS, but it sure makes life easier in many instances. And if it doesn't make life easier, it sure makes progress a bit clearer. The trick is to form a mission that takes you in a specific direction.

I asked a non-profit director about his mission. He said that "It's to uplift people of my community." I shot back, "That's it??? Everybody wants to uplift their respective communities. What's the difference between your uplifting your community and Joe Schmoe uplifting his community in Flint, Michigan?"

As a radio talk show producer, I challenged him to give me something that would separate him from other organizations trying to do the same thing; something that would make me want to book him for an interview! As much as I respect anyone with a non-profit, it seemed like he had a dollar store GPS working. Sure, he punched in the directions, but the quality of his equipment wouldn't give the best directions. He would probably wind up traveling 20 miles for a 10 mile trip.

The more focused the mission, the better your chances of success. Just like your chances of reaching your destination are much better if you know the exact street number, street name and city of the place you want your GPS to take you. And just like you have to know how to work the GPS, you have to embrace the importance and function of your mission.

Define "Lucky to have a job."

2010-07-21T13:26:00.001-05:00

"You're lucky to have a job." It is perhaps one of the most uttered statements by employers across the nation during these lean economic times. Make no mistake about it, those of us who are employed are in a good place. Countless others couldn't find jobs to save their lives, especially in this economy. Yes, we are lucky to have jobs. I recognize that. But, what's behind those utterances of "You're lucky to have a job"?

Let's make it clear that we are talking about those abusive bosses, CEOs, administrators, etc. who feel the need to keep workers in their respective places. With so many unqualified and attitude-lacking workers among us, we can't speak for them. Those who clearly don't give their jobs 110% need to kick rocks, anyway. Those who spend more time starting mess than contributing to the bottom line are cancers. The numb skulls who run up to you trying to "school" you on your job most likely do so because they can't manage their own posts effectively. These people are truly lucky to have jobs anywhere.

No, I'm talking about the one who comes to work, minds his business, does his job, and contributes regularly to the team's success. I'm talking about the woman who puts her head down, and works her butt off without complaining or getting so much as a thank you for a job well done. These people have options throughout the workforce, even in today's economy. What's unfortunate is that they most likely don't realize it. Bosses love to take advantage of people like these individuals who serve as stabilizing agents in our offices.

A wise man once said that there is a difference between a leader and a boss. To paraphrase, this college chancellor said that a leader is a consensus builder. A boss simply likes to point, tell people what to do, and intimidate. Therein lies the issue. When these idiots tell their workers that they are "lucky to have jobs" it's not to inspire appreciation for having a stream of income, it's done to intimidate. It's this joker's way of telling people that they need him, her, or the job. Employees who feel a sense of desperation or who lack confidence, unfortunately believe this B.S. They believe that particular job is the only key to survival or caring for the family. It's perfectly understandable, because we all want the comfort of our paychecks.

These faithful employees would be well-served to tune in to the psyches of their respective bosses. You, my hard-working friend, work for a loser. You work for someone who needs to down you in order to feel better about him or herself. You're working for someone who is most likely an incompetent curmudgeon. In other words (if you know the value of your work), it's not you, it's him, her or it.

Because I love you, hard worker, I have some suggestions to slow down this dimwit you deal with on a daily basis. Note that these suggestions for entertainment purposes only (for most of us):

1. In meetings, roll your eyes every time he/she looks your way.

2. In meetings with more than 5 people say, "That's not what I heard" whenever the boss points out a fact.

3. In conversations about education tell your boss (in reference to his or her alma mater), "I was going to go to that school, but I heard the instructors have to speak slowly for the students."

4. On casual day, wear a t-shirt that refers to anarchy.

5. Every time your boss gives you a directive, ask why you have to do it.

6. Every time your boss gives you a directive, say, "I'll get to it as soon as my meds kick in" while twitching.

7. In one-on-one sessions, grin the whole time.

8. Eat dishes heavy with onions or garlic for lunch, and immediately stop your boss to ask about 3 questions.

9. After work, let your boss see you standing around his or her car while on your cell phone. Then walk away as he or she approaches.

10. Go to work dressed for a job interview, even if you don't have one.

Note that these suggestions only work on incompetent or self-conscious bosses. Competent, cool leaders will either laugh at you or put something in your personnel file.

What does that middle finger mean?

2010-07-07T15:50:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know that middle finger represents the "international sign of hostility", as I heard a comedian once say. Yes, I know it's called "The Bird". Yes, I know which two words it represents. What I'm trying to figure out is this obsession folks have with doing it for pics. Have we run out of fingers to use? Is it our favorite finger? Do we need to use our fingers?

I'm not vanilla about this at all. I have taken two (maybe three or four) pics sticking the finger of joy and prostate health at the camera. In those cases, I was sending a message to both (or all) photographers. I remember my first middle finger shot. It was at a co-worker. The second time . . . it was at a co-worker. The possible third and fourth times . . . I do not recall, Senator.

But now the middle finger shot seems to have become an epidemic. So who are these folks sharing their messages with? Is the photographer a recipient? A friend? A foe? A parent? Or is the recipient the cursed hater? And if the recipient is a hater, how will we ever turn these people to congratulators if we keep saying "F-you" to them? Nobody's ever congratulated me for saying that.

I know it mostly has to do with youth. I think my last Bird pic was when I was about 26. Once you cross the threshold of 30, however, you need to stop flipping The Bird at cameras. What if your boss runs across your middle finger pic? Nevermind. Bad example.

Whatever the case is, there's got be a finger that represents more wit. The thumb is played. Index finger? Nah. Ringer finger? Awkward. Pinky? You don't want to get on an AKA's bad side. Hmmmmmm, that leaves one finger.

Screw it.

10 ideas to keep HBCUs relevant

2010-06-05T13:21:00.000-05:00

There is no question that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are still relevant.

The point is argued the integration has diluted the relevance of these proud institutions, yet there are still young African-Americans who are economically and educationally marginalized in today's society. What American society does not realize is that the relevance of HBCUs has changed. These schools were founded to serve students whom many predominantly White institutions (PWIs) would not serve decades ago. Even when Black students were served at PWIs back then, they still had to contend with significant social challenges, and those challenges exist today. The game has changed, and this is where HBCUs are in need of a major collective attitude adjustment. Not that I'm putting in my bid for "HBCU president for a day", but here are what I believe HBCUs' priorities should be for survival.

Identify financial priorities. Poor financial management has caused more HBCUs grief than a little bit. I'm not sure why the problems are so consistent, but recent history has shown the proper financial management isn't exactly high on the list of priorities. Bring in people who can handle the money right, and get the hell out of their way.
Eliminate the sentence "This is the way we've always done it." HBCUs have this nasty habit of defending antiquated practices and methods by saying "This is the way we've always done it" while ignoring that the way it's always been done is the reason some institutions land in the messes they're in. HBCUs desperately need to find creative ways to attract young, progressive thinkers to their ranks and LISTEN TO THEM.
Invest in solid leadership training. Having a Ph.D. doesn't mean you know everything. It means that you know your subject area very well, but it doesn't give you a magic key to unlock the mysteries of life. And it really doesn't mean you know how to manage people. This is a universal problem among institutions of higher learning. But when your organization's back is against the wall, you don't have many bargaining chips. Know your situation, and respond accordingly. More effective leadership means happier employees (for the most part), and more productive students. Get out of your own way.
Take notes from successful businesses. Take calculated risks to boost your business, and follow-up to get the results you want. Learn the art of negotiation, and realize that the negotiation is for the good of your customers--the students. Those people who treat students like garbage either need to learn how to best serve them through all of these avenues, or they need to go. By the way, contrary to popular belief, even the students with the worst grades have options other than being at your college or university.
Market academics more aggressively. Many HBCUs want to market their heritage, campus life and history. Students respond positively to those messages, but those messages dissipate once they get in the classroom. Students ultimately want to know that when they receive a degree from a college or university, it will lead them to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. HBCUs should ask themselves how their academic programs solve problems in society, and start their marketing efforts there.
Produce healthier dialogue with alumni. HBCU alumni can get really nasty when their alma maters ask them for money, and that attitude is actually common among many college grads. Due to financial difficulties HBCUs really need their grads to step up. The first step is to personally sit with their alumni chapters and create relevant, healthy dialogue. The dialogue needs to start with "Today/tonight, we don't want your money. We want your thoughts to help your alma mater not only survive but thrive." Alumni have to know that they are vital parts of the lifeblood of their institutions through inclusive, productive conversations where emotions and expectations are managed in a spirit of truth and optimism. Cool incentives such as tickets to university athletic events and school paraphernalia help, too.
Embrace ethnic diversity. Ethnic diversity is not a oneway trip. HBCUs should see the influx of White students and students from other cultures in the past couple of decades as a compliment and as opportunities. Cultural diversity helps an institution address social issues as a means to create on-campus solutions through research.
Recognize the new Civil Rights movement. There are no more "colored" facilities. Jim Crow has been beaten but not killed. Racists no longer wear their hoods in public; they wear them in the form of government and education policies. HBCUs have to get more engaged in government politics to monitor their enemies, but they also have to learn how to work with their supporters.
Be honest about your own politics. HBCU administrators and faculty are notorious for ignoring others in the name of power. Sure, you may think you're the institution's version of Yoda, but longevity doesn't always mean wisdom. Wisdom is gained from a true hunger and appreciation for knowledge from everyone who sits at the table.
Beef up the career center. Too many HBCU graduates are walking away from their schools woefully unprepared for the rigors of the workforce. An intense focus is needed on resume building, dressing for success, most importantly interviewing skills, and familiarity with contemporary workforce practice trends.

Black folks need to stop trying to define what "Black really is"

2010-06-02T09:39:00.003-05:00

Oh, the irony of life. I ran across a Black Planet forum post in which a 22-year-old BP member lamented that his peers don't view him as being "black enough". I completely understand. I grew up in the 'hood, raised by a Black man who sang opera and blasted the Metropolitan Opera performances out of the house on National Public Radio every Saturday. Of course, folks on the block couldn't figure out what was going on with that "family that was trying to be White."

Pop Culture is a cruel presence in the lives of African-Americans unbeknownst to many of us. Pop Culture has been one of the biggest culprits of ripping apart the integrity and glory of what it means to be an African-American in at least the past 25 years. The heat really got turned up in the 1990's when Gangsta Rap rapidly grew in popularity, and tightened its grip on the consciousness of Black America. It was then that Black folks around the country chose to define Blackness as any and everything that meant deviant behavior and total rejection of all things that were not perceived as "Black". Even educated Black folks came under harsh attacks with such verbal salvos as "You ain't Black" were launched at hard-working, professionals, namely those who had been college-educated.

Anyone with a comprehensive historical perspective on Black America understands the education and cultural diversity are the reasons our culture has enjoyed social advances in the past 40 years. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a highly educated man whose non-violent tactics of engagement created legendary results. He was not the only one in the fight, and certainly folks of his level of education were not the only effective Civil Rights warriors, but there is no denying that when he spoke, White America listened due to his intellect and strategies. We have to ask ourselves if there was a popular definition of "Blackness".

Here's more irony. Finally, we have an African-American U. S. President, whose breadth of knowledge and culture are obvious. Sports such as tennis, golf and extreme sports have seen the advent of larger-than-life Black folks. Even Dhani Jones, NFL linebacker, gave us a throwback peek of true Black versatility when he competently conducted an orchestra and started his own line of bow ties.

Recognize that cultural diversity has served as a significant advantage to Black America. We can safely argue that the cultural movements such as Neo-Soul and Spoken Word would not have grown without quirky personalities and approaches to creativity. Say what you want, but Michael Steele's becoming chairman of the Republican National Committee is a modern-day victory for Black folks in politics. How quickly we have forgotten that out-of-the-box thinking among Black folks has ushered in the biggest social, political and economic advances for Black America.

This is not an epidemic by any means. But it is sad that we still have kids who are being picked on because of the way they speak, dress, walk, and their artistic diversity, all criticisms with which I am all too familiar. As a comedian, I have even been told that my comedy isn't "Black enough".

It is unfortunate but the biggest critics of other folks "Blackness" are . . . Black folks? In 2010? Really? In a society where diversity has been more embraced than ever, Black folks are taking cultural steps backwards. It's easy to dismiss these laments with "do you". How can I do me in peace when those I am supposed to trust and love, reject who I am at more core?

This PMA stuff is serious work

2010-05-30T22:28:00.001-05:00

I really admire folks who face adversity, and start emotionally and mentally jabbing at it immediately. There are people who genuinely look forward to adversity, because they just have this hunger to show the world what they are made of. That's cool. I don't run from adversity, but I roll my eyes when it happens. I'm one of those folks who has to collect himself, give it a few minutes of thought . . . OK more like an hour of thought . . . then I deal with it. I hate adversity. It sucks.

Sales people are the best at dealing with adversity. With pay based on how many folks they get to say "Yes", these folks have to have short memories. They have to forget that "No" they heard only minutes ago in order to push on to the next person. I often refer to sales people as animals, but not in a derogatory way. It's like they have to abandon rational human thought in order to push on to the next opportunity to grab that almighty dollar. I hate sales, because I hate being told "No". Great sales people love sales, because they love turning "No" into "Yes".

A former speaking colleague of mine once pointed out that the problem with having a positive mental attitude is that it literally takes work. He pointed out that most people are negative, because it's simply easier to be negative (my fellow New Orleanians ought to pay special attention to the word "easy" in the sentence). It doesn't take the same amount of effort. Makes sense. When you think about those things which create positive energy, you can see where the work comes in. Positive energy is created by working out, eating healthy, positive communication, trust, getting a reasonable amount of sleep, taking time to explain things to the kids that we don't feel like explaining, a robust family life, being productive at work (not necessarily being happy all the time), reading, praying/meditating, etc.

There is another component that plays a huge role in developing a positive mental attitude--a healthy romance. I mean, have you ever thought of all the crap you have to do in order to be in a healthy romantic relationship? Sure, healthy friendships count, but romance is what grabs us all. I helps to be in a romance rich with trust, communication, friendship, intimacy, and motivation. A great partner touches every facet of your being in such a way that you know somebody has your back in your daily decisions, assuming those decisions are all designed to achieve positive things in life. But a healthy romance, like that good ol' PMA, takes work.

Having a PMA is like searching for the Holy Grail for some of us. We keep looking and going through all of these Indiana Jones-like obstacles. And, yes, we all encounter people like that guy in Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know, the dude in the opening sequence who tells Indy, "Give me the idol, and I'll give you the whip," and that buster screws Indy over by running away. Yeh, him, mmmm-hm.

Not only do we have to grind, but we have to get in touch with that inner sales person who finds a way to love the grind. Love, after all, is a decision, as my high school theology teacher used to say. You know that you truly love someone or something when you are willing to do whatever it takes to grow with that person or that experience. So, in order to reach the PMA prize in our lives, we just gotta put in the work.

What's a New Orleanian to do?

2010-05-25T17:31:00.001-05:00

Being a New Orleanian can be the biggest frustration. Within the limited confines of this plot of land bordered by Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River lies a population of folks who are the most loved, most hated, most complex, most creative, most charming, most crass and unpolished, yet the simplest individuals you may ever meet. We have been beaten up by America ad nauseam since Hurricane Katrina, and we continue to beat each other up when no one else is looking. We welcome visitors with open arms, invite them over (to our homes) for Gumbo, yet we keep them at a collective arms' length when they want to know what makes us tick. While we are as loveable as any culture in the world, we have the hardest habits to break. But does that give Americans and others from around the world to remind us that things didn't go so well on the heels of Hurricane Katrina?

It makes me wonder whether the verbal salvoes that continue to get launched against us are unnecessary or well-deserved. When Chris Myers made his comments on "The Dan Patrick Show" I could have walked to his house (wherever that is) and slapped his ass. And to think I used to work with this dude at WWL-TV. Bastard! Then here comes this bonehead Rand Paul, who has the Teabaggers to thank for his unfortunate magic carpet ride into the United States Senate. This Tea Party sycophant calls President Obama's stance against BP "un-American"? I guess we forgot that an entire portion of the country's way of life is being threatened by BP's negligence. He can kiss my round brown beignet-eating ass, too.

