1st

they look out for #1

Thats a dumb question, well i take it back they say no question is a dumb question

ANYBODY who is BLACK should take responsibility for thier people and communities by investing and getting involved in thier communties. Any Asian person should do the same with other Asians and any White person should do the same with thier people. Then we all can co-exist substantially. MJ and Kobe and 99% of the actors, athletes, singers(beyonce) etc are just Sambos. The truth is the truth and the sooner you realize it the better.

Im having a hard time figuring how Barack is suppose to unite people and Black people aren’t united within thier own Race.

Jim Brown aint neva lied.

what do you want them to do.

They are absolutely responsible! Arizona was one of the last states to respect the MLK day…MJ, Magic and a host of other top paid/elite players continue to showcase their talents in AZ during this period and NOT ONE of them said a thing about how much of a BLACKEYE this was giving ALL Americans. So I have to agree with JB. Stand for something other than a check. OH yea, this goes for the Rappers/RB singers and the lot of celebrities!

Daniel…doing NOTHING…means nobody cares. Is that the message we want to send? Just asking?

All these old negro ways of getting the point across does not cut it anymore.

Of course it’s their responsibility. It kills me to see how few causes athletes with major money are supporting. They’re looking for a check written out to them instead of giving back. People (especially alot of black folks) these days don’t give a damn about their community or the welfare of the world they’re living in, as long as they have their white girl on their arm and money to spend, spend, spend.

It’s all about giving back and not forgetting where you came from, but these guys will never learn. MJ included, but KOBE worst of all!

But why are we assuming the MJ and Kobe don’t give back? I know that MJ has a huge community center in Chicago that was designed for underpriviledged kids. Sur emore cna be done….but how do we know what these individuals do?

They need to be advocates for ALL of America. Not just Black America.

Poverty, Illiteracy, etc. They need to promote positivity and a stance against such things. If a white athlete like Drew Brees can make a difference in New Orleans, why can’t a black athlete reach out across inter-racial lines?

(I would agree though that young, black america could benifit from strong black role models.)

I Have a Question:

WHY do blacks seem to think that you can help anyone else but self first? THERE is nothing wrong or racist about uplifting SELF(meaning your people) first THEN helping other, can anyone PLEASE tell me a race that doesnt do that and think like that besides us? If you can help everybody but yourself that is self-hate, you cant help or do anything for anyone unless you can do for self 1st!

co-sign with DMac

To whom that allot is given, allot is expected….

It comes with the job, being some sort of role model or at least giving back to your community. Although these guys are only human, they should take notes from Magic Johnson.

Mike and Kobe are too busy chasing behind their white women to give a sh!t about blacks and the community. It’s not until they get their own version of the “OJ” wake up call that they start to think about what it means to be black in this country and the responsibility they have as black celebrities. JB is on point. They and others like them are sell outs plain and simple. SMH

how they live thier lives is an example of what they do, its not hard to find out what MJ or KOBE are doing. Is there a such thing as the Black economy..No so your really don’t need to ask any further. opening up 1 or 2 or 3 community centers in your old neighborhood means very little when you have millions and could do this and much more accross all 50 states. There are people with NO MONEY who dedicate thier lives to the cause and give and do until they cant give anymore..and they were never millionairs to begin with. But money does not equate to the soul so its nothing new.

Jim Brown was on point. Some Black Male Americans stratify their manhood in sports, but not in academics, or other social issues such as absentee fatherhood, or men and women relationship issues. It is a surprise to so many people that Senator Barack Obama has made such a success in his career as a lawyer, and now as the Democratic Nominee because there are expectations of Black Male Americans to only succeed in music via rap, or sports-not politics. Barack Obama actually played basketball, and he could have went to a school and gotten into the NBA-but he didn’t do that-whereas Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant did-but we do not know if they have a bead on the situation with Black Male Americans’ plight of being overlooked for jobs that they are qualified for, or the fact that history from slavery is partly the reason some Black Men have hard time with the idea of being a father. Are athletes like MJ and Kobe responsible for investing in a positive future for Black America solely based on the fact that they are successful athletes?

Yes.

CHARITY STARTS AT HOME, THEN YOU BRANCH OUT HELP YOUR RACE, THEN HELP OTHERS. I LOVE ALL RACES, MY FAMILY FIRST, MY BLACK COMMUNITY SECOND AND I WOULD HELP EVER OTHER RACE, BUT IN THAT ORDER. UNTIL BLACKS START RESPECTING AND HELPING EACH OTHER,IT WILL CONTINUE. JIM BROWN IS TALKING REAL. BUT I REALLY WONDER, IF THEY PUT A HUNDRED MILLION IN HIS HANDS TODAY, WHAT WOULD HE DO FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY FIRST.

It would be too easy to jump on this bandwagon. Jim Brown may have a point but I’m more in the middle between personal responsibility and giving back responsibly. You can’t always have your hands open for a hand out and not help yourself.

And like Clutch says..how do we know how much people are giving to others?

Bottom line: Don’t wait and point the finger waiting for others to give you a handout. Things come your way when you help yourself.

They are selfish and want to say…I am not a role model….

If you don’t want to be a role model then keep your ugly a$$ off TV if you don’t want people in your business. Stop marketing your ish to black kids if you don’t want to be a role model…go to Japan and market Kimonos to the Japanese kids..

No, they want to make urban commercials while they live the sub-urban lifestyle. JB has it right….most black athletes are very hypocritical…and let Wendy tell it most of them are gay.

Most of these Black athletes truly don’t care. If the NBA, National Football League and the Black baseball players, combined resources into a single charity devoted to helping the poor Black communities, they could turn things around in a single generation. There are enough super rich Black people in America to do that today. Did you know that the PGA (golf) give more money to poor people and other charities than all the other sport franchises combined. Michael Jordon has always been selfish and stingy with his money. Nearly a decade ago he had a charity to help people but nearly 100% of the money from the charity was donated by sponsors who wanted to be associated with the brand name. When Michael was asked to contribute money to the cause guess what he did? He folded the charity and said see ya! Unbelivable! He would rather close it down than to part with any money.

this is why we have to give Lebron James some credit… he has said he wants to become a billionaire, however he recently registered to vote, and he is trying to get more young ppl involved politically. he realizes a lot of young ppl look up to him, and this is something that has to be done.

Well I must admit that athletes as a role model is a double edged sword these days!! These athletes are not really wrapped too tight themselves.. Just look how many of them are in legal trouble themselves… We really don’t need HOW TO BE AN IGNORANT BALL PASSING N!GGER WITH MONEY to be the theme of our youth either…

black people need to stop looking to someone else to help them out, look to yourself. stop thinking that someone owes you something because you are black. remember m.c. hammer gave back to “the community” and ya’ll called him a sellout because he wasn’t rapping about selling dope and slapping bi#%hes!

look to yourself!!! 1 luv

Oh yeah! KOBE IS A SNITCH AND WILL SELL THE BLACK COMMUNITY OUT FOR A PIECE OF SILVER, ASK SHAQ.

Jim Brown was on Point!!!!

Speak the truth brotha!

@ Chris.. actually Charles Barkley has done a lot for the poor, and recently he decided to pay a waiter’s tuition to go to a 4 yr university… im a chicagoan and as much as i LOVE Michael, Charles has done more to help out than he has.

