churchill - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-28T11:35:02Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/churchillZakiya Randall Is Not Up To Parhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/zakiya-randall-is-not-up-to-par2012-05-18T05:14:26.000Z2012-05-18T05:14:26.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p><b>May 18, 2012</b></p><p> </p><p><b>Raynard Jackson</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p>Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, once said, “To every man there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and might work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.”</p><p> </p><p>Zakiya Randall has been tapped on the shoulder and has proven that she is woefully unprepared and unqualified for the moment that could be her finest hour!</p><p>Randall is a 20 year old, Arlington, VA native, now residing in Atlanta. She is supposed to be an up and coming golf prodigy. But, this column is less about her golf and more about her person.</p><p> </p><p>Randall is a very attractive girl, who definitely has great potential; but, unfortunately, I would be very surprised if this potential was ever realized because she seems to want to be a sex object more than a golfer. </p><p> </p><p>Her arrogance is astonishing and very repulsive! She is young and brash, with none of the hardware (winning titles) to back up her bravado. In some ways, she reminds me of Michelle Wie (the former teenage golfer who was pushed too hard and too fast by parents who wanted to live vicariously through her). But, at least Wie’s parents refused to let their daughter be used as a sex object.</p><p> </p><p>Wie has a very well done website and it is filled with Fortune 500 companies as sponsors (<a href="http://www.michellewie.com/">http://www.michellewie.com</a>). Her photo pages are filled with very tasteful, beautiful pictures of her, both on the golf course and away from the golf course. Wie went from a highly exposed teenager with lots of money and fame, to a seemingly classy adult who will receive her degree from Stanford University this month (with a degree in communications). Wie has accomplished all this without being sexually objectified.</p><p> </p><p>You may now be asking, what I am talking about? Please view this video and you will understand my rant very clearly (<a href="http://www.golfchannel.com/media/big-break-atlantis-zakiya-bio-041012/">http://www.golfchannel.com/media/big-break-atlantis-zakiya-bio-041012/</a>).</p><p><u> </u></p><p>When I saw this video, I was totally disgusted at Randall, and even more so with her parents. Why would a parent allow their daughter to be so sexually objectified? But, more importantly, what was it about Randall and her parents that made the Golf Channel comfortable shooting a video showing various close-up shots, in slow motion, of Randall’s private parts?</p><p> </p><p>None of the other girls in this video were shot in this manner. Randall is the only Black girl in this video and on this particular Golf Channel TV show. Why are Black women content to allow themselves to constantly be debased in the most public of manner? Why am I seemingly more upset at this constant sexual objectification of Black women than Black women?</p><p> </p><p>Randall is managed by her mother, so ultimately they both agreed to let this be done. Randall thinks she can make money by being sexually exploited. Correction, sexually used. Exploitation indicates coercion. Well, obviously, it’s not working. When you go to her website, it is clumsily put together and cluttered with the most egotistical verbiage I have ever seen. There are no major corporate sponsors. I wonder why? </p><p> </p><p>Randall is just another in a recent string of Black women who bring shame on themselves and women in general. Last year, I wrote a piece titled “Black Women No Longer Have Their Essence.” This piece was about the “Basketball Wives” craze and the “Housewives of Atlanta” craze. As if the shows weren’t bad enough, Essence Magazine honored some of the women involved in both shows. </p><p> </p><p>Please, I don’t want to hear anything about Randall being young (20). Wie was young also, but no network ever showed close-ups of her private parts! The only difference being that of parenting.</p><p> </p><p>Wei’s parents emigrated from South Korea to Hawaii (where Wei was born). Asians typically raise their children in a very conservative manner, with a clear delineation of authority within the home. They are taught that education is the key to their future. Thus, Wei will be receiving her college degree from Stanford University this month and Randall is not even in school.</p><p> </p><p>Randall and her parents need help. Beautiful, she is. Talented, she is. Smart, she is not. She is old enough to know better, but if she was raised in an environment to believe that being sexually objectified is ok; then, I blame her parents. </p><p> </p><p>Randall either has no professional PR people around her or she simply is not listening to their advice. In either case, she is embarrassing herself and Black women. She needs to be reined in. If she wants to be famous, try winning! I know, what a novel concept.</p><p> </p><p>If Randall doesn’t tone down her cockiness and stop allowing herself to be sexually objectified, she will become the most recent child prodigy that is enshrined in the hall of anonymity. She truly has been tapped on the shoulder, but what a tragedy that she has been found unqualified and unprepared for the moment that could have been her finest hour.</p><p> </p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. His columns are nationally syndicated by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) to over 200 newspapers. </i></p></div>The Riddle of Blacks and Obamahttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-riddle-of-blacks-and-obama2012-04-20T07:59:32.000Z2012-04-20T07:59:32.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p><b>April 20, 2012</b><b> </b></p><p><b>Raynard Jackson</b></p><p></p><p>During a BBC radio address titled, “The Russian Enigma,” on October 1, 1939, former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill said, “I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.”