People who read my blog entries know that I don't cut loose with the foul words in writing. But I'm a New Orleanian, and I'm sick and tired of being insulted.

The angriest I have ever been was when a high school principal from Baton Rouge told me that Katrina was "good for New Orleans" because "God cleansed the city" and that we are "Sin City". Don't get me started on Bible thumpers. This man, and others who echo his sentiments, need to think about what they are saying. Their words and criticisms cheapen the lives that were lost courtesy of a man-made tragedy. Yes, America, men who work for the federal government built the levees which were breached.

And by the way, America, while we're talking, let me remind you that almost half our national communities are protected by levees and dams . . . all man-made and mostly (I'm sure) courtesy of some level of government. How quickly we forget that every year West Coast communities get threatened by wildfires, and those who lose their homes seek that which we all deserve--respect from our insurers and our federal government. How many people will conveniently overlook that Tennesseeans feel that they deserve the government's attention on the heels of tragic flooding, as written about by Times-Picayune columnist Jarvis DeBerry?

I'm still hot with Chris Myers, because he repeated what so many have felt about New Orleans. So many seem to feel as if we deserved what we got from Katrina. As if we have somehow wronged the rest of humanity. Sure, Chris, we're sitting in our homes waiting for the next hurricane, so we can blame the government. In fact, I'm sure my neighbors are bolting festival chairs on their rooftops in anticipation of the next Coast Guard rescue. Y'know we rather enjoyed not knowing that our flood walls were shoved down in dirt like elementary schoolers' science projects. And PLEASE spare me the "crooked politician" speech when other politicians across the country are simply better at hiding their transgressions.

Now is the time for all good New Orleanians to come to the aid of their quirky land. Despite what Americans think, we will continue to "make groceries", cross neutral grounds, eat Red Beans and Rice on Monday, and love the Saints as if they're our brothers. Where New Orleanians can do our due diligence is unite when knuckleheads talk smack while looking to each other to heal our city. Why keep being the City That Care Forgot when we could easily be the City That Hope Remembers?

Which New Orleans do you live in?

2010-04-17T23:41:00.000-05:00

Don't look now, fellow New Orleanians, but we are living in two cities. New Orleans has a split personality, and a quiet battle is being fought to see which personality will be left standing. Mind you, I have no intention of being divisive, but strong personalities are about to clash in the Crescent City. The fact of the matter is that the stronger of the two will win.

What used to be "The City That Care Forgot" is becoming "The City That Hope Remembers". As I type this commentary a group of vibrant, young professionals is having a spirited discussion about the seemingly boundless potential and opportunities that exists in New Orleans. At the same time, native New Orleanians are looking at this progressive movement develop with great interest. In other parts of the area, other groups of natives are not at all pleased about these community-changing know-it-alls. These other natives fear that precious cultural capital such as Second Lines and Po Boys will be taken away. That would, indeed, be a cultural travesty.

As a native of New Orleans, there is very little that I want folks touching. Leave my Second Lines alone and for the love of all that is holy do NOT mess with my open container law when I'm looking to have a grand ol' time on Bourbon Street. I like partying until the wee hours of the morning, and scaring the heck out of tourists with voodoo stories is the stuff of life. I traveled for seven and a half years. Every trip I took made me realize what a cultural treasure New Orleans is. The tongues of our natives are unpolished, but the charm of the New Orleans dialect, regardless of one's race, is undeniable. And while we're on the topic of unique New Orleans things that should never go away . . . it's a neutral ground and that's final.

Let's not kid ourselves, though. We have some bad habits in N.O. Being late for everything is not cool, especially when it's time to do real business. You can't be laid back to the max, and insist that you want to accomplish goals. Looking for shortcuts when business or a strategic plan calls for detailed meetings and team work is irresponsible. And corruption is . . . corruption. Most importantly, thinking outside the box won't kill ya.

Cue the new breed of professionals. Whether these youngbloods are transplants or natives, they bring energy to the table that no one can ignore. They hunger for changes that will benefit everyone in New Orleans. They seem to be pretty colorblind, and these folks are smart. Like . . . Ivy League smart. Most of all, they genuinely care about where N.O. has been, and where it can go. Are the steps toward change perfect? Not by a longshot. When you consider that a few of these folks are from areas and environments where the order of the day is to simply get it done, the clash of cultures and philosophies is understandable.

The new breed love Second Lines as much as we do, they pinch the tails and suck the heads, and they love their Po Boys nice and messy. We New Orleanians are sharp enough to know that not everyone is here with good intentions. I would like to start running those folks out of town, personally. In the meantime, let's recognize the promise of open-minded leadership that these new-breed yuppies bring to the table. Let's also recognize that their energy is encouraging, and their ideas are more than ideas. They're big ideas. Aren't those things what we said we needed in New Orleans on the heels of Katrina?

I missed Tiger's press conference. Good.

2010-04-06T22:12:00.000-05:00

Did Tiger Woods kill somebody? Did he commit a felony? Is he a former silent Enron executive? Then why is there public outcry for him to explain his entire infidelity and sex addiction as if he dropped kicked somebody's grandmama?

Yesterday, the living legend held his first golf-related press conference of the year. In the Master's presser, the obvious questions of his sex addiction and his relationship with his wife came up. Makes sense. Because Woods is such a huge figure in the sports world and beyond, his personal life kind of belongs to the public. Let me be clear that I don't believe the public is entitled access to his private life. It's just that when anyone becomes as big a celebrity as he is, the public tends to force its way into his life by way of the media. It comes with the territory of a celebrity or a public figure.

What is just plain silly to me is that people seem to believe that Woods owes them a full explanation of his transgressions. Don't believe the hype. Woods already issued a public apology by way of his infamous February press conference, and had repeatedly acknowledged that he got himself into this mess. Yet some media talking heads and fans, alike, have insisted that the man owes everyone outside of Lil Ray Ray on the corner Uptown a public apology. It was even mentioned on this morning's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN Radio that reporters wanted Woods to go into detail about his relationship with his wife, Elin.

Tiger Woods honestly doesn't owe anybody, except his family, a damn thing. Did he screw up? Yep. Is his marriage in danger? Of course. Did he disappoint his fans? Sure. Have his actions hurt the very fabric of American society? Not so much, granted they didn't help either. What Woods did was endanger his marriage and disappoint those who believe that he is the all-American boy next door. Let's be real. Woods, no matter what image he tries to project, is an outstanding golfer. That's basically it. Other than that, he's pretty much human, which means at some point he's going to do something majorly screwed up.

The problem with 21st Century Pop Culture is that it has granted the everyday Joe access to extraordinary people. One thing that makes a person extraordinary is that he or she is willing to do what ordinary people are not willing to do in order to reach a certain level of accomplishment. Therefore, there may be an inconvenient truth about who that person actually is. I believe that we have discovered Woods' inconvenient truth.

So why exactly have folks insisted upon expanded apologies? Is it because they feel betrayed or is it because they enjoy watching the mighty fall, even if it's only just a really bad stumble?

Sarcasm versus pomposity

2010-03-12T08:59:00.000-06:00

Does sarcasm trump pomposity? I think so. But what the hell do I know?

I don't feel betrayed

2010-01-10T16:41:00.000-06:00

Whoa, strong words from the New Orleans Tribune about Sen. Ed Murray's withdrawal from the New Orleans mayoral race. In part, the paper wrote of Sen. Murray's stepping away from the race:

"After the devastation of Katrina and the ravages that linger, we had looked forward to an able, committed, competent candidate who could and would lead the disadvantaged citizenry of this city, act in our best interests and restore confidence in our ability to govern ourselves. Boy, were we fooled. Yet after three days reeling in the wake of Senator Murray’s surprise announcement, we are resigned to the rumblings and rumors of back room deal-making to endorse another candidate. What a joke. What a ruse."

I guess my issue is that neither anything nor anyone surprises me much anymore. I'm neither a political insider nor do I know Sen. Murray. What I do know is that the Tribune isn't the only group who feels betrayed by his departure. Black voters throughout the Crescent City view (or maybe viewed) the good senator as a model of integrity and effective leadership. This is a Louisiana politician who seems not to have anything close to a blemish on his record. That's a heck of an accomplishment for a Louisiana politician.

Let's insert here, by the way, that I'm not attempting to speak on behalf of the Black community. I don't think that the Black community should vote for the Black candidate, either. I think that a voter should vote for the person whom he/she feels is best qualified to lead the city regardless of race, culture or creed. Just making it clear, people.

There is a rumor that Sen. Murray dropped out in order to support Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu. OK, there is LOTS of talk about how Lt. Gov. Landrieu's last-minute entry into the race created a bit of a strategic mess for other candidates. Other candidates are rumored to have asked Lt. Gov. Landrieu about his candidacy way before qualifying. If Sen. Murray is conducting "back room deal-making" with Lt. Gov. Landrieu, no big deal to me. It's politics, but it's also a sign that Sen. Murray is colorblind. That's a good thing, right? I understand that the Black community, like any other community, wants to be represented fairly. This rumored back room deal, though, should serve as a sign that Sen. Murray is confident that Lt. Gov. Landrieu has the Black community's back. I'm just saying . . .

But I'm going to have to ask my fellow Black folks to just get over it. He dropped out. End of story. This dark cloud of disappointment seems to suggest that Sen. Murray was the Black community's only reasonable choice to be the next mayor of New Orleans. I would suggest that the Black community look a little harder at the remaining candidates who seem to suffer more from what people don't know about them rather than what they do know about them. I believe that person is in the remaining field.

Maybe I'm just a victim of my own cynicism, but I believe that this, too, shall pass. Once again, it's politics. It's the name of the game; and very few politicians are immune to the game. This doesn't put Sen. Murray in a bad light, in my opinion. If his candidacy was a result of Lt. Gov. Landrieu's original intention not to run, it was only a matter of time before Sen. Murray would drop out anyway.

Yesterday on "Real Talk", I encouraged voters to look at the other side of the field of candidates. I encouraged our listeners to abandon the normal "voting for the least of the evils" philosophy in favor of taking a closer look at each candidate's talents. Instead of agonizing about how these people are tearing New Orleans apart, take a look at how each stands a chance to serve as a major contributor. Yes, I'm crazy enough to believe that a few candidates, Black and White, comprise a (dare I say it) impressive field of competitors. I'm just saying . . .

Sen. Murray, do you. You're alright with me.

Just when I thought it sucks to grow old

2010-01-06T16:57:00.001-06:00

Eighty-six year old Narayan Dutt Tiwari, a former governor in India, is embroiled in a scandal. It seems that a video of the old chap in bed with three women has surfaced. It makes me think that "embroiled" may not be the proper word, but I digress.

I would say that I envy this man, but that wouldn't be accurate. I would say that I'm drinking "Haterade", but that's far from the truth. Do I idolize Tiwari? "Idolize" is too strong. So maybe I'll just settle for giving up a nice healthy virtual pound to gramps.

This begs a couple of questions, though. Did these women respond to his power or his charisma? As a man, I'm rooting for charisma. Did he have medicinal . . . "assistance" . . . or is he still . . . healthy? I'm rooting for healthy. Did these women actually dig the experience or did they . . .? Nevermind.

I tell you what, if nothing else encourages me to "let go" and live for the moment, this does. I don't know if Tiwari resigned from his post in shame or not. After all, he was governor of Andhra Pradesh, which is one of India's biggest states. What I do know is that his political career went out in a blaze of glory or something like it.

I mean, homie has mad street cred in India now! He is now a YouTube star, and apparently this story has inundated Indian media according to National Public Radio. NPR's story actually ended having quoted a web poster as writing, "An 86-year-old in an orgy? How marvelous!" I think I like the use of "marvelous" here.

So, what do we have to lose? Let's live, people! No, I'm not suggesting that we all get involved in sex scandals (although I can think of some folks who desperately need something to occupy their seemingly meaningless lives). Clearly, though, aging is a state of mind and even a state of being. Ever laid eyes on a 40- or 50-something woman who is sexier than the most fit 20-something woman? Age really ain't nothin' but a number when you're truly living life.

I'll keep you laughing, ladies ;-)

2010-01-06T08:38:00.000-06:00

I was told that humor is an aphrodisiac, so I told a woman jokes all night. She fell in love with me after experiencing multiple guffaws.

"Another Victim"

2009-12-30T17:31:00.000-06:00

A couple was having problems with intimacy. The husband hadn't been feeling very inspired.

One night, the husband decided enough was enough, and really gave his wife the ride of her life. They made passionate love all night long with wife experiencing ecstasy like she never had with her husband! So wonderfully pleased was the wife that in the heat of passion she yelled at the top of her lungs, "Oh, yes, oh YES. Don't stop, Tiger!"

The husband stopped suddenly and replied, "Oh no, not you, too!"

Written by
Eddie Francis

I'm learning from stand-up comedy?

2009-12-28T11:06:00.004-06:00

From 2001 to 2008 I tried to convince myself that stand-up comedy just isn't that important to me. It was during that time that I took a hiatus from an art that I jumped head-first into in 1996. Now I feel like such a "foowell". I LOVE stand-up! It's a high-risk, high-reward discipline; but the training I receive in both public speaking and conducting business, via comedy, is invaluable.

First, it is some of the best public speaking training that I've had.

People have to understand what you're saying. You have to be articulate.
They have to hear you. How you use your voice makes quite an impact . . . or not.
Body language can either make or break your routine.
The eyes have it. How you use your eyes, even though you may not be able to see the crowd under the stage lights, greatly impacts how your audience will react to you.

Second, stand-up forces you to think fast. I can't stand hecklers, but they have a place in the world (besides the a-hole list).

Third, you are forced to become a business person. Even if you participate in the weekly "open mic" at some bar, you soon realize that the success of the event depends on adopting solid business practices. Think about this:

No one likes performing in front of 2 people in a 100-seat venue. This is especially damaging in comedy, because your success is measured by decibels of laughter. Yes, we appreciate those two belly laughs, but we need at least 98 more. Therefore, you immediately find yourself discussing event promotion with the organizer of the gig.
You learn how to effectively promote. Honestly this only works for comedians who are actively working toward a goal. For example, my material only works for a certain audience. Somebody who likes crass, profanity- and obscenity-driven material will find me rather boring. And let's be honest, some Black folks feel that I try to make my material "too White". Seriously. My audience appreciates storytelling, philosophy, a conversational style and diverse topics. So, I started angling my promotional materials toward diverse adults from the ages of 25 to 54 who are mostly (but not exclusively) college-educated or business-minded. I learned what kinds of images and language to use on my promotional materials. Trust me, this tends to be more of a science than an art at this point.
Practice makes perfect. Even spontaneous moments in a show are sometimes rehearsed. Each comedian has his/her own way of preparing for shows, but those of us who are serious know that we have to have some measure of preparation when it comes to quality delivery on stage.
Ya gotta write! I say this to novice comedians all the time. Once you stop writing material, you might as well put performing on hold. Writing is the lifeblood of comedy. Writing is also a process. If a joke or bit doesn't work once, that doesn't mean it will never work again. Just like anything else in life, the most successful comedians have a lot of self-discipline (at least when it comes to the art). There are those who survive on raw talent; but they eventually fizzle out if they don't maintain the critical discipline of writing.
Customer service counts, even in stand-up. The first time I started a show on time, I was ELATED. It was yet another step in my providing New Orleanians with a quality entertainment experience. It also gave me the opportunity to get closer to audience members. I truly believe that I have the best comedy audience in the New Orleans metropolitan area; because they provide me with repeat business, they spend money on the venue, and they appreciate the shows. In return, I do my best to book acts who will resonate with the audience, and I continue to add elements to make sure that their dollars are well-spent.
You learn to concentrate on the quality of the actual show. No disrespect to my colleagues, but these midnight 15-comedian marathons with no performer walking away with even $1 more than they entered the venue with has got to stop . . . if they want more. I take calculated risks on who I put on stage, because I want to see what kinds of acts stick. At the same time, I want my audience to feel as if what they saw was truly for THEM. As a Black comedian, I have a natural proclivity to book other Black comedians, but diversity is the stuff of life in my book. So I continue to try to book comedians of other ethnicities to increase that "one love" vibe in the room.
You learn to work toward goals that work for YOU. Bill Cosby said it best, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." He was soooooo right. New Orleans, in particular, provides a challenge here; because New Orleanians tend to act on their feelings, not their thoughts. For example, my thinking, which is based on trial and error, tells me that only certain acts will work in my shows. But other comics feel slighted. This is where you realize that truly business-minded folks develop a thick skin. Success doesn't mean sparing people's feelings. It means sparing yourself meaningless headaches.