Why does black america need Kobe and MJ to stand up for them? What? Black america don’t have two feet of their own??

quit the victim mentality and stand up for yo self!

@ craxter

word up!!!

Let’s be real. There has never been a unity among black people. If one checks the history books regarding slavery-that is clearly evident by the fact that there were African participants who sold other africans into slavery for supplies.

The impact of slavery in America is that black families could not really be families because the slave owners would sell them off to others, and most marriages in the black community could not be sustained.

The GI Bill was a neat trick. Yeah, it put money into the black man’s pocket-but when he got home from Korea and Vietnam, he still couldn’t get a job, or decent housing, or treatment for his experience in those lands. That’s occuring right now with the Iraq situation.

Some feminists should not refer to themselves a ssuch if they exhibit misandry-feminism is supposed to be about equality-but some Black women who have been so bitter about the misdeeds of Black men that they do hate him-and so that subconsciously one way or another.

I do not hate men. I do not hate black men. I love them, but there is faults with some of them. When MJ dates a white woman, my issue is no the fact that that woman is white. My issue is that MJ is saying by doing so “I hate black women” or “White women are better than black women”. Kobe? I have the same beef with him, and any black man who disenfranchises black women at the onset of his success.For the record, I do not think anyone woman of ethnicity is better than the other-any woman is a prize for a man, and love should be the reason he is with her-not because one ethnic group of women are trophies. White women are not trophies, and they are not submissive. They deserve respect. Black women deserve respect, too. We should be overlooked by black men or any man because of ignorant stereotypes. Yes, there are black women with relationship issues that are destructive, but not all of us are guilty of such things. The same logic applies to black men: Yes, there are some black men who do not represent black men the way they ought to-but there are some who do, and go above and beyond.

Open the book up to read it before you write a report on it.

Man this is crazy they are basketball players just because they are in the public eye means they supposed to save the world… It’s is plenty of lawyers, doctors, and engineers that are black. They don’t have to hear stuff like they are being bad role model for black. People are in life do different things some are speakers some are basketball players. You have to make your own way you can’t be waiting around for hand out from people that work hard to get where they at. You know how hard it is to get into the NBA.

Black. Woman, u speak with much sense. Kudos…keep on!

I don’t think people want them to give away handouts or stuff like that, because that only encourages a pity me mentality. But it would be wonderful if rich Black athletes and Rappers would create scholarships for poor students who want to go to university. It would be great if they would help provide tutoring programs early on for poor kids to encourage them to stay in school and pursuit a higher degree in the sciences. But let’s face it, that kind of commitment starts early in a child’s life with good parents taking on the role of responsibility for their children. But most of the times poor parents need a little help now and then with programs to help their kids succeed.

“Man this is crazy they are basketball players just because they are in the public eye means they supposed to save the world…”

LOL – trust me: the black male can barely save his own household!! I doubt very seriously he’s being asked to save the world!!! He is merely being asked that when he has the eyes and ears of so many wayward black youth he could be positive in his message..

NO it is not their responsibility to invest in the plight of the Black community just because they are Black. However, it is their responsibility to be the best player they can be. Some players today have no loyalty to the team or the fans that support them. It’s all about “me”. Much respect to the ones who invest in the Black community but it is not their “responsibility”.

It doesn’t matter what your status is, if you’re Black and live in America, it’s YOUR responsibility.

He makes some good points, BUT how in da hell does he know what they are doing? Plenty of people do things behind the scenes to keep the checks rollin in so they can continue to fund behined the scenes efforts.

Oh, like “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka” made a positive impact on the black community!

Nicca Please…

This is the same mofo who is always getting arrested for beating up his girl friends!

In 1986 he was arrested for beating up Debra Clark, his 22-year-old fiancee. He was 50 at the time…

Should I continue…

:-/

JB you just an OJ waitin ta happen!

Nicca please…

:-/

Quit telling the truth, Jim Brown.

Like Bill Cosby, your people do not appreciate those who tell the truth.

AND MCCAIN WAS ONE OF THE REASON WHY AZ WAS THE LAST TO HONOR MLK. HE VOTED AGAINST IT EVERY SINGLE TIME

Stinking black ape bastard!!!

Someone who refers to their fellow black man with those words automatically eliminate themselves from any mature discussion of race.

CNN.com

June 17, 1999

Web posted at: 4:32 a.m. EDT (0832 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN)– Former NFL football great Jim Brown was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles for allegedly making “terrorist threats” against his wife, authorities tell CNN.

Officers responded to a domestic violence call at 5:30 p.m. PT Tuesday (8:30 p.m.ET) at Brown’s home in Los Angeles and were met by Brown’s wife Monique Brown.

Following their investigation, Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested Brown, 63, for “making terrorist threats” against his 25-year-old wife.

According to LAPD officials, the charge refers to a California Penal Code describing “making a threat against a person who believes the threat is viable, that it could indeed be carried out.”

He was charged with a felony and taken to Hollywood jail where he immediately posted $50,000 bail and was released.

Monique was not injured, according to LAPD spokesman Eduardo Funes.

Meeko, that’s a good example u said about those $200+ dollar Jordans.

It amazes me that people will stand in line 4 hours in ALL kinds of weather, just 2 fork over a C-note or 2, just 2 buy a pair of sneakers that cost Nike about $1 2 manufacture.

Compound that with the fact that kids r getting mugged, shot, and killed over these shoes, and u learn that there is something seriously awry with the black community.

I just hope black folks line up outside the voting center on November 4th like they were putting the new Jordan shoe on sale….

I have been saying this for years about black atheletes. They don’t have a voice. I start asking why, dont they ever speak on the issues that African-Americans go through such as Jena 6. In the past we had heroes like Muhammed Ali, Kareem Abdul, Arthur Ash etc that were very vocal on the cultural issues. Unfortunately I think that most of our generation of young black men are just not leaders and don’t show any signs of black pride especially in the sports industry. They just care about money, fame, hoes and clothes. It’s so sad. I heard that the NBA and NFL restricts players from getting involved in political and speaking on conflicting cultural issues. Even still one has to make the choice to stand for something!!

ANYBODY WHO SAYS IT NOT THE RESPONSIBLE OF A BLACK PERSON TO HELP BLACK PEOPLE IS A SELLOUT TO THEMSELVES. Everyone is so concerned about themselves and not their people. He not saying they actually have to come to the hood and give out $100 dollar bills but they can motivate, encourage, and let kids be aware that they can do it to. Seeing them on TV is nothing to a child, because its not really real, but being visible and taking up and taking a stand to motivate your people is whats happening. Most of you say you dont care to help is because you can barely help yourselves, so you can not personal see why someone else would.

The first thing black athletes and/or celebrities can do to help out the community is marry a sista…or brotha. If all or most did that it would have an immediate effect on the community…creating more positive black power couples and understanding of the struggle we face. The second thing they could do is mentor some of the other up-and-coming brotha’s and sista’s trying to break into their respective fields. Those two things don’t even require money. That is…given they don’t screw up the first (the marriage)…LOL.