</p><p> </p><p>The simple meaning behind Churchill’s statement is--something that is a puzzle or something difficult to solve. Churchill’s statement sums up quite concisely, the relationship that Blacks have with Obama—an enigma.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2008 presidential election, Blacks were the largest voting block for Obama (as a percentage)—96%. But, yet, the first Black president has fewer Blacks serving in his administration than former President, George W. Bush. The first Black president thinks so little of Black women that he refused to even interview any Black female lawyers or judges for the 2 Supreme Court picks he has put on the bench. Even if he knew he would not choose them, at least interview them for the optics! Last year, in a speech to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the first Black president said, “Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying. We are going to press on. We’ve got work to do, CBC.”</p><p> </p><p>A week earlier, Obama spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He highlighted two specific pieces of legislation that he was actively trying to pass that would overwhelmingly be to the primary benefit of the Hispanic community—the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. Not one time did he tell them to stop complaining? </p><p> </p><p>A month later Obama spoke before The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group. Again, Obama talked about how he repealed, “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and mandated hospital visitation rights for same sex couples. Again, not one time did he tell them to stop complaining?</p><p> </p><p>Now, juxtapose that with what went on in Africa.</p><p> </p><p>By tradition, the head of the World Bank is always an American male and the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is always a European male (until last year when the French fought for a woman to be chosen—Christine Lagarde). But Africa challenged this arrangement very publically. </p><p> </p><p>Africa’s actions was a direct challenge to Obama’s choice of Dr. Jim Yong Kim and the brazenly unfair process the World Bank used to choose the successor of the former president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick.</p><p> </p><p>Oddly enough, Kim’s strongest challenger was the Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a female from a developing country. She was universally considered the best candidate in the field, even by those who supported Kim.</p><p> </p><p>Russia, China and Mexico supported Kim. Ngozi was nominated by South Africa and was endorsed by all of the African members of the bank’s board, The African Union, Brazil, the Economist, Colombia, The New York Times, The Financial Times, and 39 former senior officials at the World Bank.</p><p> </p><p>This is the first time in the history of the bank that the U.S. has been challenged by developing and emerging countries. South African Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, went so far as to say, “the bank’s selection process falls short and is not transparent or merit-based.</p><p> </p><p>Wow! The first Black president, with African roots is being criticized by another African for not supporting the best qualified candidate for the job. Obama promised to make his administration the most ethical, transparent administration in history. But, like in many of his actions, when he had the chance to turn his rhetoric into action, he became like sounding brass or the tingling cymbal; full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.</p><p> </p><p>As a result of Jesse Jackson’s unsuccessful presidential bids in 1984 and 1988, he made it possible to believe that a Black could one day become president of the U.S; so has Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s bid to become president of the World Bank. She did not win, but now other countries can envision a time in the not too distant future, that the head of the World Bank will be a non-American.</p><p> </p><p>You had an African woman to challenge Obama’s choice to lead the bank; she being universally considered the best qualified for the job. But, yet Black Democrats in America refuse to challenge the first Black president when he has gone out of his way to ignore them when it comes to legislation of particular interest to them. They continue to make excuses for his lack of action—he needs more time, the President can’t undo in 4 years what took Bush 8 years to create or he will pay attention to us in his second term.</p><p> </p><p>The Black community’s behavior is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.</p><p> </p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com"><i>www.excellstyle.com</i></a><i>), Freedom’s Journal Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.freedomsjournal.net"><i>www.freedomsjournal.net</i></a><i>), and U.S. Africa Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com"><i>www.usafricaonline.com</i></a><i>).</i></p></div>Cain Was Not Ablehttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/cain-was-not-able2011-12-08T07:25:22.000Z2011-12-08T07:25:22.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p><b>December 8, 2011</b></p><p><br /><b>Raynard Jackson</b></p><p>Former presidential candidate, Herman Cain, proved that despite a load of God given talent, he was unable to be a serious contender for the highest office in the land. </p><p>In the immortal words of former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, “to every man there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and mighty work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.”</p><p> Cain, by far, was the best candidate in the Republican field in terms of oratorical skills and ability to connect with an audience. But, like Sarah Palin, he refused to take the necessary time to study the issues so he could articulate thoughtful answers to basic questions one would expect a presidential candidate to speak upon.