Blogs

May 6, 2010

Raynard Jackson

Even non sports fans have heard of athletes like Terrell Owens (T.O.), “Pacman” Jones, Mike Tyson, O. J. Simpson or Ben Roethlisberger—for all the wrong reasons. But, I guarantee that most people have never heard of Myron Rolle.

Who is Myron Rolle? He is a recent Rhodes Scholar who is finishing his graduate degree in medical anthropology. He graduated from Florida State University (FSU) in 2 ½ years with a pre-medical degree in exercise science (with a grade point averag

April 29, 2010

Raynard Jackson

My position on illegal immigration is very public—I DO NOT SUPPORT AMNESTY under any circumstances. So, with the new illegal immigration bill signed into law in Arizona and the volume of phone calls seeking my opinion, I have decided to share my thoughts on this issue.

But this time, I want to try a different approach. Those who are interested in my detailed views on illegal immigration can go to my website and read some of my previous columns of this subject. In thi

The March 2010 CDC report stated that nearly half of black women in the U.S. carried the Herpes virus. Here's why those statistics and others like them may be misleading.

The March 2010 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sited startling high levels of the genital herpes virus among African American woman. The report found that 48 percent of African-American women have been exposed to the virus that causes genital herpes. The report gave many African Americans the al

April 22, 2010

Raynard Jackson

Just like Halley’s Comet only comes around every so often, so does a politician like Mississippi governor, Haley Barbour. He is completing his second term as governor and is term limited from seeking another term. Barbour, a lawyer by training, has one of the most impressive backgrounds of anyone on the political scene today.

He ran for the U.S. Senate in the early 80s (lost), worked in the Reagan White House, the campaign of Bush 41, and served as chairman of the pa

Republicans and Adult-ery

April 15, 2010Raynard Jackson

Now that I have everyone’s attention, let’s talk about the one way the Republicans can negate the momentum they have gained heading into the fall elections.

Political analysts all agree that this fall’s elections will be a referendum on the Obama administration and the Democratic controlled Congress. If the elections were held today, in all likelihood, the Democrats would be handily defeated in both the house and the senate (not enough to take

April 1, 2010

Raynard Jackson

With so much news coverage surrounding the heated rhetoric coming from the tea party, I thought it would be instructive to dissect their anger to see if we can come away with some understanding of their issues.

But let’s be clear on something. Tea party members are aligned with the Republican Party—no matter what both sides say. Name me one tea partier that is supporting a Democrat or the president’s agenda. This is part of the perception problem each group is having—t

HOW BLACK UNITY IS DELIBERATELY HINDERED TO MAINTAIN WHITE DOMINANCE

Many African Americans now holds the opinion that in the face of greater gained opportunities that many within their race became their own worst enemies. It is a perception that often engenders profound feelings of immense humiliation, racial self contempt, and disunity among many African Americans in the 21st-century. But are these depictions and self perception of African Americans correct?
Scores of African Americans now shar

February 25, 2010

Raynard Jackson

Last week Keith Olberman (host of MSNBC’s TV show Countdown) caused a controversy when he called the Tea Party movement racist because they are a mostly white movement and many of their members use a lot of language filled with hate. He went on to challenge people to review video footage and photos from the Tea Party’s events to prove his point.

Those in the Tea Party movement and others on the conservative side of the political spectrum went apoplectic because of

February 18, 2010

Raynard Jackson

Can you imagine Michael Jordan seeking advice on basketball from a ping pong player, or Tiger Woods seeking advice on his golf swing from a rugby player, or Bill Gates seeking advice on technology from a Buddhist monk?

Even Hollywood, with all its creative energy, could not have come up with such a script. Even if they did, no one would believe them. They would be run out of town. But, what would you say if I told you of a real life story that seems just as ridicul

February 11, 2010

Raynard Jackson

Republicans continue to play a dangerous game of politics that may give them short term victory, but will ultimately destroy their brand and viability. They are allowing fellow Republicans to enter territory that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Republicans would argue that they can’t “control” what others say and that people have the right to “freedom of speech.” All this is true, but there is such a thing as enabling a person to engage in destru