Sounds to me Jim Brown is only saying this to get attention. He makes a lot of great points but what commercials has Kobe done lately? Uh that part of his career is over because of Colorado and MJ is out of the league. I don’t like MJ at all but honestly if he doesn’t donate to charity would I care? No because its his money he can do what he wants with it same with Kobe. Seems to me Jim is bitter because he never got the same opportunities to make as much dough as MJ and Kobe do.

At least when Bill Cosby says something to this effect he’s not saying that MJ and Kobe owe the black community anything he’s telling the black community to be responsible for themselves and for that I agree.

It seems that our world is easy to sell out than to sell in, only a few black man are real legend! the rest are no different from the white man. take the movie scarface, we never look at the end of the movie the white man gets away! how many blacks do we ever see at the games! with all the money between hip hop and sports star every black child should have a change to go to a good school with all the money they blow on cars!! how many black teens now how to read the stock market? thats were the money is!!!teach kids that and we all will be ok!

“Stinking black ape bastard!!!

Someone who refers to their fellow black man with those words automatically eliminate themselves from any mature discussion of race.”

As should a great deal of black males.. They don’t deserve to even be at the table when race is being discussed.. Never in history has a group of people been so content bringing down their own as the black male is!! From selling his own into slavery right up to the house coon mentality he holds today this race is best served when he is not in the discussion…

I don’t agree with this statement. If somebody walked up to you and said, “I’m going to give you $2 million a year to do something you love,” wouldn’t you take them up on that offer?

To me, this seems to be a case of “hating” going on. While it is true, many celebrities kind of hide themselves in the public eye,but who doesn’t.

If they wanted to be a politician or something, they would have went into that, but instead, they wanted to do something simple, ‘Entertain’. They are paid to ‘Entertain’ people, and you can’t blame them if they are paid good money to do so!

Jim Brown for the record:

Vandalism smashed up the windows of his wife’s 1994 Honda Accord with a shovel (15-Jun-1999)

Death Threats allegedly threatened to snap Monique’s neck, acquitted (15-Jun-1999)

Domestic Violence charges dropped, 1986

Assault charges dropped, 1985

Rape charges dropped, 1985

Sexual Battery charges dropped, 1985

Battery allegedly choked a golf partner, 1978

Assault allegedly beat up a man after a traffic accident, acquitted (1969)

Assault allegedly threw his fiancee off a balcony, charges dropped (1968)

Resisting Arrest 1968

Assault accused of raping an 18-year-old, found innocent, 1965

Battery accused of raping an 18-year-old, found innocent, 1965

Answer: No.

Exactly “writers” why are people relying on professional athletes to make a difference. It would be great if they do but if they don’t so what? You don’t have to support them either. (And given how this blog seems to not like Kobe much and to an extent MJ why do they owe you a damn thing)

But there are black doctors, lawyers and even politicians who make a far bigger impact than any athlete could. Why not focus on them.

@ Vandalism smashed up the windows of his wife’s 1994 Honda Accord with a shovel (15-Jun-1999)

Death Threats allegedly threatened to snap Monique’s neck, acquitted (15-Jun-1999)

Domestic Violence charges dropped, 1986

Assault charges dropped, 1985

Rape charges dropped, 1985

Sexual Battery charges dropped, 1985

Battery allegedly choked a golf partner, 1978

Assault allegedly beat up a man after a traffic accident, acquitted (1969)

Assault allegedly threw his fiancee off a balcony, charges dropped (1968)

Resisting Arrest 1968

Assault accused of raping an 18-year-old, found innocent, 1965

Battery accused of raping an 18-year-old, found innocent, 1965

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COSIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“As should a great deal of black males.. ”

Wow! I can just sense the years of psychiatry it would take to eliminate that much resentment towards men.

If you think women bear no responsibility for the problem of race, you really should be shaking your damn head!

Er, they can dontate some stacks but something tells me these brothas aren’t the most educated in world issues to go around talking about them…

Jim Brown really needs to sit the hell down.He should have nothing to say about anyone-what about all the black women he has beat close to death?What about the one he threw off a third floor balcony?Was that helping the black community?I’m sure he doesn’t wanna mention none of that-he is so full of sh*t!!!!!!

@ Billy Blog Thorton(Check me out!)

The first thing black athletes and/or celebrities can do to help out the community is marry a sista…or brotha. If all or most did that it would have an immediate effect on the community…creating more positive black power couples and understanding of the struggle we face. The second thing they could do is mentor some of the other up-and-coming brotha’s and sista’s trying to break into their respective fields. Those two things don’t even require money. That is…given they don’t screw up the first (the marriage)…LOL.

————————————

I AGREE. Although education is VERY important, I believe that the root of the problem in the Afr. Amer community is the LACK OF FAMILY STRUCTURE. No one is this world can tell me that the fact that 70% of black mothers are unwed (compared to 23% of white mothers) doesnt negatively affect us.

The majority of those popular atheletes are just ignorant and stupid. All they worry about is pleasing the bigwigs that give them that money. Jim Brown is an embarassment too, he was like that when he was young, the only difference was then you can cuss out the bigwigs then, because it was very popular then, but now there are not going to speak out on nothing, because that hurt their wallets now. Look what happened to Eric Lasalle and Isiah Washington non-atheletes who spoke out against the bigwigs and was not phony and no one has there back and hurt their wallets, and you think they care, because they were real men in show business.

@ JIM BROWN

You get the “STFU Award for 2008″

Ol sour puss ass.

I agree with you completely Just Some Cat. Really if someone is going to tell me who I should vote for etc I would like it to be because they know what they’re talking about not because of their fame.

I AGREE AND I DISAGREE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, BLACK PEOPLE IT STARTS @ HOME TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

****Jordan is the all-time SELLOUT athlete in history. . .ask Craig Hodges.

Why does every other race of people have an insulated business community except for us. I guess we just work for other people and make other racial groups rich. The athlete make millions and give it right back to the Caucasoid.

“@ JIM BROWN

You get the “STFU Award for 2008″

Ol sour puss ass.”

LOL @ it literally ANGERING the black male to be asked to be a POSITIVE sight for sore black youth eyes!!! Why does the black male always get pissed when he is called out where he is lacking?? First Bill Cosby now Jim Brown and many others between!! EVEN WHEN ITS A BLACK MALE CALLING YOU OUT you STILL get pissed off!! Please WAKE UP and see just how pitiful that makes the black male look!!

As I always say this race is HOPELESS if its left on the black males shoulders!!

I don’t think it’s so much an issue of “these athletes need 2 cut each black person a check”, as much as these athletes who don’t THINK they r role models r wrong-headed.

_________________________________________________

Loveley one

I AGREE. Although education is VERY important, I believe that the root of the problem in the Afr. Amer community is the LACK OF FAMILY STRUCTURE. No one is this world can tell me that the fact that 70% of black mothers are unwed (compared to 23% of white mothers) doesnt negatively affect us.

_________________________________________________

There was a thread on Erykah Badu not 2 long ago about her 3 kids by 3 different men. Interestingly, it was the WOMEN in that thread who, 4 the most part, DEFENDED Erykah’s “choice”. They argued that women r not OBLIGATED 2 marry, and it was ALL about individual choice.

When u get some time, click on “Erykah Badu” and find the thread about her being pregnant 4 the 3rd time. Interesting read….

