Blogs

December 1, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Presidential candidate, Herman Cain, has had another trying week on the campaign trail.  Those who follow my columns know that I don’t usually write about issues that are salacious in nature, but, the situation with Cain has caused me to make a rare exception. 

Cain’s campaign has caused America to suffer from one massive “Cain Drain.” 

Cain’s candidacy has caused America and Americans to lose their minds!

What was Cain thinking when he decided to run for president wi

November 3, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has been the talk of DC this week, but for all the wrong reasons.  A political newspaper released a story about Cain being accused of sexually harassing two women while he was CEO of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) in the ‘90s.

According to the newspaper, Cain reached an agreement to settle with the two women for an undisclosed amount of money and all the parties were bound by a confidentiality agreement tha

October 27, 2011

Raynard Jackson

That’s right, Jimmy Graham!  Most of the public is only recently becoming aware of the story of Jimmy Graham.  I find this very unfortunate, but true.

Jimmy Graham is a tight end for the New Orleans Saints football team.  As of this writing, he is the leading tight end in the N.F.L. in terms of receptions and touchdowns.  But most importantly, he is proving to be a true “baller” in the game of life!

He was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina.  This 24 yea

October 20, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Fannie Lou Hamer (pronounced hay-mer) was one of the unsung pillars of the civil rights movement in the U.S.  She was a phenomenal woman—a woman of great determination and great purpose.  She was not one to hold back her feelings, especially when fighting for equality.

In 1964 she was elected Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP).  Their stated purpose was to challenge Mississippi’s all-white delegation to the Democratic National Conventio

October 6, 2011

Raynard Jackson

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.

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 “Horrible University.

September 15, 2011  
by Raynard Jackson

Last December, I wrote a column titled, “Michael Vick--From Vick-tim to Vick-tory.”  The premise of that piece was that Vick made poor decisions which ultimately caused him to serve time in a federal prison.  After leaving prison, his lifestyle suggested that he had truly turned his life around.  This again involved Vick making decisions that impacted his life.  So, almost a year later, I wanted to write a piece to update my readers on this wonderful story

On behalf of Rev. Michael Carter, National Chairman/President of Na

August 25, 2011 

Raynard Jackson

With all the attention being focused on the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week, I have been pondering what he would have to say about the state of his legacy.  In the immortal words of Lionel Richie (former lead singer of the Commodores):

“I may be just a foolish dreamer but I don’t care

Cause I know my happiness is waiting out there somewhere

I'm searching for that silver lining

Horizons that I've never seen

Oh I'd like to take just a

August 18, 2011

Raynard Jackson

How long will the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) continue to behave like a person who has been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) and has been prescribed Viagra by his doctor?

The male psyche is extremely fragile and when the doctor prescribes Viagra to him, initially it is a huge blow to his ego.  Then, there is an initial state of denial, followed by acceptance.

So it is with the CBC and their relationship with President Obama.  Obama has all but ignored

August 4, 2011

Raynard Jackson

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies used to be one of the preeminent think tanks in Washington, DC.  They focus on issues of particular concern to the Black community.

Over the years I have participated in or hosted panels with them that were very substantive and informative.  They were a think tank in its truest form---there to provide unbiased analysis, not to promote and agenda!

Unfortunately, those days are gone.  They no longer have the standin

We Who Like It Hot Call It ‘Black August’ (Revised version)

By ‘bro. zayid’*

It is the month when our oppressors have nothing to celebrate.

It is the month where the nature of our oppression and the boldest expressions of our resistance to that oppression have been made most plain.

We who like it hot call it ‘Black August’…

As a concept of resistance, Black August has its beginnings in the mid 70’s with the prison justice movement. It was inspired by the courageous legacy of Black Panther pr

July 21, 2011

Raynard Jackson

As the two supposed premier civil rights groups gather this week and next for their annual conventions (the N.A.A.C.P and the National Urban League, respectively), I want to challenge their agendas and then pose a few questions for them to answer.

When civil rights are discussed in the media, you never have the reporter define what civil rights are?  When you see Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton described as civil rights leaders, what does that really mean?  Who made

July 14, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Last month I was stunned while watching and listening to Beyonce being interviewed by Piers Morgan (from CNN).  Beyonce was promoting her new album and agreed to do what would normally be considered a routine interview.

Morgan asked Beyonce one question that was totally inappropriate.  I was quite offended that he would totally disrespect his interviewee; but what was even more offensive was the response that was given by the interviewee—Beyonce.  You can watch the

June 30, 2011

Raynard Jackson

More than 40 years ago, both political parties (Democratic and Republicans) made strategic decisions that are still being felt today.

In the 1960s, the Republican Party formally adopted the “Southern Strategy.”  The Southern Strategy was a deliberate strategy by the Republican Party of the 1960s concocted to win elections in Southern states by exploiting anti-Black racism among southern white voters.  These voters were previously loyal to the Democratic Party becaus

Originally Published on July 2, 2009

Raynard Jackson

Like a candle in the wind,

Your life came to a sudden end.

With “A Child’s Heart,”

You began your start.

You brought joy to many,

But in the end, you didn’t have any.

You had money, fortune, and fame,

If that’s all we remember, what a shame.

Now, they all say, “I Want You Back,”

But is that all just an act?

They all said, “I’ll Be There,”

I am not sure they really care.

While you were making your journey home,

Sharpton was already in front of the micro

June 9, 2010

Raynard Jackson

Last week, N.B.A. great Shaquille O’Neal announced his retirement after 19 years of playing professional basketball.  He stood 7’1” and weighed over 325 pounds (depending on the day of the week).  He was one of the biggest people to ever play the game.

He left Louisiana State University (LSU) after 3 years to join the N.B.A.  He was picked as the number 1 player in 1992 draft by the Orlando Magic.  He was chosen as the rookie of the year and went on to become one of

May 19, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Rick Welts, “I’m gay.”  Don Lemon, “I’m gay.”  Will Sheridan, “I’m gay.” Uhhhhhhhhhh,  ENOUGH!

Who cares?  Does the public really care about their sex lives?  Who these people choose to be romantic with is of no concern to me and should be of no concern to those who know them.

Rick Welts is the president of the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team.  He is very well respected and is considered one of the best executives in all of professional sports.  Don Lemon i

May 12, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Last night Michelle Obama hosted an “Evening of Poetry” at the White House.  She invited an eclectic group of poets to recite their poetry.  But, Fox News and right wing radio has singled out one performer—the Grammy award winning rapper Common—to be on the receiving end of their ire.

I don’t listen to his music, but from talking with friends who know him, he seems to be a nice enough guy and is very talented!  But, he has one song about shooting a policeman, therefo

May 5, 2011

Raynard Jackson

Of course all the talk this week has been of the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by the elite Navy SEAL Team 6.  I was hoping, at least in the U.S., that this event would allow America to come together, if only for a moment, and reflect on what makes America such a wonderful place.  But, I guess I was a bit too optimistic!

The word SEAL is an abbreviation for SEa, Air and Land.  They are part of the Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC).  They were formerly refe