Interesting, isn't it? Stand-up comedy has become a tremendous teacher for yours truly, but it originates from that love I have for the craft. At the end of the day, you can do what you love for a living (or as part of a living in my case), but you have to ask yourself whether or not it is time, energy and money well-spent.

Yes, sisters, Black men go through dating and relationship hell, too

2009-12-23T19:57:00.004-06:00

Sisters, I'll be the first to recognize that we brothers aren't perfect. There are those of us who lie, cheat, abuse you and take you for granted. I get it. I know guys who do these things, and I have dated women who have been the victims. I get it. But please spare me this "There are NO good Black men left" crap.

I think I'm a good Black man. I'm neither a cheater nor an abuser. I show my affection, express myself, I have a thriving career plus I have a son I'm crazy about. And I'm out there dodging nutcases just like you! How about this? You're reading the words of a man who has dated liars, dated two women who got engaged to other guys WHILE we dated, and has dated others who tried to force me to commit to them after ONE DATE! And before you accuse me of having these problems because I chased down "trophy girlfriends", think again. I've dated tall, short, thin, thick and all beautiful Black complexions as well as Hispanic, Asian and White. Nope, no patterns over here. At least not physical ones.

Believe me when I say that good, quality brothers have issues finding good women. It's because these men have standards and guidelines like good Black women. Whether or not we agree with those guidelines isn't really the case. At 5'5", I'm often overlooked for men who are over 5'9" by women who are 4'3". So I think I should be allowed to have the standards that fit my wants, also. There's nothing wrong with wanting certain attributes from other folks.

It's not so much about those personal standards and "requirements" we have. It's about what we allow people to take from us. Here's what I mean. People with positive energy are in high demand in this world, because so many of us have crappy negative energy. Consider that people with positive energy want that positive energy for everyone else. So these good folks may not even notice their energy getting sucked away by those with emotional challenges. So just think of what good Black men go through when they meet Black women who feel that the world, including these men, owe them something. Yeh, I said it!

Relationship hardship goes both ways. There's the joke that when people meet, they send their "representatives" to that first date. According to a good friend of mine, who's a therapist, that's normal. It's also normal for folks to "change" as the relationship progresses, according to my buddy. That means that it's normal to see the real person as the relationship goes. So it's up to us to decide whether or not we want to deal with the worst of a person when that side rears its ugly head. By the way, if you decide to deal with the worst someone has to offer, it's called love.

For various reasons, some of our women come across as nothing more than emotional damaged goods to good Black men. Is it a man's fault? Could be. But it's not about what happens; it's about how we react to what happens. As the saying goes, "Don't allow yourself to become upset by people or things. They are powerless. Your reaction is their power." Ladies, you can't be a bag lady and expect a good brother to enjoy helping you with your bags for long. If you recognize that this man loves you enough to help with those bags, you have to reciprocate that by emptying those things out.

What I implore sisters to do is take a good look in the mirror. And no one person in a relationship should look alone. Both play a part in how a relationship develops or breaks down. What compromises a good Black man's outlook on relationships, however, is the expectation that is placed on him to answer for those men who have screwed up. Nobody wants to answer for a screw-up.

New Orleans, STOP kissing people's buttocks just because they're not from New Orleans

2009-11-18T11:03:00.007-06:00

I have my favorite cities in the ol' U.S. of A. Anytime I can hop a plane and get to San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, New York City, Seattle or Atlanta, I'll do it. I truly dig these cities, and I enjoy observing other cultures and communities. Maybe I'll even dig living in one of these cities.

What has been a constant source of irritation of mine has been New Orleanians' constantly kissing the arses of folks who are not from the Crescent City. If we've seen it once, we've seen it a million times. Some joker comes from a larger city, and everyone falls to their knees. Or they stand in line for a ceremonial ass-kissing of the new transplant. True, they may have come from a more well-known or more efficient market. True, they may come from a more advanced environment. But what if we're getting the worst that market has to offer? In that case another man's trash is . . . trash.

My radio mentor, C.J. Morgan used to say, "A jackass in a suit is still a jackass." So true. But we New Orleanians go for the slicksters in a second. Why is this? New Orleanians are too damned worried about status. The other problem is that New Orleanians have a collective low self-esteem like you wouldn't believe. Think about it. Nobody hates New Orleanians more than other New Orleanians.

This is one reason so many of our youth feel that they have to leave in order to become successful. I can't lie, I feel the same many times. As much as I cherish the culture and charm of New Orleans, I often tell folks that I feel "stuck" here. And there are personal reasons for that. Nonetheless, even people with no roots in the city feel as if they're caught in quicksand when they settle here.

It's a community-wide paradigm that serves to only drag folks down to their lowest levels at times. It's the mentality that influences people to act as if physical fitness is an utterly ridiculous concept, for example. You know what I'm talking about, New Orleanians. You suggest working out to someone and he/she says, "Aw hell naw, it's too hot to work out." Even if the equipment is located indoors.

Haven't we had enough of getting screwed by some out-of-towners? Haven't we had enough of people coming to town, grabbing lucrative contracts, then making tracks once they've had enough of us? In the meantime qualified New Orleanians suffer because of other natives who act as if the city is worth the time that missionaries donate to underdeveloped countries.

The solution is not an easy one. It would consist of a combination of cultural paradigm shift, playing hardball with our new transplants and realizing the benefit of being a New Orleanian. With our schools on the rise, now is the time to mold young minds to enjoy the richness of the New Orleans charm and culture. At the same time, vibrant Generation Xers have to step forward and snatch control of the political and business community from tired, "business-as-usual" Baby Boomers. Yep, I said it.

In the youth of the city and Gen Xers, there is a common denominator---energy. Both parties possess an idealistic view of the world, and appreciate the power of technology combined with the hope of an intellectual revolution. We have the power to connect to the world, and learn how other communities do it all at our finger tips. Yes, we welcome our transplants; but we natives got this.

Interview with me

2009-11-01T10:34:00.003-06:00

Maybe this "self-interview" will be more therapeutic than anything. As the reader, feel free to submit a question; and I'll add it to the blog!

CAREER
Blogger (B): So what DO you do?
Eddie (E): Media and entertainment. I'm the public relations director at a university, a part-time radio producer/personality, a speaker, speaking coach and stand-up comedian.

B: Out of all of that, what do you enjoy the most?
E: Without a doubt, speaking. Speaking has given me a foundation for everything I do now. I feel free when I'm in front of a group. And I also know that I'm making valuable connections with audiences when I speak, because they see the best I have to offer.

B: When did you start speaking and media, respectively.
E: I started media work at 18 years old as a production assistant at WWL-TV. I really sunk my teeth into public speaking in my teens. My love for it manifested itself at the age of 16 when I joined the St. Augustine High School speech & debate team. We were an outstanding, highly competitive group who won the "Individual Events" state championship in 1988.

B: What has been the highlight of your career?
E: Speaking for Monster's Making It Count Programs, a division of Monster Worldwide (Monster.com). I was surrounded by positive people, I spoke in 28 states and to more than a quarter of a million high school and college students. Most importantly the MIC programs are priceless when you talk about the information they provide to students and parents. I delivered those programs 1,249 times in 7 1/2 years.

B: Why did you leave? Sounds like you loved it.
E: At the time, having a then-4-year-old demanded that I spend more time at home. I had been traveling several times per month.

B: What do you like the most about being a comedian?
E: I love to make people laugh. My dad was the consumate host when we had company at the house, so it rubbed off on me.

EDUCATION
B: What college/university did you attend?
E: Loyola University New Orleans. Graduated "Thank ya, Lawday!" *LOL* I got my degree in broadcast productions in '95. I'm very proud of that, because LU easily has one of the best communications programs in the South. Many of our grads dot the national broadcasting map. In fact, one of our recent successes is a WWL-TV anchor named Lucy Bustamante. She recently had a guest spot on "Live! with Regis and Kelly".

B: High schools are a big deal in New Orleans. You mentioned your alma mater, St. Aug, by name? Why the big deal?
E: I have a theory that high schools are a big deal in N.O. because we're such a small community. The high school rivalries are huge in N.O., so the memories stick with folks forever. There's actually a joke that goes around the rest of the country that if you ask a New Orleanian where he/she graduated from, that person will mention his/her high school. We're the only ones who don't get the joke.

B: And where does St. Aug stack up?
E: *GRIN* Of course, I believe we're the best! Honestly, St. Aug is the best at what it does--educate young Black males. I say that with confidence. There's hardly another place in America where you have a high school specifically opened for young Black males during the Civil Rights era (1951), and has created the academic and leadership tradition than we have. We send at least 95% of our graduates to colleges all over America, and the others normally move on to good careers in the military.

And this needs to be said to those who attack us based on our "not being what we used to be". America isn't what it used to be. Parents aren't what they used to be, so kids aren't what they used to be. Nothing stays the same; but St. Aug is still a place where young Black males of many temperaments can go to school and feel it's OK to be who they are. We encourage them be disciplined and be the best nerd, athlete, musician or whatever they can be. St. Aug is STILL a place where the mind of the young Black male is developed. Just because we don't produce billions of dollars of scholarships every graduating class, doesn't mean that the Purple Knights are dead. So our critics can put that in their pipes and smoke the s*^% out of it. Next question.

WHAT EDDIE THINKS
B: Alrighty then. Let's talk about your opinions. You're known as a very opinionated person on the weekly Saturday morning talk show "Real Talk" on Q93 (WQUE-FM). And comedy certainly gives you an outlet to tell people how you really feel. Do you ever say things you regret?
E: I regret when I say things based on pure emotion, because pure emotion tends to overshadow rational thought. My problem is that New Orleans is a place where I think people are afraid to communicate, and face the realities of their feelings. I think a lot of us are deathly afraid of what other people will think of us, and I'm included in that group. So, when the words finally come out, the emotions pour out with them. That's what often makes situations nasty.

B: It almost sounds like New Orleans bothers you.
E: I can do without the pettiness of my fellow New Orleanians. There are people who refuse to work with you if you they think you're trying to take something from them. They don't need proof; they just need the feeling. Now you're talking about a relationship that never develops, because somebody felt something.

I tend to be hard on myself because I hate being the product of an environment where people's feelings dominate their thinking. The most productive communities get so much done because their leaders think. And they deal with each other based on what needs to get done, not what they feel about each other.

SUBMITTED QUESTIONS FROM READERS
B: How has working at a university compared with other places you have worked in your career?
E: A university is like a small city. What I really like is the energy that the students bring forth, especially surrounding sports. And college athletics are very cool. But I'll comment more if I ever work at another institution of higher learning. *LOL*

B: Which charity appeals to you most and why?
E: Don't know about a charity. I have a cause that I've become a little passionate about lately. I met a gentleman by the name of John Thompson. He's the executive director of an organization called Resurrection After Exoneration, and I've interviewed him about what happens to folks after they've served time. I realized that this is a huge problem, because it looks like people enter in droves and come out in droves. I really want to be a part of the solution in making sure that these folks make a smooth transition back into mainstream society. I intend to keep using the airwaves to deal with that issue.

B: What gives you the most satisfaction in love, work, and play?
E: Loving me for who I am, respecting my boundaries in the workplace and keeping the energy up during playtime so everybody has fun.

B: If you chould change anything (of those three) what would it be?
E: Play. I don't play enough. I don't know how to relax.

B: Before leaving this life, what one thing would you say would give you a sense of satisfaction or completeness?
E: A career that I navigated my way.

Morehouse takes a bold move in resetting a standard

2009-10-24T15:27:00.007-05:00

On the October 24th "Real Talk" (Q93 radio New Orleans), I took in listeners' feedback on Morehouse College's new dress code with great interest. For the most part, it seems that the "Real Talk" listenership feels that Morehouse is very much in touch with the world in their adoption of this policy. But let's put this issue of Morehouse being a private college doing whatever they want aside. This, to me, is more about a community taking control of its standards at the expense of no one.

Sure, it seems that this policy on attire is a bit stifling to some. In fact, the part of the policy that seems to be getting a weird type of attention is the college's refusal to allow cross-dressing on campus. The most liberal of us view it as an attack on one's personality. I will unapolgetically say that cross-dressers, in particular, need to get over it. Find another institution if you, a male, feel that wearing high heels is more important than the institution's standards. And the same goes for saggers, outdoor do-rag wearers, indoor sunglasses wearers and everyone else in between.

Every society has its rules. The rules may be unfair to us, personally, not including crap such as Jim Crow (I think we understand that those laws were created specifically to marginalize an entire segment of society). I'm talking about rules that were set by organizations and communities to maintain standards so as to project a certain image to promote that institution.

Dr. Steve Perry made a great point in his CNN interview with Don Lemon. Perry pointed out that we have a bad habit of making our personal lives public in America. Although his point was geared more toward criticism of saggers' showing the world their undies, it is also important to point out that we simply have a habit of trying to impose our personal beliefs in situations that simply do not apply.

We now have public HBCU's phasing in dress codes inside classrooms and across campuses. Why? Is this much ado about nothing? Will my employer, Southern University at New Orleans, who is considering a student decorum policy, be fighting an uphill battle if they give professors the latitude to dismiss students who are sagging in class, for example? For a public institution, it may be a tricky call, but students should not miss the bottom line.

The bottom line is that employers and potential business partners are looking at students as they matriculate through college. While students are living it up and expressing their independence, potential employers and business partners are comparing those very students to other students across the land. There is absolutely no secret that the Black community is judged more harshly by mainstream society. So a Black student sagging and displaying his/her unmentionables with a drink at a party on Facebook should be aware that he/she is being compared to a student whose profile reflects a sense of professionalism. Sorry. That's life.

And let's be fair. These free spirits who dare to be different are neither unintelligent nor bad. As a person who chooses to live in the creative portion of his brain, I identify with the urge to buck the system. But emotional leadership can often lead to counterproductive results and, most annoyingly, wasted energy. What this boils down to is whether or not an individual is a match for the environment, and whether or not the relationship can produce benefits for both parties.

Obama's "harmful" education address

2009-09-13T11:40:00.003-05:00

Who said that President Barack Obama's education address to the nation was harmful? Read this Facebook post from my buddy, Nina Weber, about a discussion her two children had.

"Peyton (11) became frustrated while trying to complete a complex equation containing many difficult variable factors for her gifted math class, so she shut her book and frowned. Loren (6) asked what was wrong; Peydi replied that she couldn’t do it. Loren immediately responded… “Obama said NOT to give up! Even when it’s hard, you have to keep trying… you can’t give up- Obama said that! I saw him on TV @ school."

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, neo-cons.

My spiritual journey (not for the weak-minded to read)

2009-08-16T07:55:00.004-05:00

I have been pretty apprehensive about writing this commentary. Spirituality, to me, is a very personal thing; yet I feel compelled to share this journey. Let me say, first, that my opinion is as blunt as it could be on this subject; but I am fully aware of the sensitivity of the subject. Still I will express myself, not in an effort to offend, but rather in an effort to try to lend some perspective of the importance of personal temperament. In other words, if you're one of these super-mega-feel-that-the-world-needs-to-know-that-you're-a-Christian people, you might want to skip this commentary.

I am a Christian. I was baptized into Catholicism, and attended Catholic schools all of my life. Dare I say, it's a big part of the reason that I drink so much and I'm so cynical about life. That's Catholic humor, by the way. The Catholics get it. What's important to me, on a serious note, is that I respect the teachings of Jesus Christ more than I respect dogma. My journey, however, is about understanding what guides me to make good decisions in life. Ironically, the best quote I've ever heard about steering clear of bad choices came from my high school theology teacher, Fr. Patrick McCarthy. He used to simply tell us, "Bad decisions lead to bad consequences."