Share your life and love with friends online. [__"tallhub.com"__] it is a dating service for single guys or girls to find their romantic love.Maybe you will like it.Join it and find your girl or guy.

black folks dont know what to fight for and thats we are only pawns in the economy.

Do you know how quick we could shut America down if we did like out Latino brothers and sisters and not show up.Just imagine if the NBA stop working for ONE week? We could get a lot of things solved.Jim right about that.

I hear some of the hate about the black male and yes some of it is warranted, but lets be honest. Its just not the black male, the black person with the biggest voice isnt male, everyone knows its Oprah. Now how much is she doing to help the black community? You dont think if she voiced her mind and stood up for Jenna 6 that things would have been different? You dont think if she spotlighted the plight of black people on her show she couldnt change things?

Instead of opening a school in America to help young girls she goes to Africa, WTF. None of our rich enlightened blacks are doing anything whether they be male or female. The same way a black male runs to a white woman your black woman runs to the closet dope dealer she knows or rapper or any dude that has fame and money. Everyone is out for self, period.

Our community needs to wake up and realize its not about fame or riches. Its about helping your community. Its about creating companies so blacks can have a equal footing economically with everyone else. You dont see the asians or indians complaining. Their out forming their businesses and helping each other. When an indian has a gas station and hes made all the money he wants he sells it to another indian and goes back home to reinvest his wealth there.

I like in Atlanta and I drive down Buford Hwy and see the massive expansion going on there. For those who dont know it is primarily an hispanic neighborhood. They are reinvesting and creating jobs for other hispanics so that they want have to assimilate into mainstream culture. They live their own lives the way they want.

We are too busy wanting acceptance that we conform and forget about our brothers and sisters. Until we wake up and realize that we have to give back and uplift our communities we will never have nothing. And it doesnt start with our celebrities, it starts with each and everyone of us.

He does give back. He has a $150 a sneaker shoe line. AND Kobe….is Kobe.

MJ has done more to enhance the views of blacks by whites in this country than any single black person in the last 40 years. You may hate that he got rich for doing it, but being the best in a sport, dressing professionally, and learning to speak articulately has helped change the plight of blacks in society. He could have been like AI and stuck up his middle finger at the world, but he didn’t.

It’s a black person’s responsibility to help black people? Hmmm… not sure I agree with that.

I would help a black person achieve success if they showed the same level of passion, commitment and drive to achieve the type of success I already had. I agree in mentoring, but the people being mentored need to be like-minded.

Athletes have such a small window to make money in of course they are not going to speak out against social injustice and the like. Most speak out when their careers are over, unfortunately it’s too late because no one cares about you then.

Notice Bill Cosby didn’t say anything until he was off of television. As my mother always said to us growing up. You must make sure your own house is in order first, then worry about others.

That means for those complaining… is your house in order?

^^^^^YO MAMA DIDNT SAY THAT, IT WAS IN THE BIBLE

Hey Illuminate Truth,

How did FOX get started? Black actors and Black audience.Those Latinos that didn’t show up for work that day, they stopped shipments of food from getting to Ohio.It worked ,it only took one day.

KB Oprah is the founder of Oprah’s Angel Network which has donated well over 51 million dollars ALL OVER THE WORLD. These are donations made to the network. This is not even the money that she donates of her own. The point is that not only does SHE donate money WORLDWIDE as well as domestically she also encourages others to do so. She is reportedly the most charitable celebrity in our country!

I don’t understand why it is always such a point of contention for people that she opened that girls school in South Africa? I mean how evil…

You would think that people would be happy that she does for EVERYONE. She has sent hundreds of African American men to college FOR FREE.

Look at where her charity money has gone. IT HAS GONE MOSTLY TO AMERICANS. Ungrateful mofos….

Poor Jim Brown.

All those years of being bitter have only amounted to assualt charges and ridicule. Hopefully he will find something in his life that is rewarding and fulfilling.

why we talking about Oprah and Africa, we are talking about black people. we dont care about africa

What’s so ridiculous is that so many on this site demand more of the black people who made it, but won’t take a second of their own day to be nice to someone and get rid of that f’ing attitude.

40% of whites think blacks are violent; and my guess is 60% of those on this site contribute to it. It’s messed up that I’m so shocked to get good customer service that I tell my girl about it. It’s sad that if you say hello to somebody you don’t know or drive down a block you don’t live on, you get an ice grill; or a snooty b*$ch thinking it’s an insult if you are trying to holla. Then, you wonder why a cat who don’t want to win a bit*& over deals with white girls. It’ll be a nice time for our culture when you speak to someone you don’t know and 9 of 10 times you get a pleasant response; or if you approach a woman with respect, she politely declines if she isn’t interested.

“KB Oprah is the founder of Oprah’s Angel Network which has donated well over 51 million dollars ALL OVER THE WORLD. These are donations made to the network. This is not even the money that she donates of her own. The point is that not only does SHE donate money WORLDWIDE as well as domestically she also encourages others to do so. She is reportedly the most charitable celebrity in our country!

I don’t understand why it is always such a point of contention for people that she opened that girls school in South Africa? I mean how evil…

You would think that people would be happy that she does for EVERYONE. She has sent hundreds of African American men to college FOR FREE.

Look at where her charity money has gone. IT HAS GONE MOSTLY TO AMERICANS. Ungrateful mofos….”‘

AMEN!! What has the black male contributed but coon behaviors that violently set us back and teach our youth not to respect women?!?!

I don’t think MJ or Kobe owes anybody anything. They were gifted athletes who plays their sport well in which they are paid well. They owe their community nothing. They are only obligated to take care of their families and make sure their children are well cared for.

An overwhelming percentage of athletes suffer financially and are broke after retirement.

It is a kind gesture to donate to charity but that is all that should be expected.

Jim brown needs to stop the hating and sit his probably broke ass down.

I agree with you 110%, Just Some Cat. A lot black folk need to stop with that celebrity worship. Thinkin’ it is some NFL, NBA, and rappers duty to rescue people from the ghetto. It is going to take a lot more than black celebs to fix what is wrong with black people.

Personally, I could care less if celebrities (regardless of race) give back or not. It’s their money, they can do whatever they want with it. If they donate or invest, good for them. If they don’t, whatever. My life still goes on. I don’t jock celebs like that.

“Personally, I could care less if celebrities (regardless of race) give back or not. It’s their money, they can do whatever they want with it. If they donate or invest, good for them. If they don’t, whatever. My life still goes on. I don’t jock celebs like that.”

And this mentality is the reason we lag behind all other races as far as most things go!! Too busy running from who you are yet bringing the same mentality with you!!

Again, I agree.. I believe the majority of athletes – between getting shot, drug issues, rape issues, child support issues and so on and so on – I really don’t believe black athletes have what it takes to be positive role models.. They ususally have, even with money, the very same issues that plague our poor.. However, this attitude of I don’t owe my race anything or let them make money like I did is the reason we are the most divided unproductive race now!!!

MJ just gave $5m to an all boys black school in chicago. What does Jim Brown do other than get arrested for beating his women. Here is the story.