</p><p>Cain had the innate abilities to be considered a legitimate candidate, but was not able to understand what would be required of him to be successful. He had been planning his presidential run for more than two years. But, when he received his tap on the shoulder, he decided to engage in buffoonery; as opposed to studying to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). </p><p>I literally cringed when he spoke at the National Press Club and a white person asked him to sing—and he obliged; during another speech, he went into this tirade about the Koch brothers being his “brother from another mother.” The Koch brothers are 2 white billionaires who he considers a friend. These examples evoked the worst of all stereotypes about Blacks—that they are there for the amusement of their white audiences. I don’t think this was intentional on Cain’s part, but this is what happens when one tries too hard to please a narrow part of the electorate.</p><p>Cain is a very likable person with a very intoxicating personality. In some ways he reminds me of former president, Bill Clinton. Cain (nor Clinton) ever met a stranger. When you meet Cain, he makes you feel like an instant friend.</p><p>If you could merge Cain’s personality and style with Newt Gingrich’s command of policy, Obama would be toast!</p><p>Cain reminds me of a professional athlete that everyone concedes has the talent to be the best in his sport, but refuses to practice to be the best (LeBron James). This athlete could win the ultimate prize of his sport, but just won’t dedicate himself to fully exploiting his God given talent.</p><p>This is why I am so disappointed in Cain. I would not have had a problem if Cain was defeated by his opponents, but I do have a problem with him losing because he was unprepared.</p><p>Cain was tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and might work, unique to him and fitted to his talents. I find it very tragic that he was found unprepared for the moment that could have been his finest hour.</p><p>The media did not destroy Cain’s campaign, nor the women who made unsubstantiated allegations. What destroyed Cain’s campaign was the man in the mirror. </p><p>When Cain was tapped on the shoulder, he was found totally unprepared and proved to the world that Cain was truly not able.</p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i>www.excellstyle.com</i></a><i>), Freedom’s Journal Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.freedomsjournal.net/"><i>www.freedomsjournal.net</i></a><i>), and U.S. Africa Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com/"><i>www.usafricaonline.com</i></a><i>).</i></p></div>The Real H Uhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-real-h-u2011-10-07T13:55:46.000Z2011-10-07T13:55:46.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p>October 6, 2011</p><p> </p><p>Raynard Jackson</p><p> </p><p>Howard University, in Washington, DC, is one of the elite Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the U.S. Howard students are quick to call their school the “real H U!” The reason is so they won’t be confused with another well know HBCU—Hampton University.</p><p> </p><p>But after years of frustrating experiences with Howard University, I have come to the conclusion that they are truly the “real H U.” But, in this case, the H U stands for “<b>Horrible University</b>.”</p><p> </p><p>Over the years, I have regularly presented Howard and its student’s opportunities to make money and to further the mission of their school—to educate Black students.</p><p> </p><p>Last week, I was called by a friend and asked to find 2 law students she could interview for internships in her government agency. I told her I would call Howard’s law school and have them call her. I talked with a woman in their career placement office and she said she would call my friend. A week later and my friend still has not heard from the school.</p><p> </p><p>So, 2 days ago, I decided to call George Washington University’s Law School (GW)—a predominantly white school in Washington, DC. I told them I needed two Black law students to consider for internships. Less than an hour later, my friend was contacted by GW and 2 lucky students are on the verge of getting an internship!</p><p> </p><p>If my negative experience with Howard was an isolated incident, then I could shrug it off to a thing called life—sometimes things happen. But, this is not the case.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Earlier this year, I called the president of Howard University and offered the school a chance to be the venue for a series of Republican presidential candidates town hall forums. I am still waiting for them to give me an answer. </p><p> </p><p>Several years ago, a friend of mine who owned all the Dominoes Pizzas in this area, offered to give the school a free franchise that the students could run. The only stipulation was that the school donates the space. According to our calculations, each student would have earned about $ 10,000 per year. I have yet to get a response from the school, almost 10 years later!</p><p> </p><p>So, yes Howard, you are the “real H U--” horrible university! So, Howard, you win. I will not attempt to provide any further opportunities to the school, nor its students.</p><p> </p><p>Howard University has a storied past, but not such a storied present. Howard has got to be the worst run HBCU in the country. I had this conversation with a current student at Howard yesterday at a restaurant and she agreed with me 100%.</p><p> </p><p>To Howard and its students, why can I never seem to get a simple response when I try to present opportunities to you? Even if you are not interested, a definitive response would have been appreciated. But that seems too much to ask. Yet, white institutions seem to respond immediately to any offer I present to them.</p><p> </p><p>God has blessed me in many ways, so my only obligation is to reach out my hand, not attempt to make someone take my hand. </p><p> </p><p>In the immortal words of Sir Winston Churchill, “To everyman (or organization) there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and might work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.” Unfortunately, Howard University has been found both unprepared and unqualified!