In reorganizing my life for nearly a year and a half, I have asked myself over and over again, what I believe in. I immediately determined that I don't believe in quite a few of the people sitting in churches. Not that I disrespect or dislike them. I just know that not every person in there is following every law of their respective churches. I don't fault them as much as I question what their purposes are.

I have also determined that I have next to no tolerance for people I call "scary Christians". These are the folks who sport the attitude that if everyone doesn't share their respective philosophies, then everyone else is living their lives completely wrong. These are the folks who can't have a conversation without imposing a Bible verse on you. They're the ones who can't seem to figure out that not everyone in the world is a Christian because not everyone in the world is alike. They put themselves on moral pedestals, and attempt to impress folks around them with Bible verses. When Karl Marx wrote, "Religion is the opiate of the people" he had these types in mind.

Mind you, I don't believe that people are foolish for being religious. I certainly don't believe that we're foolish for believing in God. I believe that people are foolish for thinking that their beliefs are the only ones that matter.

The former NBA player John Lucas once said, "Religion is for those who are afraid of hell. Spirituality is for those who have been to hell and back." When I read that, I immediately understood it. What Lucas meant is that spiritual people understand that a higher power is what has kept them alive through the extremely rough times, whatever those times have been. Some call that higher power God, others call it Allah, Yahweh, Jah, Buddah, etc. That higher power, according to Lucas's quote (in my humble opinion) is an unexplainable salvation that saves us from our worst decisions. That quote touches me 'til this very day, and it has served as a compass for this journey of mine.

Call me silly, but I believe that one of the most spiritual movie series of our time is the "Star Wars" saga. What do you think "The Force" is? Think of the original film in which Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker, "(The Force) is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together."

Yoda later goes on to advise Luke, during his training in The Empire Strikes Back, "A Jedi's strength flows from The Force. But beware of the Dark Side. Anger, fear, aggression---the Dark Side of The Force are they . . . A Jedi uses The Force for knowledge and defense, never to attack". All of this is said while Luke is training to become stronger in order to defeat The Empire. And the big scene in that sequence is where Luke attempts to get his X-Wing Fighter out of the swamp and gets frustrated. Yoda gets it out with ease, to which Luke says, "I don't believe it." Yoda responds, "That is why you failed." Faith. It's an area where I continue to struggle.

The series is all about a classic battle between good and evil, and good wins at the end. Hey, it may not be the most desired path to embracing that higher power, but it's getting me there.

I have begun to feel a spirit all around me, and I identify that spirit as God. I view God as being a guiding force who wants me to make decisions that serve the best interest of humanity. That belief is making my journey more worth while than ever.

Lead from the bottom, New Orleans

2009-08-15T14:46:00.004-05:00

New Orleanians will have a chance to do something special in 2010. We have the opportunity to choose a leader who will continue to lead the rebuilding of one of the most significant cities in America. It is too early to tell which leader we will chose, so I think that it's best to figure out what kind of person would be an appropriate mayor.

The voter who will make the difference in this race will be the voter who leads from the bottom. To lead from the bottom means rallying folks for a common goal, but to do it without a title. It makes sense, of course, to focus on the guy or the woman with a title, but the people who really make the world go 'round are the ones without titles.

It is my hope that the everyday person reads this, and gets inspired to rally his/her circle of friends and family to vote intelligently. Honestly, I don't have a candidate of choice. What I have is a leader of choice. I want to see someone who is dynamic, grassroots, informed, hands-on (but not micromanaging), a servant, unattached to the New Orleans status quo, and simply has the balls of brass needed to be an effective mayor. Even a woman needs that last one, for the record.

Look, people, it's time to stop bullcrappin' around. Your cousin might be cool but he might also be incompetent. Your friend might be fun at parties but she's still be a crook. Your frat brother may be your frat brother but that doesn't mean he's right for a city . . . or even a fraternity (but that's for another blog on another web site). New Orleans is desperately in need of a team of objective, courageous thought leaders. The city is in need of folks who will lead without pride or prejudice.

This morning on Real Talk I got some interesting feedback from listeners. Of course, everyone wants the most ethical leader they can put in office. But what New Orleanians want, based on a tiny sampling of African-Americans roughly between the ages of 25 and 54, is a grassroots, Obama-type people person who will not lose the common touch. And it also seemed that voters want other voters to be more educated about their choices. The question is, will New Orleanians, as a whole, put in the necessary work to elect the most appropriate leader?

How Edwin Hampton helped brand St. Augustine High School

2009-07-24T20:45:00.009-05:00

St. Augustine High School (New Orleans, La.) has a mystique. It is a mystique that has been represented largely by a marching band of young African-American males. That band not only represented their school but they also represented the African-American community and, eventually, the city of New Orleans. And it started with a hard-nosed, military man with an eye for field shows and an ear for a powerful sound.

I never had the fortune of playing for the St. Augustine "Marching 100" but I had the honor of watching my brother be part of a movement. At the tender age of 5, I went to my first St. Aug football game. At that game, the Marching 100 took the field with their classic "horseshoe" formation as the crowd let out the loudest cheer I had ever heard in my very young life.

At the time, the two drum majors would dramatically march to the middle of the field from either side to a military drum roll. After they met, they would count the band off, "ONE! ONE, TWO! ONE, TWO, THREE!" The cadence, beginning with the crisp sound of snare drums, would begin as an articulate young man would begin over the football stadium's public address system, "And now, introducing the St. Augustine Marching 100 . . ." flowing seamlessly into an description of the unit's style, drum majors and music selection for halftime. As the band marched into formation, the crowd once again cheered to a sea of purple and metallic gold uniforms, topped with gold helmets and tall purple plums. The mesmerizing motion of white band shoes moved together with the impressive 90-degree kneed bends that became the band's signature look. And then, they would count off and begin playing the latest soul tunes or Hamp's favorite John Philip Sousa marches.

I remember this particular show featuring Earth, Wind and Fire's "Getaway" and The Meters' "The All Asked for You". It was 1975 so EWF was beyond hot. What I will never forget are two major things. The horns mastered an intricate breakdown in the song in "Getaway", and the band had the cleanest, stateliest look to match their wonderful field patterns. At 5 years old, I witnessed approximately 100 young Black males put on a show accented by a solid sound, discipline and style. That was my introduction to St. Aug.

Edwin Hampton, who led the school's band program for 50 years, left a legacy that can only be described with the words "Purple Pride". He was hard on the young men when they practiced and they received immeasurable praise from the public as a result. Because of the work that the late Hamp put into his field shows and parade appearances, the band gave the public the impression that St. Aug is a school of some of New Orleans' most talented, disciplined and well-rounded young men. For the record, they have been right for years about that assumption. My brother, Emile J. Francis, told one of the assistant band directors that Marine Corps boot camp almost seemed easy because of the discipline he received at St. Aug by way of the band.

Over the years, the quality of the band has come into question. In my opinion, St. Aug has fallen victim to generations of young men who have listened too much to their rivals. Let's just call it what it is. As other schools' marching bands became more competitive, flashier and louder, many young men (at St. Aug) allowed the pressure of competition to compromise the discipline that had become synonymous with the St. Augustine Marching 100. Not only that. As the generations of parents changed, so did the parental support that Hamp received as a disciplinarian.

You see, Hamp knew one thing. If he wanted to have a truly disciplined, quality band he needed to be hard on the musicians. We're talking about 100, and eventually well over 100, teenage boys. Teenage boys are nasty little freaks who will get away with as much as you let them get away with. Any parent of a teenage boy would agree, I'm sure. And to get a group of them to reach a level of excellence, they had to learn to do three things---sit down, shut up and listen. That's what Hamp taught his boys to do, and that is why St. Aug became what it is today.

There's a wonderful story about the Marching 100 uniform. It is an iconic uniform that rivals even almost every single college band uniform. Lawrence Winchester, who passed in the fall of 2008 and had served as an assistant band director, designed it. The story goes that he drew the uniform on a napkin and said, "This is it. This is what a Purple Knight should look like." And there you have it.

What really speaks of Hamp's legacy, however, is how crowds still react to St. Aug during the Mardi Gras season. As the band approaches and crowds hear the classic blare of the brass, word travels throughout the crowd, "That's St. Aug!" Girls scream, kids run to the sound and out-of-towners exclaim, "These guys are great! Are they a college?" And we Purple Knights proudly stand back, listen and say, "No, that's St. Aug." Do you have any idea what it does for a young Black male to hear so many praise something that he is a part of? Edwin Hampton was a big part of that. So prominent is Hamp's legacy that the first question every St. Aug graduate gets is, "Were you in the band?"

The irony is that the very thing for which Hamp had come under fire for in recent years is what the world is now begging for. So many mamas didn't want Hamp touching their "babies" but now society is begging for young Black males to once again receive hard-nosed, physical discipline from the village. So many want the classic St. Augustine Marching 100 from their golden years of the 70's and 80's, but not the road traveled to reach that excellence. I'm sorry, people, if you want million-dollar results you have to put in more than 50 cents worth of work.

I refuse to simply sit back and remember Hamp's legacy. I issue a challenge to those whose sons attend St. Aug, those who want their sons at St. Aug and those who admire St. Aug to rebuild that support system that cultivated a band that represented excellence. I challenge folks to reach a point of excellence in their lives, and tell me that hard lessons learned were not a significant part of their success journeys. If you think that Edwin Hampton's journey to create the St. Aug Marching 100 legacy, and represent the school itself was easy, you simply don't understand greatness.

I'm In Love (1988 BOTB)

Michael was the "greatest of all time" . . . so?

2009-07-03T21:19:00.004-05:00

I know I've ruffled a few feathers already with that title. Just wanted your attention.

Ever since Michael Jackson's untimely passing, I've gotten quite a few long-faced "Don't mess with Michael" comments. I dare not stomp on the man's grave. Karma is a mutha. But acting as if it's the end of talent, as we know it? C'mon, man.

I really find it disturbing on the level of pure entertainment. How about this? How about we celebrate his music while cheering on the next big star, whoever that may be? I take comfort in knowing that a little encouragement could influence the next generation of entertainers in a special way. 'Cause Pretty Ricky ain't gonna get it.

What are we doing in this inspiration-starved society to encourage the next one who will be the "greatest of all time"? Are we telling him that he will never measure up or are we telling her that now is her time to rise and shine? As a native of New Orleans, I have access to people with limitless talent. The first person who comes to mind is Kurt Brunus. Here is a guy who can play the piano and trumpet at the same time, yet he has to go all the way to Brazil to get properly "jocked" (as we used to say in the '80's).

And, New Orleanians, please spare me the "I know that fool so I shouldn't have to pay to see him perform" speech. If you wanted support on your journey towards success, you would want folks to hold you up and not tear you down with the ol' "familiarity breeds contempt" attitude.

Part of our problem, as music consumers, is that we have made the grievous error of trivializing the value of music education. There are thousands of music teachers ripping their hairs out because society is constantly telling them that it's useless to teach the works of Bach, Mozart, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Debussy, James Brown, Kidd Jordan (non-New Orleanians need to get hip to this man) and others. Debussy, in fact, influenced many a jazz musician. The Beatles' sound was influenced by Baroque music. Earth, Wind & Fire's sound was heavily influenced by Maurice White's innovative use of the Kalimba. This foundational knowledge has proven to be the difference in many a superstar's career, truth be known.

This is why the innovation of Go-Go music and New Orleans' Brass Band music wows me. Here we have two musical styles which are indigenous to their respective urban areas. The creators of these forms of music may not be the greatest but they all reached deep down inside to pull out sounds that are hard to duplicate and easy to enjoy.

So I ask you. When that kid is singing his heart out . . . when that young lady is dancing until her feet can't take it . . . when that group insists on perfecting the unified, harmonic sound of the Jurassic 5, how are you responding? Are you trashing them for not conforming to Pop Culture, are you telling them "You ain't no Michael Jackson", or are you encouraging them set their minds free so your a$$ can follow?

Black America's kryptonite---low self-esteem

2009-06-23T18:05:00.005-05:00

Eleanor Roosevelt provided one of the most profound quotes I have ever read. She wrote, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." It's like the classic tale of Dracula. The only way he could get into his victim's home was with an invitation. It pains me to see people let low self-esteem into their lives only to watch that low self-esteem suck their energy away. I should know. I battle low self-esteem on a constant basis.

As a Black man it kills me to see what low self-esteem does to other Black folks. Self-esteem, for a person, is knowing that he/she has worth. It is that person's knowing that he/she has a voice or a place in the world. Where we fail each other, in Black America, is we seem to effortlessly beat each other up. Forget the physical beating and infamous Black-on-Black crime. I'm talking about the constant verbal, mental and emotional abuse that we thoughtlessly administer at times.

Where are we most vulnerable to the specter that is low self-esteem? I wish I could tell you that this is based on months or years of research and quantifiable elements, but it is based more on observation and intuition. Believe it or not, I believe that there are three areas where we need to start working on a better Black America.

EDUCATION
Seriously, do we even give a DAMN anymore? Sure, we give education lots of lip service. We keep telling our children to stay in school and to get their educations. But when the rubber hits the road, meaning it's time for that kid to either go to school or stay in school, too many of us wimp out on making children do the right thing!

We quickly offer up that wildly successful people like Sam Walton and Bill Gates dropped out of school, but we also fail to tell the rest of the story. Sam Walton was a once-in-a-lifetime figure. People like him don't come around often. Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard, which means he had to be educated enough to get into Harvard. Tell the WHOLE story.

I think that we have lost sight of the fact that education is a process and a badge of honor. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. William Butler Yeats said, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." In other words, knowledge provides a spark for one to understand a problem and intelligently craft a solution. Without knowledge, however, a person is left in an eddy of confusion. He/she does not have the confidence to discover how a sharp mind can create a wonderful, profitable life.

An education is not some sweepstakes to see how much money one can earn. It is a process of gaining knowledge in order to lead communities and the world. It is easier to lose money than it is to lose knowledge.

ROMANCE
On a recent edition of "Real Talk" I could have ripped my hair out. We (the host Wayne and I) asked whether or not the Black Male is endangered. Of course the first couple of callers were ticked off Black women who believe the sky is falling and there is not one good Black man left in the world. I guess Michelle Obama married the last one.

We find it so easy to beat up on each other. If a Black man doesn't do EXACTLY what a Black woman wants, he is the sorriest thing walking. If a Black woman doesn't do EXACTLY what a Black man expects, she's either crazy or a b****. We base our present and future relationships on past failures and expect more bad news AND have the nerve to get upset when the bad news arrives!

The biggest crime is that we fail to recognize and sometimes admit, that our deficiences are fodder for unstable relationships. In other words, we have a problem, know the problem, yet refuse to admit that it is OUR problem and no one else's. To make matters worse, we treat our Blackness as if it is a part of the problem.

What we have to do is work on ourselves. It has been proven that African-Americans avoid counseling like the plague. Now, I'm not suggesting that everyone in Black America rush the doors of the nearest wellness facility, but I am pleading with us to stop viewing therapy as some sort of admission of insanity. The key to a healthy relationship, I believe, is a person who genuinely believes in and takes care of him/herself. After all, I can't love you if I don't love me.

BUSINESS
To support or not support Black business? That is the eternal question, is it not? On one hand, we complain that we don't serve each other well enough in Black America. On the other hand, we complain that we're bad customers. So what gives? Does Black business suffer because of bad customer service or because of bad customers?

Whatever the answer is, a business leader has to recognize that he/she is just that---a leader. The crappy thing about being a leader is that you have to take all of the crap that is shoveled your way a lot. When we assume that a Black business will do bad business, we don't help its image. When a Black business assumes its Black customers will be bad customers, it doesn't do itself any favors.

Sure, we should be honest with one another. At the same time, don't keep going to Mickey Dee's if you consistently get poor service, but turn around and swear off a Black business that has made one mistake. Also, how can the dollar circulate in our communities if we try to live by the hook-up? But Black business owners must remember to do their due dilligence, in the first place. At the end of the day, wouldn't it feel good to not only watch a Black business grow but to celebrate its success?