Last week ‘Parade Magazine’ published The Giving Back Fund’s second annual Giving Back 30 survey, a ranking of celebrities who made the largest public donations in 2007. Of course, Oprah Winfrey is at the #1 spot again dropping more than $50 million in donations last year. As far as athletes, Michael Jordan came in at #7, donating $5 million to Hales Franciscan High School, a historically African-American all-boys school in Chicago, and New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson came in at #12 for donating $3.5 million to the University of Arizona for a new basketball and volleyball facility.

Are athletes like MJ and Kobe responsible for investing in a positive future for Black America solely based on the fact that they are successful athletes?

No, they are only reposible for investing in their children’s future, future offspring, and their grandchildren.

@Kayla…true but what if MLK, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, etc…hell what if one POOR black woman just moved and never stood her ground…What if Obama said f* them…Im rich so I’m good…as long as my girls go to college.

It’s not all about you..or your children…ESPECIALLY when you have your wealth (unlike Obama) from the backs of the poor you choose to ignore.

Oprah does alot by showing how important literacy is as well as believing in your dreams…black athletes thinks the off-season is for drugs, strippers and making it rain on some white girls…they are hurting the cause…

TO ALL OF MY PEOPLE – please ponder this question: What if (GOD forbid) Obama is assasinated…what will black people do? Its not about begging someone for money because black people are very proud and will tell you to shove your mon&y up your a$$…

But who will march, who will shoot, who will pray…what leaders do we have (good or bad)??? Is it that far fetch to ask someone who proclaim to “BE THE BEST – THE GREATEST – NUMBER 1″ to be a leader…I thought that is what sports taught them…

The reason that MJ looks so lost right now without BBall is because he put a period in his life after BBall when it should have been a comma. He should’ve taken his “LEADERSHIP” skills with him off of the court…not be riding around in maybachs with teenage white girls…WAKE UP!

Rappers, athletes and actors shouldn’t be our role models. Our role models should be our PARENTS and other people that we see every day. What a person does every day is more indicative of determining their character than watching what they do on a basketball or football court once a week.

My mom and dad are my role models. They got up every day to go to work to make sure that their children were taken care of and their futures brighter. Also, my teachers set a great example for me. They taught me critical thinking skills and how to do research. They instilled me with tools that I can use everyday. My grandmother knows more ways to entertain a child that you could ever imagine. She’s a role model.

Rappers, athletes and actors are just strangers who happen to have skills that they get paid to perform very handsomely. They are NOT role models for us or our children. Furthermore, you know what ……….I don’t want them to be either.

If you want to know what a man truly believes………you look at two things………where he spends him money and where he spends his time.

wow! i need u 2 vote 4 me go to myspace.com/rairaib

It would be nice though if blacks felt a stronger sense of community. We heckle other ethnicities for owning all the businesses, but instead of focusing our kids on education, saving money, and reaching back to other blacks looking for a hand up once our arms are strong enough, people look out for themselves; as if it’s mutually exclusive to leaning on others.

A good friend I grew up with was so determined to have individual success in an industry that he declined assistance -his reasoning was that when he achieved success he wanted to know that it was he alone that did it.

I think that attitude is too pervasive in our culture; and, though we’ve proven the best athletes, entertainers, and marketers, a widespread focus among our children on industry will demonstrate our proficiency at doing those things at world-class levels too (Obama will prove to be the best president we have ever had).

You have to care about the success of the guy next to you. But contrary to Jim Brown, there isn’t one path to prove it.

“Ultimate Negrophobia”

It is a strange disease. It will make you hate yourself. It will cause you to think that anything that has African-American origin is less than perfect. Hate is like cancer. It results in a malignant evil that corrodes slowly and fatally and causes people to “cross the color line”—if not physically then M E N T A L L Y.

The disease will drive Black men to seek White women. Every time a Black man chooses a White woman, he is saying “above the threshold of consciousness,” White women present the exceptional beauty never before conceivable.

“Below the threshold of consciousness” the Black man is saying that Black women are not good enough—Step back—I’m the man! It will make Blacks to boast about having Grandparents with blonde hair and blue eyes. It will give way for blacks to mentions their Grandmother had long Indian hair.

It will cause White flight from “bad” Black neighborhoods and schools. It will cause a Black person to decorate their yards with White Santa Clauses and White nativity scenes at Christmas and Send White character Christmas cards to their friends. It will cause Blacks to buy White dolls for their children. It will cause the Black woman to go to the Korean run beauty supply stores and buy fake straight hair and blonde weave—just to have a bit of Whiteness.

Negrophobia has caused 28 million “light-skinned Blacks” to cross the color line and become “so called” white. Look around at the curly headed people with wide gaps between their front teen walking among you. There are even hair straightening products for “so called” White people. Twenty years ago any curl in the hair meant “person with Negro ancestry.” Today it means “naturally curly” hair. Flat noses and large lips were once considered “Negroid.” Black skin was once considered “Negroid.”

@Nina Knows…I agree…and both MJ and Kobe…stepped out on their families for young white girls…I heard MJ is not even in his son’s life like that..don’t get me wrong..his son is set for life…but growing up with daddy on the road and really not being home..He doesn’t really have a relationship with him!!

Then seeing how Mommy held the family down (trust Juanita was going to be successful regardless – she HAS a degree in Business and was making money) and how when daddy retired and finally has time for us…we too black for him…he rather spend his free time on the golf course chasing white girls…

the problem is modern day black athlete is stuck in the game like EA SPORTS they need to come back to EARTH.

@Kayla..

I disagree….who is buying their tennis shoes, etc…the kids in the black community more than anyone else. Jim Brown speaks the truth. He reminds me of the time I was watching TV and saw Kobe Bryant sponsoring a bowling fundraiser for some kids in Pacific Palisades (right next to Malibu in L.A.). Uh, I used to work in Pacific Palisades and they don’t need fundraisers there. Punk ass Kobe.

@jerrjones….you just made it a one sided argument..it aint the KIDS!fault either,,and you cant compare $150 shoes to a $50,000 car..dude aint hurtin for shoe sells.

It’s interesting that they use Michael Jordan and Koby Bryant to sell products like tennis shoes to our communities, but they don’t use them to sell education, health care or retirement plans.

realwoman:

If you want to miss the forest for the tree, that’s you. Whether you agree or not, attitude is way too prevalent in our community…both men and women.

You focus on the Civil Rights era stuff happening today that you only find out about from emails or ten minute Google searches. If you’re in an urban environment, it’s been 10-20 years or more since something like that has happened in you neighborhood.

I’m speaking of the stuff that happening right now, in your neighborhood, at your retail stores, on the corner of your block, or upstairs in your house.

Just because I think we can be better doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the many strengths and gifts we have.

I agree Nina…you can’t say BLACK PEOPLE UNITE..buy from black designers, grocers, banks etc. THEN turn around and say to those designers, grocers, banks etc. FVCK all the people who helped to make you an entity. You learn that in business ethics 101. Do you think all business owners WANT to give back? No, but they know that the community is watching.

It’s STILL up to you.

Honestly, do you honestly think that you can help black people?

For the black man…slavery and Jim Crow is back!! Whites do the same crimes..they don’t get the same time!! More black men are locked up then ever before….