</p><p> </p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i>www.excellstyle.com</i></a><i>), Freedom’s Journal Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.freedomsjournal.net/"><i>www.freedomsjournal.net</i></a><i>), and U.S. Africa Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com/"><i>www.usafricaonline.com</i></a><i>).</i></p></div>Tony McGee and the Wyoming 14https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/tony-mcgee-and-the-wyoming-142011-02-03T05:01:07.000Z2011-02-03T05:01:07.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p><b>February 3, 2011</b><b> </b></p><p> </p><p><b>Raynard Jackson</b></p><p> </p><p>With the beginning of Black History Month two days ago and the upcoming Super Bowl on Sunday, I thought I would bring you a story that has gotten very little attention, especially in the Washington, DC area.</p><p> </p><p>How many of you are familiar with former professional football player Tony McGee (Washington Redskins) and the Wyoming 14? It’s very unfortunate that most of you have never heard of either. They represent everything good about a previous generation that made significant contributions to the freedom and luxuries that we enjoy today.</p><p>In many ways, they were the “Rosa Parks” of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S.</p><p> </p><p>College and professional athletes often get a bad rap for the way they behave, both on and off the field. A lot of the criticism is justified, but most athletes are model citizens and never get in any trouble. They go through life just like the rest of us.</p><p> </p><p>Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill once stated, “To every man, there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and mighty work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.”</p><p> </p><p>On Oct. 17, 1969, Tony McGee and the Wyoming 14 received their tap on the shoulder. </p><p> </p><p> That was the day all 14 Black players were kicked off the University of Wyoming’s football team by their coach-- Lloyd Eaton.</p><p> </p><p>This was all precipitated by Willie Black, head of the Black Student Alliance (BSA). Earlier in the week he had sent a letter to the school asking the university and other Western Athletic Conference (WAC) members not to schedule games with Brigham Young University (BYU) until the Mormon Church rescinded its racist policies towards Blacks (they were not allowed to become priests, strictly based on their race).</p><p> </p><p>After the BSA meeting, Joe Williams (running back) had asked the coach if it would be OK for him and the other 13 Black players to wear a black armband during the upcoming Saturday game against BYU. The players also wanted to protest the usage of racial epithets by BYU during last year’s game. Williams was a tri-captain on the team. Eaton gave Williams an emphatic “NO,” claiming the action would violate a team rule prohibiting any type of demonstration. So, the players attempted to change the coach’s mind by going to meet with him in his office wearing their armbands. Eaton led them to the bleachers in the old fieldhouse, where he immediately dismissed them from the team.</p><p>According to McGee (defensive end), “He said we could go to Grambling State or Morgan State… We could go back to colored relief (welfare). If anyone said anything, he told us to shut up. We were really protesting policies we thought were racist. Maybe we should've been protesting there."</p><p> </p><p>The next day, October 18, 1969, the university president, board of trustees and governor upheld the coach's decision. A civil case seeking restitution for the players was in court for three years before being denied.</p><p>Wyoming never recovered from the loss of the 14 athletes. Before they were kicked off the team, Wyoming was off to a 4-0 start and was ranked # 10 in the country. They ended the season with a 6-4 record and didn’t have another winning season until 1976 and didn’t play in another bowl game until 1987.</p><p>Coach Eaton resigned at the end of the following season—with a 1-9 record. According to media accounts, Eaton never discussed the incident again, except with his wife, Dolly. According to her, "He was not bitter… He had a good conscience about it... "All the people thought like he did. You should not make fun or criticize another religion." Eaton died in 2007 at the age of 88.</p><p>Because of the actions of these 14 Black players, BYU signed their first Black player in 1970 (Bennie Smith) and in 1978 the Mormon Church reversed its policy on Blacks in the priesthood.</p><p>McGee went on to finish his college career and received his degree from Bishop College (a Black college in Dallas). According to McGee, he was scheduled to be a first round draft pick, but he ended up going in the third round (64<sup>th</sup> pick) to the Chicago Bears in the 1971 NFL draft. Word was sent out throughout the NFL, that McGee was part of the Wyoming 14 and was a trouble maker.</p><p> </p><p>He played 14 seasons in the NFL and played in back to back Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins, winning one and losing one.</p><p> </p><p>In 1985, McGee's created his own TV show called, “Pro Football Plus,” a weekly sports show that he hosts. </p><p>Unfortunately, when coach Lloyd Eaton was tapped on the shoulder; he was found unprepared for the moment that could have been his finest hour.</p><p> </p><p>Fortunately, McGee and his 13 teammates were well prepared for a time that proved to be their finest hour. </p><p>So, as we prepare to watch the upcoming Super Bowl, please take a few moments to reflect upon the sacrifice McGee and his teammates made. I have included a couple of links below for those who want to find out more about this moment in history.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bljO4ovARZQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bljO4ovARZQ</a> (made by a 13 year old)</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/robertshistory/fired_by_conscience.htm">http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/robertshistory/fired_by_conscience.htm</a></p><p> </p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i>www.excellstyle.com</i></a><i>) & U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com">www.usafricaonline.com</a>). </i></p></div>