These are three of many examples how low self-esteem tears us apart in the Black community. It may come across as reaching for something but trust me on this. When a person's self-confidence is compromised, it keeps him/her from reaching any goals.

Social networking habits reveal you

2009-04-27T11:10:00.001-05:00

Social networking is what you make of it. Everyone has his/her fair share of complaints about every social networking site but it always returns to what the user wants out of the experience. Jump from site to site and observe how folks use the resource.

I belong to several sites and the one (to which I belong) that seems to be the most misunderstood is Black Planet. I personally like the site. But I can't help but notice the polarizing opinions of BP. That would make the site a great case study for this blog entry.

If I've heard the complaint once I've heard it a ka-zillion times. "Black Planet is nothin' but a booty hunt site!" Really? I suppose if it's a booty hunt you want, it's a booty hunt you'll conduct. But is that what the administrators of BP have in mind?

Notice that there are three distinctly difference sub sites for professionals, jobs and *GASP* dating. This tells me that BP dedicated themselves to serving different types of users when they did a great overhaul of the site. So what's up with the mentality of these folks who only see a booty hunt?

OK, OK, OK, I get it. There are those users who are shameless about showing body parts to the world. You get that on BP, MySpace, Tagged, Facebook and everywhere else. The reason is some people like to show themselves off and relish the attention---period. No rocket science there. But do you blame the site for that? Do you blame social networking?

I'm not psychologist but this is where I recommend that everyone in existence take an introduction to psychology class. What folks do on social networking sites is simply human nature. More importantly it reveals who they are. If you have no scruples, the world will soon know. If you believe in handling yourself with dignity, folks will see that. If it's all about the hunt, that will be obvious. What makes the difference is how you react.

Here are your options:
a) Ignore foolishness
b) Engage in foolishness
c) Acknowledge foolishness but mind your business
d) Leave the site

Simple, isn't it? It is! Social networking fits in the category of "Don't hate the player, hate the game." As long as people understand that people are people, you won't be able to do much about . . . people.

Hey, boss, YOU should be thankful, too

2009-04-05T11:03:00.006-05:00

My guess is that they have become the most uttered words to employees and among the American work force in the past few months---"Be thankful you have a job." I am most thankful for my jobs, more notably my career. But my question to bosses all over America is, "Are you asking me to choose between misery and your charity?"

"Be thankful you have a job" drove me to go on an almost 5-minute rant on the April 4th edition of "Real Talk" on Q93. Among my comments I stated that there 3 common denominators among bosses who insist on making their employees "see the bright side". These people are most likely 1.) greedy, 2.) selfish and 3.) insensitive to the needs and struggles of their employees.

For more than six years I proudly worked for the education division of Monster.com. Jeff Taylor, the founder of Monster, developed the web site and company based on the philosophy that people should be happy with their jobs and careers, no matter how tough times are. Even the name of the company, Monster, was created to encourage people to come up with "monster" ideas to advance their lives. So the company came to encourage among its web site users and employees an attitude of using jobs to develop a sense of personal pride, purpose and achievement in order to create bigger career opportunities and a better quality of life.

Now, not every company is a Monster, but does the "be thankful for your job" argument sound like it's coming from someone who is happy with his or her life? Let me help you, HELL NAW.

I'm not letting underperforming employees off the hook. Folks who come to work with a bad attitude or an attitude of entitlement, create their own problems. Constant complaining and undermining co-workers does nothing for the team. And, for my folks in New Orleans, DOING your job counts. You should be thankful for having a job, in the first place.

I have a gripe with that jerkoff who sits in his/her office waiting for folks to kiss the ring. This is the one who needs to take a look at what his/her employees accomplish for the betterment of the company. This is the one who hides behind his/her title and loves to be the boss. This person is NOT a leader. A leader finds a way to get people to rally and accomplish something as a team. A boss simply likes to point and order.

Dr. Ron Wright, the chancellor of Delgado Community College has a great philosophy about this. I heard him speak on the campus of Dillard University, and he made the aforementioned distinction between being a boss and a leader. Within his explanation he offered that what has made his job easier has been his willingness to reach out to all of his employees from adminstators to maintenance people. He said that people are much more willing to give helpful information to a leader than they are a boss when they feel the communication from a supervisor or manager is genuine.

So, here are some suggested statements that I have for bosses across America if you're interested in becoming a leader of your employees:

"Be thankful that I'm not a bigger butthole than my peers."
"Be thankful that you're not a brown-noser like some of your co-workers."
"Be thankful that you have the intestinal fortitude to take my crap everyday."
"Be thankful for labor laws."
"Be thankful for unions (that actually protect workers)."
"Be thankful for checks and balances."
"Be thankful for that bail-out."
"Be thankful that you have other co-workers, beside yourself, willing to go above and beyond to make us all look good."

And here's one more . . . "Be thankful that we ALL have our jobs."

Got role models? Not in New Orleans.

2009-02-28T02:16:00.003-06:00

Two weeks ago on the February 14th edition of "Real Talk", Wild Wayne and I talked about role models, and lack thereof, in our society. Our conversation was riddled with mentions of Lil Wayne's interview with Katie Couric, Michael Phelps' bong hit and the old Charles Barkley "I am not a role model" Nike ad. In the midst of the conversation I mentioned that I have some choice words about lack of role models in New Orleans.

I love my city. I believe that New Orleans is a city filled with charm and wonder, but the adults are full of ka-ka. It hurts to hear folks from out of town criticize my fair city but their criticisms are often undeniable. Even when you compare more dangerous urban areas to our city, the specter of New Orleans' reputation demotes it to even lower depths. What hurts us is our leaders' collective inability to present themselves as a collective competent think tank.

From where I sit this is no accident. Just deal with any politician, businessman or other leader in New Orleans; and there's a good chance that this individual will bog you down with big talk about his/her connections and glory stories about . . . whatever he/she is feeling vainglorious about. This lends itself to egotism which creates an inability to simply sit down and negotiate policies and issues for the betterment of an already struggling population. There is also an inability among New Orleans leaders to deal with issues without involving pointless emotions. This is hardly the way we want to teach our children to live their lives.

So what does a 14-year-old 6th grader from an abusive background have to turn to in order to have an example of better living? In my estimation when you have a populace that insists on letting individual decisions be governed by emotions, you're teaching children to do what they feel and not what they think is the right thing to do. So that 6th grader, who should be in 9th grade, continues to react to his challenges in life not manage his responses to challenges. By the time he realizes where he could have made improvements in life, the adults have already let go and he's probably 41 years old, anyway.

In other words, we adults in New Orleans are so self-absorbed and undisciplined in our decision-making that it rubs off on those who take their cues from us. And our refusal to simply grow up destroys kids' chances of properly developing.

I love New Orleans. We have an exciting, creative culture full of food, music, fun and revelry. But you can't carry that kind of attitude into city council chambers, the boardroom or educational institutions and expect to be taken seriously by the rest of the country. Only when the adult community learns to sacrifice good feelings for progressive thinking will we serve as effective role models.

I'm articulate, black and funny. Can a brotha be all 3?

2009-01-02T09:59:00.012-06:00

I appreciate those who empathize with us stand-up comedians and the degree of difficulty of our craft. Trust me when I say your thoughts, prayers and musings are more than welcomed . . . by most of us. If you really want to exercise some empathy, try being a black male stand-up comedian who does not thrive on gutter humor or screwing with the folks in the first row to have a good set.

I am, by no means, a member of Mensa but I have to use my brain. I wouldn't say that my references are as intellectual and Dennis Miller's. I am very envious of the man's historical and intellectual references. My humor is actually really simple but there's some storytelling involved in my act.

What's funny to me is that some have gone so far as to label my act as intellectual. I belly-laugh at that. And trust me, that's a hell of a laugh. Well, what folks view as intellect is actually articulation. I'm an articulate speaker . . . that's it. There's really nothing to it more than that! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! That's the belly laugh ("LMAO" just doesn't do a good belly laugh justice).

The black male comedian has earned quite a reputation from mainstream America. The mainstream American mold of our kind has been set by Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy, for the most part. The brothers who have come afterwards have been viewed as either profane like Pryor, clean and family-oriented like Cosby, or profane and obscene like Murphy. In other words mainstream America developed a template for black male comedians mostly from these three. Curiously, Dick Gregory's political and social material gets left out of the mold unless he's being referenced by a bleeding heart, tree-hugging liberal who will always remember Kent State, happenings and how great the drugs were back then. To mainstream America's credit, they have created a new mold for Chris Rock, who some ironically look at as a cross between Gregory and Pryor.

So all of that means that mainstream America has a problem with its perception of the black male, even in comedy. Actually AMERICA, including black folks, has a problem with the perception of the black humorist. A funny black man either has to curse like Pryor, Murphy or Rock in order to be considered "legitimate" or has to be clean like Cosby in order to be considered "family-oriented". And most black folks have a dialect that makes them distinctly African-American (or whatever label we agree to answer to these days). There's nothing bad about that, as people ignore ignore the fact that a wealth of black folks in America speak well but possess a particular dialect.

So where does this leave me? Yeh, let's talk about ME . . . me, me, me (in the voice of Agent Smith from "Matrix Reloaded"). I'm an articulate comic who talks about life, politics and society like most others. But people listen to the way I speak and get all weird on me. I don't know what these people hear but they get confused about how to label me, even black folks. But I don't give a damn what anybody says, I'm funny! Yeh, I said it!

So here's what I'm selling to you. My stuff is observational and social with a smattering of politics. I'm a physical storyteller who doesn't screw with people on the first row when I run out of material. I never had aspirations of appearing on "Comic View" or "Def Comedy Jam". I'm just working on taking the cursing stuff away. Seriously. I am.

By the way I have a show on January 18th at Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club at 7 p.m. Hope you can make it.

Educated Black Males: We can come out now (thanks to Obama)

2008-11-06T19:31:00.007-06:00

I don't have a Ph.D. but I am educated, and I use what education I have relatively well. As great as that first sentence may read, the problem is that being educated has been more of a curse than a blessing at times for me. Many other educated Black males can provide the same testimony, unfortunately. Thanks to President-Elect Barack Obama, however, we educated Black men can come out of hiding. Come on in, brothas, the water is fine!

Pop Culture makes no bones about is contempt for educated Black males. Music videos and flashy Black athletes dominate the air waves and mainstream America's collective perception of Black America with trash talk, "bling" and "video vixens" while we professional Black males struggle to legitimize our presence. Black Generation Xers and Millenials, in particular, constantly fight to convince our bosses and even our own families that our appreciation for having received a quality education is genuine. While we all respect our roots, we have also worked hard to receive our respective educations in order achieve our dreams as well as support our families and represent our communities well.

For educated Black males, though, our degrees can be quite the burden. Let me offer two examples. When I got into the radio business the first words I uttered on the air waves were on a Hip-Hop station. I grew up on Rap music and I still listen to it at 38 years old. Yes, this Loyola grad can "spit" rhymes. But when I opened the microphone to speak to New Orleans my then-boss told me that I sounded "too educated" for the audience.

Then there is my very modest stand-up comedy career. Performing in front of Black audiences proves to be an issue many times because some view my material as "not Black enough." As for White audiences, I just flat-out confuse some of them. I get these weird RCA dog looks that suggest a few could not figure why I don't sound like Eddie Murphy (because all Black Eddie's are the same).

Most upsetting is the perception that educated Black males are weak. We are saddled with a reputation for being soft if we are articulate. And, no it does not just come from other Black folks, it also comes from those RCA dogs. This is where we all tilt our confused little "Is-that-Black-guy-really-speaking?" heads to the right at one time and say, "Er?" Pop Culture has successfully convinced the nation that "legit" Black males tilt their baseball hats, sport "grills" (bejeweled teeth . . . please try to keep up) and white T-shirts, and sag their pants.

The frustration of being an educated Black male is more than people know. We are sick of being asked why we "talk White". By the same token we are sick of hearing, "You speak so well!" Articulate Black male athletes are sick of being treated as if they are exceptions to the rule. As I shopped for groceries the other night a store associate, a young Black woman, referred to me as "Obama" as she passed by. Seriously, he's a good-looking guy but he's no me.

President-Elect Obama gives us educated Black males hope. His victory inspires hope among us that we will no longer be penalized for correct subject-verb agreement in both the board room and the 'hood. He has sent a message to the entire country that the educated Black male's existence is no fluke. His victory has also sent a message that Black males should not feel obligated to hide evidence of their education among the homies. Heck, I think I'll go so far as to blast Debussy out of my Saturn if the mood hits me. At least I'll be keepin' it real.

Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans

2008-10-28T06:36:00.007-05:00

The last time I stood in a room of people whom I considered to be open-minded, fun and very positive, I was in Cincinnati for my first training with Making It Count Programs in 1999. I shared space at MIC trainings with this group from across the nation for the next 7 1/2 years, and I felt energized after every single meeting. I always lamented that it would be forever before I would see such a meeting would take place in New Orleans.

I'm not sure that 9 years would be constituted as "forever" for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to attend this kind of meeting at the launch event for Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans. On October 23rd, a room full (and I mean FULL) of diverse youthful people gathered to begin a movement. There was electricity in the air at the Fine Arts Center and I felt seriously charged! I can safely say that I had NEVER been in room full of folks in New Orleans, who made me feel optimistic about what's to come.

Let's talk about SENO. The organization seeks to "build a powerful community and ecosystem of support for social entrepreneurs so that social entrepreneurship will thrive and all citizens can act as agents of change. Just as Silicon Valley has become known as the center for technological innovation, New Orleans will become the hub of social entrepreneurship and innovation.

"We believe in harnessing the power of local diversity and the new participatory mentality to launch the problem-solver into action. New Orleans is at the forefront for the social change movement currently underway, and SENO is committed to sustaining this new energy by supporting social entrepreneurs who are committed to making deep social impact."

In other words, social entrepreneurship is all about shifting the paradigm of a community through businesses, organizations that push life-changing missions in order to fulfill critical needs in the area. I'm with it. I'm totally with it!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I feel N.O. is desperately in need of a collective shift in paradigm. Outsiders see a cheery, laid back, highly creative citizenry. However, they are often surprised to learn that no one hates New Orleanians more than other New Orleanians. We're nice to each other but familiarity breeds contempt. The longer I know you (and your family), the more bad I see in you. To boot, racism just can't go away. This is not uncommon for small communities but it's dangerous for an urban market that is starving for improved education, more ethical political leaders, commerce and also in need of recovery from a major disaster, to continue to live this way.

SENO has a chance to do something big. True, hundreds of other organizations have tried what SENO is attempting. I tried it through a small merry band called the New Orleans Brain Trust right after Katrina. What the organizers of SENO will have to be vigilant of, is people losing hope when there are hiccups in progress. There will be road blocks and there will be people whose greed and jealousy will become bigger than the group. And, of course, you have those "old heads" in power in New Orleans who are consistently threatened by the ambition, energy and open-mindedness of younger people. SENO will have to be bigger than the social environment.

I want to be part of the SENO movement. As a collective, we will have to keep our eye on the ball. But it will take individuals within the organization thriving as a result of being thought leaders and doers. We cannot afford to be walking bags of emotion who want others to fix the problems. My question for my fellow SENO folks (and myself) is, can we rely on one another?

Lame LaBruzzo

2008-10-04T11:06:00.002-05:00

Did the man actually suggest eugenics as a means to eliminating poverty? I think he did. John LaBruzzo (Louisiana House, District 81) actually floated the idea that preventing reproduction among poor people is a solution to ridding the country of the scourge of poverty. And he suggests that a great incentive to get the poor to cooperate is to pay women $1,000 to tie their tubes.Many in the media have stated the obvious. The obvious being that this is an unintelligent approach to solving any problem, at best. LaBruzzo, himself, admitted that he didn't think his idea would make it off the House floor.

I have two questions about this. What does this say about a society that is allegedly more tolerant? What does this say about the folks who voted for this clown?

Mainstream America is fooling itself if people feel the need to pat themselves on the back for being more diversity-friendly. The fact is that LaBruzzo's Nazi-like idea is shared by many who mistakenly believe that the poor are America's economic albatross. The poor or only as much of a problem as America's delusional attitude about education and corporate greed. LaBruzzo is a perfect example of that.