Blacks and Whites together risked THEIR LIVES to free the slaves…but Kobe and MJ wont even SPEAK ON THE DISPARITIY OF SENTENCES WHEN IT COMES TO WHITE AND BLACK MEN!! WON’T EVEN SPEAK ON IT…

RAPPERS WILL AT LEAST TAKE ON THE UNJUSTICE WHEN IT COMES TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS….THE BLACK ATHLETE SAYS NOTHING UNLESS HE IS ON TRIAL…

Just like, Kobe was looking black as hell when his a$$ was on trial. White people jumped ship on him quick as hell.

Please tell me what’s really good?

realwoman:

Uncle Tom? Maybe it’s too late to reach you. I figure if you were a little younger, your name calling would’ve been a little slicker.

Perhaps, that’s cool to you, the way you japped out I’m probably describing you. I just don’t get the correlation. Are you suggesting that you can have whatever attitude you want because there are worse things going on? I forgot the comedian, but he suggested a man can’t consider himself a good dad because he didn’t go to jail. It’s a false equivalence. Because you haven’t seen my car down your block before doesn’t mean you should try to scare me from driving down it again, whether people are being falsely accused of rape or not.

You must be of the Jim Brown type. If it’s not your fight, it’s not a fight worth fighting.

Sad, but I hope that you’re channeling that energy into helping the victims of the atrocities you purport to care so much about. I figure that I can’t make a white girl brag to her parents about her black lover in this forum, but maybe I can get a commenter to be a little nicer today.

joe(Check me out!)

realwoman:

If you want to miss the forest for the tree, that’s you. Whether you agree or not, attitude is way too prevalent in our community…both men and women.

You focus on the Civil Rights era stuff happening today that you only find out about from emails or ten minute Google searches. If you’re in an urban environment, it’s been 10-20 years or more since something like that has happened in you neighborhood.

I’m speaking of the stuff that happening right now, in your neighborhood, at your retail stores, on the corner of your block, or upstairs in your house.

Just because I think we can be better doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the many strengths and gifts we have.

_____________________________________________________

Wait YOU are the one claiming that attitude is too prevalent in our community, not me. Seems like YOU are the one focusing on the diseased trees instead of the beautiful forest in its entirety ‘brother’. I meet tons of very nice Black people all over. I have had the fortune of running into more positive brothers and sisters than not.

Shoot when I go to a dept. store and I see a Black woman behind the register I get happy. I don’t forecast a nasty attitude! Stuff like that will bring it right to you. I am usually the one loosening up the mood because I know a job in retail is not easy. I have met more nasty whites than I have Blacks…

@Just Some Cat…is not about their money or your money…it’s about being able to take a stand and be heard…they are in the public eye and they never take a stand on ANYTHING…

Hell even Kanye spoke up against Bush, and even though he was briefly ridiculed…Bush still has not lived down Hurrican Katrian…what black Athlete did you see take a stand against the status quo…

Hell they were at the Olympics dapping him up and posing for pics with Bush. Lisa Lesley was one of the only black athletes to roll her eyes at Bush..everyone else grinned like black people were not over here suffering because of his RACIST policies.

How can you take a picture with a president who can come see you play basketball in China..but couldn’t get to the N.O. to save thousands….seriously how could you do that?

and how can you be seriously be called a leader (on the court) if you are a follower in life….

Kobe, Jordan, etc don’t “owe” anyone anything. It’s really that simple. Even though they do have charitable orginizations.

They would serve the community better by “picking” which “battles” to fight than to take the “Al Sharpton” approach.

SMDH:

You falling into the trap. The media got you generalizing about black athletes, as if they’re different than you and me.

Actually, I’d bet that there are a higher percentage of athletes that donate money and time than that of working professionals because they’ve been exposed and encouraged.

Don’t let them tell you what to think. They don’t care about the effects of disproportioned reporting of negative events because they’re getting paid to do it; how are you gaining from being influenced from it?

@Man I just don’t care, Jordan is damn near fifty and he hasn’t stood for anything yet…but his endorsements of course!!!

The brother in your Gravie was a real brother…although he was a criminal (people love to bring that up) he was for empowering his people…and he didn’t have all of the millions.

joe(Check me out!)

realwoman:

Uncle Tom? Maybe it’s too late to reach you. I figure if you were a little younger, your name calling would’ve been a little slicker.

Perhaps, that’s cool to you, the way you japped out I’m probably describing you. I just don’t get the correlation. Are you suggesting that you can have whatever attitude you want because there are worse things going on? I forgot the comedian, but he suggested a man can’t consider himself a good dad because he didn’t go to jail. It’s a false equivalence. Because you haven’t seen my car down your block before doesn’t mean you should try to scare me from driving down it again, whether people are being falsely accused of rape or not.

You must be of the Jim Brown type. If it’s not your fight, it’s not a fight worth fighting.

Sad, but I hope that you’re channeling that energy into helping the victims of the atrocities you purport to care so much about. I figure that I can’t make a white girl brag to her parents about her black lover in this forum, but maybe I can get a commenter to be a little nicer today.

_____________________________________________________

Really…read what you are writing. I am not here to have an elaborate childish name calling battle with you DUDE. I called you an UNCLE TOM for that comment you made about a Black man going after a white woman because of the nasty attitude of a few Black women he may have approached. That’s it. Really not all that complicated. This comment right here:

“or a snooty b*$ch thinking it’s an insult if you are trying to holla. Then, you wonder why a cat who don’t want to win a bit*& over deals with white girls.”

is NOT going to work for this “but maybe I can get a commenter to be a little nicer today.” Seriously…follow my lead because your NEGATIVE energy is not the business right now. I am trying to help you out using the same method you did trying to make ‘commenters’ a little more pleasant…lmao I see you didn’t like it too much though.

@Just sayin

Those are good points. I have to co-sign. Jim is telling the truh, but he’s literally calling the kettle black.

to just sayin…just because a black man gets arrested and charged with a crime don’t make him guilty..JB has done a hell of alot for the black communities ( see his work on stopping gang violence ) besides do your research on cointelpro.. the CIA and FBI their work in the black communities using local law enforcement to assist their work..check out John Potash book on the FBI war on Tupac Shakur and other black leaders…you may back off your Jim Brown vendetta. Besides ALL THE PROPAGANDA THE MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT BLACK FOLK BROTHA GET REAL….To SMDH ease up off the brothers I know there are some f’ed up brothers just like it is some scandalous sistas…but their are some good brothas married holding it down raising a family and helping in the communities… you do have a right to your feelings but your rhetoric is no different than a white racist

Firstly, Tiger Woods is half black (just like Obama) why is it that black people feel that bi-racial kids should only identify with their black side.

@Just some cat

I have to take you to task on this statement. exactly what qualifies one as half black? How is that so? My point is, every Black American arguably has other ethnicities in their family history-so to say one person is half black doesn’t make sense to me. almost every black person in the United States is mixed. The ‘Massa’ was screwing his female slaves, and the Missus was screwing the male slaves.

That’s all I wanted to say.

@ CRACKSTER, THE ONLY BUSINESS YOU ARE PRESIDENT OF IS A DRUG CARTEL. GET REAL. AS POORLY AS YOU WRITE IS AS POORLY AS YOU SPEAK. NO ONE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY WHO IS EDUCATED AND ABOUT BUSINESS WOULD WORK WITH YOU UNLESS YOU WERE A DEALER IN ILLEGAL SUNBSTANCES. GET REAL.

get rich and not die trying, thats what i haf to say son.

No, that isn’t all I wanted to say.

I said that almost every black person in the United States is mixed. This is true. I feel that black pundits like Cornell West and Tavis Smiley think that black people should identify with ONLY the black culture because our history in America has not allowed us to identify with any other culture that is ingrained in our family’s history. Look at my picture. Can you tell that I had a white great-great grandmother? To society, I am a black woman. Period. It does not matter that I am native of Cherokee and Blackfoot, or that I have ancestors and cousins in England-it only matters that I am black.

I am proud of my black culture. I descend from Angola on my father’s side and Madagascar on my belated mother’s side. But, my mother is was partly white, and that’s a fact. My grandmother showed me the pictures. But, she left off by saying “In this country, you are a negro.” That let me know that it is not so much as the fact that people are unwilling to express their other cultures-it’s that the United States sociological frame will not allow a black person to do so without it being a backlash from whomever it would offend.

@ Black Woman

“I have to take you to task on this statement. exactly what qualifies one as half black? How is that so? My point is, every Black American arguably has other ethnicities in their family history-so to say one person is half black doesn’t make sense to me. almost every black person in the United States is mixed.”

I say that because his birth mother is from Thailand, his father is Black. Your point about the mixing of our race is correct, but if I take what you said to task, then Tiger is less than half black. His mother is 100% Thai, with his father being an American black which ususally has some mixing in the background.

All I was tryin to say is some blacks do their best to dog out other blacks who they don’t consider to be “black enough”. Instead what they should doing is saying damn that brotha made it maybe if I do the exact same thing i can too.

I’m lucky, I grew up with a strong black father who whupped self-reliance into to my ass daily. There’s our biggest problem in a nutshell. I’m not saying single black mothers can do a good job, but the job wasn’t meant to be theirs alone.

I just hate all the hatin.

I Like MJ & I respected his b-ball skills but, let’s just be real any body that sell their sneakers for almost $200.00 really doesn’t care about giving back I have yet to hear about Jordan giving away any of his gear for back to school drives or anything pertains to that nature. If he does I apologize but, I doubt it.

I have to interject.

Black people have it ingrained in their history to bear many children. Slavery….?

I’m not saying slaveryis the excuse for what are bad choices in the black community, but what I am saying is history has been said to repeat itself. I pray that is NOT true on election day (vote of Barack/Joe on Nevember 4), but the point is, black menand women have been taught in history to o certain things. And certainthings have been happening throughout history, it’s just that now it’s seeming out in the open-but I heard a saying once that nothing is new under heaven, so….

Nina Knows:

That’s real. Until we got it, a lot of us are going to need them to get it.

Adapting my business too. We need a forum to bounce ideas. I got a guy who refused to tell people his idea, thinking cats will steal it. We need a sense of community, even if it’s web-based, for support, further insight, and possibly a connect we’d never have had.

I’m trying to catch the wave of this energy independence movement in real estate (40% of all energy use). Guilty pleasure got me on here an hour and half cat fighting with Real Woman.

@Joe>>>May I ask you a question? Do you think white people don’t encounter other whites with attitude? I live in a predominately white city, and trust and believe, they have issues with themselves as well. Please stop the “tiptoeing around the plantation mentality” always worrying about what white people think. Some whites, regardless of how many “good Negroes” they encounter, will still have a negative attitude toward ALL black people because they feel they are superior and have a sense of entitlement. I’ve met white folks that as long as a black person is a good “Negro” and he/she stays in his/her lane and doesn’t get uppidy, they’re cool, but as soon as a black person does something they deem “inferior” or something they don’t like, they bounce. Just ask Oprah.

@Just some cat

I agree with you 1,000,000. Black people tend to hate themselves worst than any other ethnic group in America, and there is no excuse for it. The only problem is, some of us do not want to listen to intelligence and logic.

My fear behind the story I posted is that there will be a negative backlash of people who support Obama. They may think he is the same way with his daughters, even though that is NOT true.

Nancy Reagan broke her hip, and I am afriad that will garner sympathy votes for McCain

VOTE NOV 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i kinda agree with jim brown. i grew up idolizing jordan but when i got older i could see what jim was talking about. i remember them asking jordan about donating to children in africa and he kinda brushed it off. i havent heard anything kobe has done either.

@KB

Ms Oprah is number one on the list of giving to charities. Ms. Oprah helps and gives to black people more than any other celebrity. Go look it up. Now that being said, why would a black woman that most black men would not give the time of day to give money toward black boys and black men? Why give to people who will always put “other” women above black women? What for? They don’t give back to the black community so why give anything to them? You can get as pissed as you want, but you know you are not about anything, but yourself.

“i havent heard anything kobe has done either.”

Shawn, if kobe did something like this and its all over the news, you be like he did it for publicity, etc, etc. they just can’t win, they just can’t do ANYthing without anything bad being said about it..

snoop d o double g

I miss the days of the articulate and strong black athlete. Most athletes are busy cooning and dancing on the field or court. John Chaney and John Thompson held their athletes accountable and didn’t let them buck dance on the court. Magic Johnson invest his money back in areas populated with black people. Say what you want about Magic, but first look at yourself and see if you have done a fraction of what he has done. These athletes today are so busy crying and having emotional breakdowns, or they are unable to control their behavior. Many of them never reach manhood, or become responsible family men. They will leave babies everywhere by multiple women though and then step off.

Jordan has done plenty for Black America. Not only does he lead by example (By being a great athlete and businessman) he’s also given plenty of other athletes oppportunities not to mention the jobs he’s created through his brand. I don’t understand why if I’m succesful I have to take care of those who aren’t on their A game. Everyone should be responsible for themselves. That’s the problem with a lot of folks always expecting and wanting a handout instead of being a go getter.

It doesn’t just take money to uplift a community or a people. Sure it’s nice to give back, but we can all take responsibility for our own and stop assuming it is the responsibity of others.

All black people have a responsibility to our community, this in not just on the shoulders of the celebrities for setting good examples, but all of us, from bus drivers to business men. Although celebrities have the most influence and more exposure so you would think that they would want to (and many do) want to make a difference. As for Kobe and MJ, black pride and giving back is not high on their priorities, so we should turn our attention and money to players like Shaq &Stephan Mabury – created an affordable basketball shoe, Warren Dunn – buys and furnishes homes for single mothers, Lavernius Cole who talked publically about his molestation in order to diffuse some of the stereotypes about child abuse and make it easier for boys to come out about abuse. With success comes responsibility. This is not a law but a moral commitment. No they don’t have to give back but morally they are obligated to give back, it’s the laws of the universe. Look at O.J. his professional and public career was much like MJ and Kobe and look at him now, when you do right by people you reap the benefits or suffer the consequences.

Michael Jordan’s achievements on the court can be matched only by his committment to childrens’ and family causes.