LaBruzzo is typical of folks who believe that the world would be a better place if everyone just lived and learned like him. It is, at best, a narrow-minded approach to solving a societal problem. These people (people of LaBruzzo's ilk) want issues to go away with the simple symbolic wave of some magic wand. Does this mean that when he and political cronies make bad decisions that the public can storm LaBruzzo's office and take his office by force?

The scary thing is that the man is not alone. He represents the same district that elected David Duke to represent them back in the day. David Duke! The neo-Nazi who had plastic surgery to make his features "whiter". The same dude who suffers from the paranoia that Black folks are somehow taking over the country---all 12% of us. These people in district 81 apparently have it out for humanity.

The good thing is that America sees how ridiculous this is. LaBruzzo has managed to embarrass Whites, Italians, Republicans and communications majors all over the place. At least he got his place in the sun on CNN. Unfortunately, another elected official has shown the rest of the country that the New Orleans area has problems identifying effective problem-solving leaders.

Your degree doesn't know how to go job hunting

2008-08-24T16:40:00.003-05:00

If you are a college student or, even better, a recent college graduate please do yourself a favor. STOP relying on your degree to go out and get you a job. Many of us who have walked college campuses in search of our Holy Grail have been disappointed to find out that our degrees mean nothing . . . without human effort.

I suspect that this change in paradigm happened in the '80's. I have a theory that the notion of college being some kind of financial sweepstakes pervaded the country in the decade when materialism ruled. It was back then that the key to a good life was lots of money and lots of sex. College seemed to fit that mentality like a glove as the '80's was all about excess. And if you're going to push excess on any group of people, folks from the ages of 18 to 25 are just the group.

There's another thing to consider. This issue was pushed heavily throughout households in urban areas where despair took control, too. I believe that this mentality was also a result of folks doing anything possible to get their kids out of neighborhoods which were becoming hell for those who wanted decent lives.

And let's not forget that colleges are businesses. Therefore these institutions are competitive. So any business that has been formed to deliver a dream to its potential clients is going to sell that dream hard. Consider that there are over 4,000 colleges and universities in America. Folks want to make an impression the best way possible.

So people have been going to college by the bunches in hopes of getting to that pot of gold. And when these people went in, sat in class and waited for the magic to happen, they got disappointed. This is where you get the "college is a waste of time" crowd. This is also where you get the crowd that says "they don't teach you anything college." Actually college teaches one a lot.

First, you gain foundational knowledge for life. It may seem like you won't need that math or science class but they are designed to help us think critically and analytically. They teach us process and structure and they also teach logic and problem solving.

Secondly, college allows one the opportunity to learn how to thrive in a diverse community . . . hopefully. We automatically think cultural diversity but even at HBCUs folks have to come to grips with not being from the same neighborhood as everyone and working with their fellow disabled students.

Thirdly, college teaches independent living. True dorm life can be a safety net for some but if a student doesn't make it in the dorms then the next step is to gain REAL independence living in the general community or to simply go back home.

Fourthly, you learn to function in teams. Student organizations present a perfect opportunity for one to learn how to function professionally and in an organized manner. You see this difference especially in Urban America, where many youth do not learn real conflict resolution skills. The reason so many urban youth, namely black urban youth, have thrived in college is because they gain exposure to operating according to a set of rules while still maintaining some independence.

Fifthly, college challenges one to complete a long-term task. This morning on Real Talk Larry Barabino, Jr., the Director of the New Orleans Recreational Department, made that excellent point. He stated that employers most likely look at where an individual completed his/her degree, but they are more interested in the fact that a candidate beat a long-term challenge. Let's not forget that a major issue on many college campuses is retention.

College is not the place for someone who wants it quickly. It is the place for someone who truly wants to enjoy the process of learning. But then that person has to understand that completing a degree does not grant an automatic bid to financial success. True, college is a costly investment but it's up to the student to figure out how to make that investment worth while.

Back to what I do best

2008-08-17T22:15:00.004-05:00

I tried. I really tried but it just hasn't amounted to anything that grabs me.

Two years ago I got the idea that I would go full-blast into motivational speaking. It was at that time that I was doing the very rewarding programs from my former employer Monster's Making It Count Programs. I loved every minute of my experience with these folks and the environment they provided was more than supportive and inspirational. It was because of that, I felt I could get into this motivational speaking thing independently.

But the truth is that my heart is not in being a motivational speaker. Don't get me wrong, I do it well! It was so cool to have high school and college students thanking me for words of encouragement. It was even cooler to be able to steer them in the right direction for education and life.

But I was delivering a scripted presentation. When it came time for me to get up in front of a group to do my own "motivational speech" during my own show, I really wasn't feeling it.

I'm a social commentator. Observations about life, politics, love and any other thing that draws my sarcasm forth are what tickle my fancy. I've done stand-up comedy but I don't want to go back to stand-up. I still feel the need to motivate folks but I'm not feeling the motivational speaker thing. Therefore, I feel the need to go for those pieces in between comedy and motivation. That would be social commentary.

So here's to getting back on stage and letting my sharp tongue cut like a knife again.

A war between the Saints and Hornets? C'mon.

2008-04-13T21:56:00.003-05:00

This is an op-ed I submitted to the Times-Picayune for their "Point of View" section after reading their article on the not-so-pleasant relationship between the management of the Saints and Hornets.

I read Jeff Duncan’s piece (“Turf War”, April 13, 2008) with deep disappointment. My disappointment is based less on being an avid Saints and Hornets fan than it is based on being a New Orleanian. Here we are at a critical time in history in our great city and one of the most influential New Orleanians is acting like one of the people we wish would go.

This is not about picking a side. I look at neither George Shinn nor Tom Benson as the good guy or the bad guy. Benson’s reluctance to form a tighter relationship with the Hornets, however, is typical of the shortsightedness and greed that haunt New Orleanians who are interested in rebuilding our city in a more positive light.

If the Saints and Hornets were to officially form a working relationship it could mean the world for the morale of the Crescent City. In fact, I will even go so far as to say that it could turn New Orleans into one of the contenders for the title of “Sports Town USA”. We have two outstanding major pro teams with highly marketable players. On top of that, our Saints and Hornets players have earned the description of “good character guys” from sports media across the country. We know how hard that is to find.

But New Orleans’ chance to become a sports Mecca gets better. The VooDoo have always been popular, the Zephyrs have the 1998 Triple-A World Series championship and a great tradition to their credit, and Tulane baseball is as hot as ever. Even our smaller colleges give us something to smile about when you consider that both Loyola and Xavier’s success in basketball this season. Even Southern University at New Orleans turned heads when their men’s track team placed 11th out of 44 teams at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships this season while their coach ran to the semi-finals of the IAAF Indoor World Championships in Valencia, Spain.

Let’s not forget our notable athletes and events! We have given the gift of Payton Manning, Eli Manning, Marshall Faulk, Avery Johnson, Will Clark and others to the sports world. We set the NBA on fire with our 2008 All-Star Game production and the NFL would love to return to the Big Easy with a Super Bowl. And let’s not forget, also, that the Arena Football League is showing New Orleans love once again with the Arena Bowl returning to the city. And, oh yeh, we are home to both Chris Paul and Reggie Bush.

The success of both the Saints and the Hornets is one of the biggest public relations tools that New Orleans regardless of rebuilding. I can only imagine that the players get along famously. How great is it that Chris Paul went to the Saints-Colts game with a Reggie Bush jersey on? How sad is it that Paul’s show of camaraderie went virtually unnoticed?

Whereas I have agreed with Benson’s concern about citizens’ pockets being able to handle both teams, I disagree with his pettiness. Heck, you are reading the words of a fan whose best shot at both Saints and Hornets season tickets lie in a community service organization’s super raffle. That doesn’t stop me, however, from sporting my favorite Saints hat and my favorite Hornets shirt together.

Bravo to those who recognize the chemistry between the two franchises. The Hornets’ Steve Martin should be commended for insisting that there be some exchange of ideas, and community service would be the perfect place to start. Can you imagine the impact of having Chris Paul, Reggie Bush, Tyson Chandler, Drew Brees, David West and Deuce McAllister all in the same place for the same worthy cause? I can dream, can’t I?

The life of a college athlete: Now I get it

2008-03-24T19:59:00.006-05:00

From March 4th to March 9th I hung out with the SUNO Men's Track & Field Team. They participated in the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee at East Tennessee State University and did very well placing 11th out of 44 teams from the U.S. and Canada.

But that's not the story.

We boarded a bus on March 4th at 10:30 a.m. and arrived in East Tennessee at 11:30 p.m. Coming home we boarded the bus at 7:30 p.m. on the 8th and got home at 5:30 a.m. the next morning which was Sunday. The trip wore us all out.

But that's still not the story.

The story is the life of these athletes. It didn't hit me until one of the athletes asked me to talk to SUNO's Athletic Director about talking to one of their professor's about an exam. Their exam was first thing Monday morning and the guys wanted to get an extension to study for the exam.

Now prior to this trip I would have been pretty insensitive about it. My response would have been something along the lines of, "It's a 10 1/2 hour ride, man! That's plenty of time to study." Or I probably would have gone with, "All of that time in the stands doing nothing and y'all couldn't handle a few hours of study?"

There were things that prevented that argument, however. First of all, almost the entire team has at least a 3.0 GPA. Secondly, they were at an event (a national championship) that was extremely important to them so their thoughts were constantly occupied. Thirdly, 7 1/2 years of consistent travel taught me how grueling travel can be. We were on that friggin' bus for 10 1/2 hours, dangit!

Most compelling were the conversations I had with the guys. One, in particular, stuck out. One told me about some of the difficulties that he had getting his scholarship money from the university. A common from college students all over, by the way. Still, it's a pain no matter who you are.

He went on to tell me that he was frustrated for reasons that many may not think about. In his case and in the case of several team members they were a long way from home just by attending SUNO. They needed the money. Also he made the same argument that I've heard many college athletes make. He noted that were brought to the university to perform on behalf of the school so they wanted their just due.

Think about it. Placing 11th in the nation these guys represented SUNO extremely well. A few hundred spectators got to hear the name Southern University at New Orleans over a public address announced in a glorious light. Not only that but they love what they do. As someone who used to constantly represent an organization through travel, I understood where they were coming from.

It is wrong to assume that college athletes are a bunch of overprivileged dumb jocks. Most college athletes aren't gunning for big pro dollars. They are simply playing their sports for the glory of victory or simply to get that rush from fierce competition. We allow ourselves to get fooled by the few spoiled brats who occupy television screens from only a handful of "big money" programs.

Consider this example. There are 64 teams who appear in the NCAA Basketball Tournaments. Far fewer than that appear in the NIT. Each basketball team has up to 15 players. Only those who appear in the "Sweet 16" will be perceived as "big time" programs whose players should get big pro dollars.

But there are over 4,000 colleges and universities, including 2-year schools, in the nation. The odds of good deeds are in favor of the vast majority who play simply to play.

SUNO video from the NAIA Indoor Championship

Men's 400 Meter Dash Final

2nd place, Norbert Miller and 3rd place, Adrian Simpson

What people still don't understand about the New Orleans public housing controversy

2007-12-25T02:06:00.000-06:00

People were forced to leave their belongings behind and public housing residents were, by and large, forced to stay out of their units post-Katrina. A supposed lack of affordable housing in New Orleans also lends to the frustration of public housing residents. Of course, Alphonso Jackson's (the Secretary of HUD) highly unethical decision making in the drive to raze four housing developments here in N.O. is also a very sore spot for public housing residents and their supporters.

So folks can chill out with the accusation that ALL public housing residents are simply trying to live off the fat of the land. True, there are unsavory citizens in public housing. There are also CEO's and politicians all over America who strip unsuspecting Americans of their taxes, savings, assets and other pieces of financial foundation. But not many are suggesting that ALL big corporate CEO's and politicians are nothing but well-groomed crooks, are they? There are hard-working public housing residents who are working towards achieving a better life for themselves.

The problem is that the perception of all public housing residents being too lazy for their own good takes the focus off the real controversy. As much as I abhor how protestors reacted to being locked out of the City Council meeting last Thursday, I can't help but notice that folks were locked out of a public meeting. It was a real storming of the Bastille-type scene. Perhaps the upper crust of New Orleans should take notice.

City leaders should also take notice of the men and women in their respective mirrors. The mayor and the city council waited entirely too long to make solid decisions about this situation. I've got to think that our city leadership is a bit more decisive than waiting until a situation boils over the way it did on December 20th.

I credit those who disagree with public housing residents and admit they don't understand their arguments. I fault those who simply believe, "You're uneducated, probably a criminal and a waste of space." You see, this is a class issue, pure and simple. This is about the have's telling the have not's, "You should be more like me." Of course folks see no problem with this kind of logic until they are the subject of such a lack of empathy.

Had the city council passed a law to raze certain houses in Lakeview with a no-bid contract, hell would have broken loose, also. What's more is that their anger would have been accepted as right . . . pure and simple.

The Power of Perspective

2007-12-19T20:50:00.000-06:00

On October 15, 2007 my life changed. It was on that day that I started a new job after 7 1/2 comfy years with Monster's Making It Count Programs. Oh, what a difference a change of scenery makes.

I had an incredible amount of fun with MIC. I was surrounded by motivators. Being in a room full of MIC speakers and personnel was like being in an emotional playground.

I had to know when to say when, however. I had gone at it for 7 1/2 years and I was ready for a new challenge. When a new opportunity came, it was very much a new challenge that I wanted to take on. I felt that I needed that new challenge in order to keep growing in my careers. That challenge came in the form of becoming the Director of Public Relations at Southern University at New Orleans. And, oh, what a challenge it is.

At SUNO I have found that two things are true. One, I found, is that misery loves company. The other thing is that there's a lot to be said for having a positive mental attitude.

Let's face it, life at SUNO is rough. The campus operates out of temporary trailers more than two years after Katrina because recovering the main campus (where all 11 buildings were damaged by both Katrina and Rita) is a slow, excrutiating process. SUNO has been a victim of several levels of beauracracy as a state institution and as a part of a university system. It's easy for anybody to delve into the dark side of life under those circumstances.

Think about it. How easy can it be to be a college student whose friends go to institutions that are . . . well . . . normal? How easy can it be to wake up in a FEMA trailer, go to work in a FEMA trailer then return home to a FEMA trailer? Hell, how easy can it be to serve as the Director of PR in this situation? I'm sure you have the answer to those questions.

Luckily for me, I knew about SUNO and its post-Katrina challenges. I knew that many on campus spent more time wondering why than they did figuring out when. I knew that the circumstances, plus some not-so-kind history, had snatched the spirit from many folks. Because of that, I knew that my attitude would either serve me well or sink my battle ship by my fourth week of employment there.

Where folks see a trailer campus, I see a campus that has beaten incredible odds. Where folks are suspicious of the powers-that-be, I admire those who want to lead. Where folks see "woulda, coulda, shoulda" I see "Let's make it happen."

Maybe it's all because my job is see the positive. The way I see it, that's not a bad job to have.

I hope you're satisfied, N.O.

2007-11-01T06:16:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, October 30th District Attorney Eddie Jordan resigned. As a result there seems to be a cheer being heard around New Orleans. Under incredible scrutiny and financial pressure, New Orleans' first black D.A. stepped down. It bothers me.

It doesn't bother me because I believe Jordan did such a great job. It bothers me because it seems all too easy for those who have been calling for Jordan's head. It just seems too easy for folks to place so much blame on one man as New Orleans' crime problem exploded after Katrina.

We have to acknowledge that the D.A.'s office has been in shambles, especially post-Katrina. Witnesses have disappeared in high-profile cases, criminals have walked (as a result) and then the mysterious incident of a crime suspect fleeing to Jordan's home after committing a crime made it much worse . . . and more weird. But those aren't the circumstances that have lead to Jordan's head being requested on a silver platter. The straw that broke the camel's back actually happened when he first took office. He cleaned house.

Eddie Jordan cleaned house like any other new person in charge when he became D.A. The difference is that he purged his office of mostly white people and replaced them with mostly black people. This is where a mostly white federal jury (8 of 10) unanimously ruled that it was racial discrimination and the judge hung a $3.7 million verdict on Jordan.

If I were white I'd be upset that he fired mostly white people. But I'm not white. And I'm not sure that this would be such a problem if he had been a white D.A. (even if he had still replaced white people with black people). Let's be honest. This is New Orleans. This is also the Deep South. Somebody white, who knows somebody, got canned and got pissed. Next thing you know the evil black man must pay. From there, politics is an easy game for the aggressor. More on that in a sec.

What's interesting is that the Times-Picayune described Jordan's entrance into the D.A.'s office as one where he "inherited an office teeming with problems: a high turnover of low-paid, mostly green attorneys, low conviction rates and staggering caseloads." Keep in mind that this was 2003 and Katrina hit in 2005. So he only had two years before one of the greatest natural disasters in U.S. history washed a lot of his work-in-progress away! What? You didn't think he would solve years of dysfunction in a couple of years, did you?

And let's not forget the street culture sidebar. Urban America is a hard place to get witnesses to talk about murders, especially in the "no snitchin'" culture. Another issue that complicates things is people's general fear of retaliation from criminals and their crews. Jordan commented on Q93's "Realk Talk" (a show that I produce) that he inherited a D.A.'s office that had no witness protection program.

Of course if you're a political enemy of Jordan's, and he had a couple, it was easy pickin's from there. The successful politician is the one who normally initiates the attacks in a nice, stealthy manner. Eddie Jordan is the man who put Edwin Edwards away and Jordan also defeated Harry Connick, Sr.'s hand-picked candidate in election. So it stands to reason that it was open season as soon as folks saw the whites of Jordan's eyes. To Connick's credit, even he admitted that the crime problem isn't something that "one man can solve."

Combine that with the fact that New Orleanians (and I know I'm one) don't necessarily believe in giving the accused his/her day in court if said New Orleanian wants to believe the accused is wrong. As much as Eddie Jordan tried to explain his post-Katrina dilemma and the historical failures of a grossly underfunded D.A.'s office (New Orleans' murder rate was way worse under Connick), the public, particularly the white public, wanted to believe that the man is completely incompetent and weak.

I'm not saying that Eddie Jordan was the best at his job. I'm not saying that he had no faults in office. What I'm saying is that it seemed easier and easier to blame one man as time went on.

Letter to the Times Picayune regarding the Jena 6

2007-10-03T09:21:00.001-05:00

I wrote this letter to the editor in response to a op-ed written by Connie Schultz of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The first line of Connie Schultz's commentary ("The ugly truth around a hanging noose", 10/1/07) said it all. "There's a glaring omission in most of the Jena Six stories, and the silence shrouds an ugly part of American history that most of would like to forget." How true.

Instead, Conservative talking heads and columnists have been attempting to divert attention away from the tactless attitudes and actions of a few ignorant people. These commentators, instead, would rather focus on the beating that Justin Barker took and also on the fact that Mychal Bell has a troubled past. Good people realize that Bell and his friends must be taught that physical violence is not okay, and has its consequences.

My question is, where is the outrage over a "white tree" and hanging nooses? You see, these same Conservative megaphones have been quick to also divert attention towards Al Sharpton's and Jesse Jackson's presence in Jena. Some have even naively tried to blame the two for starting the movement to march on Jena. Let's be clear. First, African-Americans don't "follow" Sharpton and Jackson any more than white people follow Rush Limbaugh. Second, the movement started with outraged people in Jena who just so happen to have Internet connections and subscriptions to YouTube. Nonetheless concerns about a "white tree", hanging nooses and the violent reactions of white supremists seem to be getting curiously misplaced.

Thank goodness for Connie Schultz. Maybe America will understand the gravity of these kinds of attitudes and actions towards African-Americans (and other minorities) now that a Pulitzer Prize-winning white columnist out of Cleveland has put it in writing.

The damn shame of the "Jena 6"

2007-09-30T19:52:00.000-05:00

Many are relieved that Mychal Bell has been released. Seventeen-year-old Bell found himself at the center of the "Jena 6" controversy and will hopefully lead a productive life. Personally I believe that will entail his leaving Jena not turning back for a long time. But that's just me.

What I find shameful about this is how both sets of teens involved will suffer. On one side you have the black teens who may have a hard time trusting white people for the rest of their lives. On the other side you have white teens who may unfortunately live lives of delusion. That deserves a little explanation.

There's nothing like talking to an ignorant person. It's frustrating. Whatever the circumstance, it's just not a conversation that any intelligent person looks forward to. Ignorance does not discriminate, let me make that clear. But this situation has exposed some of the most ignorant people in any society---racists.

Racism is the condition of being in a poor state of mental and emotional affairs. To honestly believe that you are better than someone because of ethnicity is seriously stupid. In the Jena situation we have a group of white kids who thought that it was okay to have a "white tree". Then, to flex their "might", they hung a noose from it when black students sat under it. After that one of these kids decides to pull a loaded shot gun on other kids. See the problems, here? The biggest problem is that this is all learned behavior.

The problems may only get worse for these kids. If someone doesn't filter sense into these kids' heads they're going to run into the wrong folks. Can you imagine one of these kids running into folks who are simply smarter, more talented and more skilled . . . and black? Or Hispanic? Or homosexual? How will they deal with that situation?

The sad part is that the chances of someone "filtering sense" into their heads are slim. Let's be honest. How many people want to admit that they have actually learned the wrong things in life?

On the flip side, I would hope that someone will teach the black kids involved that not all people are alike. Therefore, it will be up to them to take people as they are rather than immediately judging them by skin color. These kids cannot go through life believing that all white people are bad otherwise they will be no better than their attackers.

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Tony Brown from his book Black Lies. White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown. "If we fail to unite there will be no black or white winners, only American losers."

An open letter to citizens of the United States of America from a nobody in New Orleans

2007-08-30T06:50:00.000-05:00

On the 2nd anniversary of the destruction in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina, I have had it. On my way to a company training, I was trying to prepare to deliver new detailed information about new company programs. To give myself a "brain break" I read an article about our recovery in National Geographic, and it turned my brain break into an all-out headache. I guess I am guilty of caring too much about a region of people.

Here's how I understand National Geographic's article. "New Orleans is sinking. It will eventually be under water, anyway. There's nothing anyone can do about it. New Orleanians have always been stupid and are still stupid for being there." Now Joel K. Bourne, Jr., the article's writer, would probably disagree with such a simplified interpretation; but that's what I read.

What you should know, America, is that New Orleans is not the only American community that's in danger. Beach front properties all over the country are in danger either due to hurricanes or beach erosion. Yet these well-off property owners are admired for their ability to acquire such prime real estate. NOT THAT I BLAME ANYONE FOR LIVING THERE. Here we are in New Orleans being told that we should just move somewhere else. Funny, no one is suggesting that Californians pick up and move east as it sits on the San Andreas Fault, which stretches 800 miles.

So here we are, stupid New Orleanians, trying to figure out just how little you care for us. Well, walk a mile in our shoes. By no fault of our own (meaning the current victims of Katrina), New Orleans was established. By no fault of our own, hurricanes have been coming this way for quite some time. By no fault of our own, the levees broke. And excuse us for loving where we come from. After all, scientists predict that a category 2 hurricane, which is no big deal on the Gulf Coast, would cause significant destruction in New York City due mostly to the close proximity of so many structures. Yet if this were to happen to the good folks of NYC, the river of sympathy would presumably flow very freely from many in the U.S.

Let me ask you, America. Do you know what it's like to have the specter of a disaster hanging over you as people criticize your "choice" of being born in that place? If you didn't know this, Louisianans outside of New Orleans aren't all that crazy about us. For various historical, cultural and religious reasons, New Orleans is viewed as the problem with Louisiana. We are viewed as the most, if not the ONLY, corrupt entity in the entire state! This is no exaggeration!

So on top of dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which apparently is a gross over dramatization of events to other folks, we also have to deal with sometimes harsh criticism. I had one citizen of Baton Rouge tell me that New Orleans is "Sin City" and that Katrina "hopefully washed away all of the sin." I've had North Louisianans remind me that despite the tragedy Katrina was a "blessing in disguise." As true as that may be in one respect, it hurts that so many other Americans view our misfortune is such a cavalier manner.

And let's be frank about current climate in America. It's a country led by a national conservative administration which has strengthened the national community's conservative temperment. New Orleans is a liberal city known for such sinful things as Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence, Bourbon Street, poverty and a 24-hour night life. Interestingly enough Las Vegas has capitalized on a similar image both monetarily and reputation-wise---hmmmm. Yet some of these same critics come to Bourbon Street, piss and puke all over it after drinking their hearts out, then they go back home and tell everyone what a nasty city New Orleans is.

So, why should you care, America? You're pure. You've never committed a sin a day in . . . well, okay, you've committed a few sins but they weren't bad ones. Okay, you have good intentions and everyone should understand that. But you've also apparently never had a scandal on the national level, most of your cities are run by well-respected, educated leaders. So, New Orleans has a lot of catching up to do with the rest of the nation . . . right?

We acknowledge our faults. Our leadership is poor, a lot of our citizenship has been economically poor for quite some time, our education system sucks and corruption is easily accepted. Yet people who were born into an environment that has been in place for years are treated as if they created it. True, it isn't easy to teach someone who lags behind that he or she lags behind. It's also hard to teach a well-off elitist that people are different everywhere you go, and that the rich get richer for a reason.

All we ask of you, America, is understanding. Understand that the people who have suffered as a result of Katrina are not all looking for a hand-out from the Feds (even though the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has had an interesting way of pleading ignorance about inadequate levee protection for years). But also understand that the composition of insurance woes, property woes, financial woes and the break-up of social networks, makes life very hard for one to manage no matter where he or she is. We understand that America is very proud of its image. However, rendering the verdict of guilt by association unto good, upright New Orleanians because of a history that we don't control and those who don't follow the rules, doesn't make you anymore intelligent or upright.

How much does this title cost?

2007-07-22T21:11:00.000-05:00

I am convinced that we choose the greatest salesmen in the world to be our leaders. Have you seen some of these jokers we elect and some of the clowns that become our bosses on the job?

No, this doesn't pertain to every boss and every elected official. But if you bought, bribed or kissed your way into a leadership position, you know exactly who the hell you are.

Exhibit A: George W. Bush

I'm sure he's a good drinking buddy. Heck, I'm sure he and I would be good friends if he were just the regular silly dude in the bar. But I wouldn't elect a bar fly as my President. Why doesn't anybody seem to remember that even his fellow Republican joked about him in the 2000 primaries? (NOTE: Since I lifted that image of Bush, click the pic to find out where it came from. There's some cool stuff on this site!)

Exhibit B: Your boy, who was the biggest idiot in high school, is now your elected official.

Okay, okay, we shouldn't be so stuck in the past. I got it. But you really can tell something about where a cat is headed based on his past.

Exhibit C: Your triflin' boss.

This woman can't keep herself together. She's unorganized, incompetent and . . . somebody's daughter, niece or chick on the side. No further discussion needed; this one ain't rocket science.

In the meantime, you and I are the clowns who are following the rules. On top of that, a good number of folks trust us. So why are we still among the underlings? Not that being an underling is a bad thing for everyone. Let's face it, there are folks who people treat badly and those victims know more than everyone in the building. Do you really think that the janitor is as ignorant as he/she looks or sounds?

In our Pop Culture-dominated world, we keep figuring that the titles and labels make the men and women. Your triflin' boss doesn't want to make the company better. That bonehead wants to make money and flaunt what he/she thinks is power. Your ineffective elected official doesn't want to serve the community. Jackass is looking for the next sweetheart contract from a private firm! Folks who have a hunger for power are willing to do anything. They are willing to lie, steal, cheat and sleep with whomever holds the keys to their future.

Yes, this topic makes me emotional. It makes me very emotional. It's because I'm an idealist. We idealists often aren't good at recognizing the game and that makes a lot of us cynical people. Idealists are often genuine people, also. We genuinely want the best for everyone and are willing to go to great lengths to obtain the best things in ethical ways. You and I make ethical decisions and we genuinely care about the people around us. And in today's world, the most effective leaders commonly don't have titles. At the same time the effective leaders with titles don't even care about having them most of the time. That's why we love 'em.

(In my Budweiser "Real Men of Genius" commercial voice) So here's to you, oh purchaser of power. You may have fooled the people but you can't fool me.

America's Attraction to Reality TV

2007-07-09T08:50:00.000-05:00

I must admit that last night I found myself glued to the television to check out VH-1's rerun of the Flavor of Love: Charm School finale. Yes, that is something I must admit. You see, my wife loves the show so watching some of it was almost unavoidable for me.

But I was fascinated by how fascinated I was by it. I am one of those people who sneers at reality TV but I understand America's fascination with it. Let me preface by saying that as someone who has worked in television I was intrigued by the premise of The Truman Show. Remember that movie? It was about a maniacal television producer who created a world for a person whose life America had watched since his birth, literally. I was both horrified and excited by the possibility of that kind of television coming about because I fully understand the power of broadcast media. So to watch that partially become a reality has had a special interest to me.

Many of us have a voyeuristic nature that we refuse to admit we have. While folks want to have the image of living the purpose-filled life they sneak a peek at their favorite guilty pleasure. Others simply admit it and live with it. Then there are those who are intrigued almost beyond belief. I'm a graduate in broadcast productions, but I got my degree before reality TV started. MAN, would I love to be sitting in a college classroom now!

So what I wonder is how many people enjoy watching a train wreck on TV and how many feel empowered by what they see. Charm School seemed so silly and crass until the last couple of episodes. Particularly moving were the speeches that Leilene and Saaphyri gave on the finale. I found that to be genuine and what I imagine is a source of empowerment for many women in their positions in life. Particularly disgusting was the reunion show. The sound editor got a heck of a work-out and Mo'Nique's preaching drove me up the wall after the first 30 seconds.

I have heard people approach the question of how productive these shows are for the American psyche. It depends on the individual but here's one thing I know. Reality television is a runaway train that is having its way with its audience. My favorite reality show, Celebrity Fit Club, is interesting because it strips the perceived immortality of stardom away from the competitors. At the same time, you have to be embarrassed for some of the "reality stars" who have no idea of what they're getting themselves into even though they have signed contracts to participate in these shows.

So the better question is what kind of individual gets the most out of reality TV? Is it the sadistic auto racing fan type who loves the accidents? Is it the young lady with low self-esteem who needs to see an example of emotional growth from week to week? Is it the non-competitive type who needs to see a carrot like a large cash prize dangled in front of him/her?

Whatever the case, you can only blame television executives for their intelligence on this one. On this one, the people have spoken.

Another Top 100!

2007-06-20T08:03:00.001-05:00

What are my favorite 100 movies to date? I'm glad you asked! Now I have to warn you that there are 4 classics that I have never seen and will have to be placed on this list as soon as I see them (and don't laugh)---The Godfather series, Braveheart, The Blair Witch Project and Caddyshack.

Also absent in the collection to serious movie buffs are films such as The Seven Samurai and Alfred Hitchcock films. Oops. Chances are I'll take a suggestion . . . or two. But these are MY movies! Mine, mine, mine!

And please don't e-mail me about The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Uptown Saturday Night, The Wiz, The Producers or Which Way Is Up.

Hollywood Shuffle
I’m Gonna Get You Sucka
Malcolm X
A Soldier’s Story
Snatch
Young Frankenstein
Cookie’s Fortune
The Fisher King
Little Miss Sunshine
Napoleon Dynamite
Star Wars series
Finding Nemo
Blazing Saddles
Arthur
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The Big Lebowski
Indiana Jones series
A Few Good Men
This Is Spinal Tap
Analyze This
Poltergeist
The Ladykillers
Lovesick
Boyz in the Hood
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Transformers
Mighty Aphrodite
Bowling for Columbine
Howard Stern's Private Parts
Citizen Kane
Hoodwinked!
Coming to America
Mystery Men
Superman 2
Something About Mary
Shrek series
The Great White Hype
Batman
Fargo
Sixteen Candles
Silence of the Lambs
Star Trek series
The Matrix
Life
Dave
Training Day
Ali
Batman Begins
House Party
The Incredibles
Do the Right Thing
Amadeus
Animal House
Spiderman series
School Daze
Aliens
Toy Story & Toy Story 2
The Color Purple
Swimming With Sharks
X-Men series
Ray
Terminator 2
The Usual Suspects
Superman
The Best Man
Roxanne
The Terminator
The Goodbye Girl
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Friday
Galaxy Quest
Fahrenheit 9/11
Ocean’s 11 & 12
Midnight Run
Fright Night
Goodfellas
Scarface
Barbershop
Fight Club
A Bronx Tale
Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Creepshow
Howard Stern's Private Parts
Fear of a Black Hat
Cooley High
The Muppet Movie
Sugar Hill
Love and Basketball
Boogie Nights
Airplane
Roger & Me
Pulp Fiction
The Lost Boys
Fandango
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Big Trouble in Little China
The Dark Crystal
The World According to Garp

"Dollar Bill" Should Know Better

2007-06-12T09:37:00.000-05:00

I would love to be one of the folks who says that this whole William Jefferson thing is much ado about nothing but I'm not. "Dollar Bill" has been in politics since he was in college so he has always known that with great risk comes great reward and great failure. So, his rise to power is inspirational but it is also a lesson in how much of a game politics truly is.

A few months ago I was asked to write a piece about political corruption for a local newspaper. In the piece I mentioned Jefferson's allegations of corruption and I mentioned others in the national spotlight, especially those slick Republicans who have been getting caught. It came to my attention that the publisher took issue with my mentioning Jefferson in such a light. I never spoke to him directly so I have no idea how he really felt (or feels) about my mention.

What I DO know is that I never lied in the article. The man has been under investigation for quite some time and the feds DID find $90,000 in his freezer. He has also had suspect business dealings in Africa and locals know that he has run slum properties for years in New Orleans. The man is not squeaky clean.

Jefferson supporters say you have to look at two things---government's dark little secrets and Jefferson's voting record. Many in the community allege that the feds are notorious for planting evidence on people they want. I BELIEVE IT. They also say that this is a political move by a Republican administration that has a need to find guilty Democrats to take the attention off GOP corruption. I AGREE. Jefferson has a voting record, in Congress, that reflects his standing for Civil Rights and the little man. THAT'S AWESOME. BUT . . . I would like to know how your name gets connected to so many shady business deals! Can't everything be a plot against the man.

Understand this. If my name were attached to a litany of questionable acts or decisions, somebody is going to say, "Eddie there are too many questions. Sorry, we're not going to hire you/retain you/support you." No matter how much I feed the poor or support the needy, folks who are truly worth their moral salt are going to keep me at arm's length.

And how many times has he spoken to bright-eyed, bushy-tailed students and warned them to live their lives right? How many times has he told kids to obey the law?

In Louisiana (NOT JUST NEW ORLEANS) people are politically savvy but also politically weak-minded, because we can be bought. As for the rest of America, folks are politically weak-minded and can also be bought. It's just that in Louisiana, we know better and we don't give a damn. "Give me what I want and I'll support you until your demise," is what we seem to say over and over again.

So the gentleman from Louisiana is standing tall in the midst of adversity. I admire that. But when you play the game, you risk the loss.

My Funky 100

2007-05-21T19:17:00.002-05:00

So what do I believe are the funkiest 100 songs of all time, to date? I'm SO glad you asked! I probably left some good ones out. It's amazing that Funk can be so powerful!

Now I know this will open up some debating for Soul music fans. So, as they say on the ESPN "25 Greatest" series, "Let the debating begin."

"Doing It to Death" James Brown
"Holy Ghost" Bar-Kays
"Atomic Dog" George Clinton
"Funky Worm" Ohio Players
"Dukey Sticks" George Duke
"Bustin' Out" Rick James
“Fencewalk” Mandrill
"Hyperbolicsyllabicsusquedalamistic" Isaac Hayes
"A Real Mother for Ya" Johnny Guitar Watson
"Dr. Funkenstein" Parliament
"Humpin'" Gap Band
"One Nation Under a Groove" Funkadelic
"Letitgo" Prince
"The Jam" Larry Graham & Graham Central Station
"More Bounce to the Ounce" Zapp
"Slide" Slave
"I Get Lifted" George McCrae
"Bootzilla" Bootsy Collins
"Walk on By" Isaac Hayes
"Jive Turkey" Ohio Players
"Reach for It" George Duke
"Playing Your Game" Barry White
"Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" Parliament
"Pass the Peas" The J.B.'s
"Strawberry Crush" Average White Band
"I Can Make You Dance" Zapp
"Too Hot Ta Trot" The Commodores
"Make It Hot" Cameo
"Mothership Connection" Parliament
"You Get Me Hot" Jimmy Bo Horne
"I Like the Girls" Fatback
"Fight the Power" Isley Brothers
"Serpentine Fire" Earth, Wind & Fire
"Party Train" Gap Band
"Let's Have Some Fun" Bar-Kays
"Kashmir" Led Zeppelin
"Mary Jane" Rick James"Flashlight" Parliament
"Make It Funky" James Brown
"Think (About It)" Lyn Collins
"Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" Barry White
"Pump Me Up" Trouble Funk
"Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)" Parliament
"You Can't Run Away" Bar-Kays
"Knee Deep" Funkadelic
"Genius of Love" Tom Tom Club
"Weak at the Knees" Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame
"Dance Floor" Zapp
"Shake" Gap Band
"Do Waa Ditty" Zapp
"Ffun" Con Funk Shun
"You Haven't Done Nuthin'" Stevie Wonder
"I'd Rather Be With You" Bootsy Collins
"Pick Up the Pieces" Average White Band
"Who'd She Coo" Ohio Players
"Housequake" Prince
"Hollywood Squares" Bootsy Collins
"Hit and Run" Bar-Kays
"Action Speaks Louder Than Words" Chocolate Milk
"Standing on the Top" Temptations featuring Rick James
"Soul Makossa" Manu Dibango
"Black Sweat" Prince
"Him or Me" Today
"Drop the Bomb" Trouble Funk
"For the Love of Money" The O'Jays
"Bustin' Loose" Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
"Brick House" The Commodores
"Blue Jeans" Chocolate Milk
"Looking for the Perfect Beat" Afrika Bambataa & The Soul Sonic Force
"Right Place, Wrong Time" Dr. John
"Movin' and Groovin" Redds and the Boys
"Tell Me Something Good" Rufus & Chaka Khan
"Cutie Pie" One Pie
"Shaft" Isaac Hayes
"It's Ecstasy When You're Next to Me" Barry White
"Da Butt" E.U.
"Black Cow" Steely Dan
"Head" Prince
"In the Air Tonight" Phil Collins
"Get the Funk Out of My Face" Brothers Johnson
"Skin Tight" Ohio Players
"Higher Ground" Stevie Wonder
"I'll Be Good" Rene & Angela
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" Sly & The Family Stone
"You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" The Jones Girls
"Erotic City" Prince
"Fame" David Bowie
"Too Hype" Entouch
"I Love You More" Rene & Angela
"Fire" Ohio Players
"Benny and the Jets" Elton John
"Everyday" Jamiroquai
"Ain't That a Bitch" Johnny Guitar Watson
"Southern Girl" Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
"If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It's Going to Be You)" George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars
"Teddy's Jam" Guy
"Get Off" Prince
"Perfect Match" Tech & The Effx
"Cool" The Time
"A Love of Your Own" Average White Band
"White Horse" Laid Back

Now, About This Rap Thing . . .

2007-04-23T18:54:00.000-05:00

America has finally turned its attention away from Don Imus, so let's talk about the rap against Rap. There's nothing wrong with Rap or rappers as far as I'm concerned. Rap is an art form that expresses the state of the communities from where these artists hail. Art doesn't imitate life here, it expresses life.

Rap was party music in the beginning. It was all about MC's talking about what great rappers and super lovers they were. Remember the big jelly belly dude from Sugar Hill Gang talking about his "super sperm?" Yuk. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message" was the first popular cut that expressed hardship in the 'hood.

It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder

How I keep from going under.

Those words spoke volumes as they embodied the rest of the lyrics of a most poignant commentary on how crappy it is to live in the ghetto. Having grown up in a neighborhood that had been a nice one, I felt those words.

At the time the record industry wasn't too crazy about Rap. It was viewed as a simplistic presence that didn't appeal to anyone with half a brain. I can't lie. Even though I felt "The Message" I didn't have an incredible amount of respect for Rap in the early '80's. Of course, anyone who knows my family knows that the lack of respect was a by-product of being brought up in a house where live opera broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera on NPR dominated every Saturday. Add to that having an older brother who has beautiful taste in Jazz and R&B and you have me. Heck, I know an aria from "Rigoletto" and I still remember part of the prelude to "Dr. Funkenstein".

So how the hell did I come to be a fan of folks like Ludacris?

Well, you have recognize the charm of Rap. It's spoken word with a competitive edge. Let's not forget that Rap was born out of party MC's trying to out chant each other. That morphed into the famous East Coast freestyle battles. The trick of freestyle is to creatively tell the world something about yourself in rhythm and rhyme and with attitude.

THAT is what makes Rap an art form. Don't believe me? Do a 1-minute freestyle about your computer and send it to a record company. Tell me how that record deal works out. That's how Rap grew its fan base. Believe it or not, rappers judged each other on vocal quality, delivery, wit and clarity. It was a public speaking contest for goodness sakes!

The rub is that Rap started becoming a cash cow when rappers started to get down and dirty with their lyrics. This is where we enter Gangsta Rap. It became the biggest cash cow of them all and things went down hill.

NWA, for example, told stories of the mean streets of Southern California but not necessarily to sell records. Let's not be naive, selling records was a welcomed piece of these guys' careers. But NWA, Ice T and other West Coast rappers chose to tell the dirty truth about their communities. White America was appalled at "F*** tha Police", for example, but it wasn't an arbitrary attack on law enforcement. It was a protest song. It had legitmate roots in the expression of frustrations of the black community.

F*** tha police

Comin' straight from the underground

Young n**** got it bad 'cause I'm brown

And not the other color

So police think they have the authority

To kill a minority

It's hard to spit visceral lyrics like that just because one wants to make an impression. Los Angeles historian, Mike Davis (seen in HBO's "Bastards of the Party") talks about how LAPD deliberately recruited white men from the South from 1950 to 1966 due to the racist attitude of then police chief Robert Parker. You won't hear Charlton Heston bring that minor detail up.

Nonetheless, partial blame goes to the music industry. The music industry rode Gangsta Rap as hard as it could. Trust me, the music industry actively promoted Gangsta Rap even manufacturing some gangsta groups along the way. This was where Rap officially turned into a circus. During the course of marketing the product radio fell in line with the music industry. Trust me when I say that Gangsta Rap could have survived as an underground culture but radio and records wanted the money at all costs. That explosion happened in the 1990's and here we are.

Rap, in its current state, is a result of aggressive marketing by the record industry. I have little to no respect for the record industry quite frankly. If they can chase down a 13-year-old girl for illegally downloading music then they can control the product they push. If the record industry wanted to aggressively market Polka to the population they could get away with it.

Going after Rap from an industry standpoint is like going after radio. Folks are attacking neither satellite nor terrestrial radio so why turn our attention to the entire Rap music community? It's not like all Rap is bad. Anyone who believes so is woefully ignorant. Subjecting Rap to sweeping generalizations is just as bad as stereotyping House Music as a bastion of homosexuality. I think I just got the attention of many a straight black male Chicagoan on that one.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. If you want to attack a rapper for his or her lyrics, or even a song, I understand that. But the argument better be a damned good one and other forms of music should be subject to the same scrutiny.

Imus Controversy Draws Focus to the Ladies

2007-04-12T00:56:00.000-05:00

This morning I was checking out a sports talk show on a Little Rock radio station and a guy called up chiming in on the Imus situation. He was doing the usual "It's a disgrace" speak, mentioning that Imus and his crew had slandered black female athletes before. Sid Rosenburg once said that Venus and Serena Williams should be on the cover of National Geographic. On the heels of that the caller parethetically said, "Well, Venus should be." The hosts said nothing to correct him or separate themselves from the comment.

So much for sympathy.

Imus and his cohorts have also insulted other women on their show. They referred to national news correspondent Gwen Ifill as "a cleaning lady", they joked about Kylie Minogue's breast cancer and McGuirk is known for doing Maya Angelou impressions. Methinks there's a pattern and it goes beyond black female athletes.

Now I know that they target lots of folks, including men, on Imus's show. I've watched on MSNBC and I've heard the bits. Heck, I thought some of them were funny. As a broadcaster and as someone who's tried his hand at stand-up comedy, I can tell you that not every joke has to make the airwaves.

But why all the disrespect towards the ladies? And it's just not Imus. ESPN's Colin Cowherd went off majorly about female bodybuilders one day. Jim Rome never misses an opportunity to comment on the WNBA's insignificance. Remember that Rush Limbaugh referred to the then-victims (before anyone knew anything about the case) of the Duke lacrosse case as "some ho's?"

Some fellas are going to accuse me of pandering but it's clearly still a man's world. That's not a problem as long as the men in charge give the ladies their due respect. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially when she gains the upper hand. What's more is that it's a white American man's world. That's the world that believes that every woman should look like Reese Witherspoon or Halle Barry.

Certain women are not allowed in this world. Women who are too dark aren't allowed, women who are too muscular (sans steroids) are not allowed, women with facial features too defined are not allwed, women who are too old are not allowed and women who are full-figured are not allowed. And let's not forget that women who wear their authority well are not allowed, either. A lot of people refer to them as "bitches", by the way.

Of course not all men think this way. I take pride in the fact that I have a wife who knows how and when to slow me down. My mother was a very strong, intelligent and opinionated woman; and my sister doesn't take crap off anybody. Naturally I have always gravitated towards women whom I felt I could respect and not control. But a lot of men don't work that way.

Make no mistake about it. Imus and McGuirk's insults drew more focus than they wanted to the victims. And when America saw that the victims were intelligent, upright young women who were simply trying to celebrate their success, it made the rest of the country focus more on the "ho's" portion of the comment. Despite a woman's strength, she's still most likely an emotional creature.

You can say what you want about whoever you want, just don't talk about my mama or any of the other ladies in my life.

In Memoriam, Cliche'-Free

2007-04-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

This morning a Grambling student informed me that Coach Eddie Robinson passed away. For a second I couldn't believe it until I reminded myself that it was probably about his time anyway at 88 years old. To my surprise I felt a little misty-eyed. But I didn't want to go through the whole cliched path of talking about his "homegoing", his living a "full life", how the "world has lost a great man" or "this is a sad day."

Instead I started to think about the examples of leadership that Coach left behind. Forget the statistics. Here's a man who earned the respect of his peers of all colors and creeds because of what he did for his football players. In today's world of world of cycling players through college programs, namely football and men's basketball, in exchange for the possibility (and I stress possibility) reaching success on the pro level a man like Eddie Robinson is rare.

Let's lift our glasses to Coach Rob. He was keenly aware that a football player at Grambling had to fight ten times harder to reach success in the NFL or in life. Yet he refused to take nasty words like "no" or "can't" leak from the mouths of his players. He enabled them to see a life far beyond football. At the same time he remained faithful to Grambling for 56 years!

Let's lift our glasses to Coach Rob. There are stories that today are the stuff of legend. ESPN's Dan Patrick passed on the story that the coach used to make sandwiches for his players because so many restaurants in the area would not serve black players. He also relayed the story that the coach wanted a couple of players so badly that he took members of the football team to help the recruits pick cotton.

And today we still have people who say "can't" to simplest of tasks.

Reading about Coach Rob, hearing the stories about my fraternity brother and even having met him once, I am inspired. I am inspired to push the eulogy aside and seek out the next mountain to climb. I am inspired to be a leader who is as determined as Coach Rob was, and I am inspired to maintain the same kind of dignity that he was known for.

Thanks, Coach, for helping me understand that it isn't so bad to go back to the basics of living a long, legendary life.

ESPN'S FEATURE ON EDDIE ROBINSON