He’s involved with numerous charities including the Boys & Girls Club of America, UNCF/College Fund, Special Olympics and a variety of Charitable organizations that support children and families. Protecting children and providing a stable, healthy family environment continues to be a goal

i’m pretty sure it’s black kids in these organizations

Athletes do have a social responsibility to represent their communities and use their celebrity for the greater good. Unfortunately, atheletes are not held accountable for their actions as individuals and the impact it may have on those who admire and adore them. Furthermore, outside of any criminal act (where community service or jail time is a part of a court plea) — community involvement is a meer after thought and is mandated only for a few “team” events in a given season – where athletes must participate (or face a financial penalty).

IF these guys don’t have to do something that is mandated by the professional team which pays them, don’t expect them to be on the front lines defending the likes of Barack Obama.

Case in point — I wouldn’t expect the NFL to require its players to speak on controversial issues (because they have to much to lose from a financial impact of endorsers) BUT I do expect the public to demand more attention and commentary from our biggest and brigthest sporting personalities on where they stand in regard to social issues — and what they will do to help.

Obama “…there is no such thing as Black america…” he goes on stating no white, asian, etc… just America. I dig that. Speaking if the world was color blind but it ain’t so yes there is a Black America! confussing as it seems there is

Nah Kobe is a total sell-out. really worthless in the community

why do people think other people owe them anything, you may be better off than a bum. Do you take the time to go feed bums everyday? i’m sure u don’t. Are you a sell out for that?

What makes entertainers/atheletes responsible for representing our race? By virtue of being able to sing/dance/rap/play ball is intelligence automatically given? What we need to do is look at how we can bring ourselves up, get that education and be the role models that our children need. I’ve heard some of the people during interviews and I don’t need them speaking for me; the new-age atheletes ae not as articulate and educated has some of the older atheletes who completed college. Kobe and MJ can do their thing and it won’t chnage my life in any shape form or fashion. Now when Senator Obama does his thing that will have an immense influence on my life!

Note to blaq: I don’t recall a whole lot of black people supporting Kobe(not that they owed him anything either) in fact it seemed folks were thrilled it happened and hoping he got convicted regardless innocent or not.

they sell outs, plain and simple, they in it for the non-black women that they can flaunt and the status and to try to be up there with the white man. Look at the price of MJ’s gear, if he gave a f*** aobut the black community in which he so desparealty wante dto escape, he’d do something about lowering the price so his low-income FANS could live the dream!!

@Kayla…true but what if MLK, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, etc…hell what if one POOR black woman just moved and never stood her ground…What if Obama said f* them…Im rich so I’m good…as long as my girls go to college.

It’s not all about you..or your children…ESPECIALLY when you have your wealth (unlike Obama) from the backs of the poor you choose to ignore.

——————————————————————————————————

Do 60 Percent of NBA Athletes Go Broke Five Years After Retirement? An Ex-Player Says Yes

By: F. Finley McRae, BlackAmericaWeb.com

Officials representing the National Basketball Association and the organization that speaks for its players have strongly disagreed with an explosive Toronto Star article alleging that 60 percent of them “go broke” five years after retiring.

The article, printed in the newspaper’s Jan. 31 issue and written by Star sports writer David Feschuk, was based on a statement reportedly made by former NBA player Roy Hinson.

In a recent meeting with NBA players, according to Feschuk, Hinson said that “60 percent of former players who go broke is a ballpark, but we’ve seen a lot of guys who’ve really come into hard times five years after they leave the league.”

At least 75 percent of NBA players are African-American.

NBA players’ salaries average $5.6 million a year. The league is comprised of 30 teams, each with 12 men. There are approximately 360 NBA players, excluding the ones who replace injured men during the season.

If the 60 percent figure is accurate, some 216 current NBA players will go broke not long after they retire, despite collective earnings of more than $1.2 billion during the 2007-2008 season and additional billions during their careers.

——————————————————————————–

This article sheds light on the fact that a large number of NBA athletes are in financial trouble after retirement.

They owe it up to the fans to play well and do their job to the best of their ability. They can give to a charity of their choice which many of them do but that is it.

Their families and children should be their main concern as anyone who is gainfully employed and have a family to support.

This Jim brown seems like he has a serious case of hatorade.

Take Michael Jordan. To me, he’s full of bull. He’s hiding his true self. All he cares about is getting ahead, being popular and enjoying the wealth of this country. Same with Kobe Bryant. For them, it’s all about making money and doing all the commercials.” Brown expects more from today’s athletes.

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Why wouldn’t he enjoy the fruits of his labor. Nobody handed him anything. He worked damn hard for all of those rings he has.

Michael has donated to so many charities which you can google.

Kobe has earned his rings, wealth and success through hardwork. He has charities that he donates to as well, so I don’t know what Jim means by reinvesting in the culture.

It seems like Jim is jealous of their fame, wealth and success that he wish he had. I only remember him from that movie “I’m gon get you sucka”.

@ BLAQ, YOU SAID IT CORRECT. THAT’S REAL. THEY WANT TO BE BLACK WHEN THEY GO BROKE AND WHITE MAN DON’T NEED THIER ASS ANYMORE. AND NONE OF THOSE WHITE WOMEN COME AROUND AND HELP THEM OUT. THEY WANT THE SISTERS TO HELP .

Nope… It’d be nice, but athletes get where they are based on hard work and god given talent, so… Themselves and god, those are the only people that they are beholden to, just like everyody else. If you don’t like how they act, dont contribute to their riches, i love watching basketball and could care less how they feel about politics.

@Blaq WELL SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Q: Are athletes like MJ and Kobe responsible for investing in a positive future for Black America solely based on the fact that they are successful athletes?

A:YES !!

I don’t think Jim Brown is jealous or wrong for saying what has said. There is a difference between just giving money to charity and standing up. Most rich folks give money to charity as a tax write-off anyway but where MJ, Kobe, and the likes fall down, IMO, is their voice and the power of it. Rich folks giving money goes without saying, but to stand up to an issue is something different. These dudes have a platform from their fame to make a difference with their voice. Everybody knows racism is wrong but yet none of them will stand up and say it’s wrong publicly. Or go on record to say how they feel about it.

MJ’s favorite when pressed about why he doesn’t get involved with this issue or that issue is, “well, I don’t know enough about to make a statement about it.” Well, learn about and then speak on it. But I guess he’s scared like the rest of these dudes that their stakes will be taken away somehow.

Magic has done more than these two buffoons(gambling-MJ n cheating-KB). I can pay $8 bucks at a matinee showing at the cinema and the remaining $2 for my St.Ides. Thanks Magic, I do not have $300 for a pair of sneakers.

NN.com

June 17, 1999

Web posted at: 4:32 a.m. EDT (0832 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN)– Former NFL football great Jim Brown was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles for allegedly making “terrorist threats” against his wife, authorities tell CNN.

Officers responded to a domestic violence call at 5:30 p.m. PT Tuesday (8:30 p.m.ET) at Brown’s home in Los Angeles and were met by Brown’s wife Monique Brown.

Following their investigation, Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested Brown, 63, for “making terrorist threats” against his 25-year-old wife.

According to LAPD officials, the charge refers to a California Penal Code describing “making a threat against a person who believes the threat is viable, that it could indeed be carried out.”

He was charged with a felony and taken to Hollywood jail where he immediately posted $50,000 bail and was released.

Monique was not injured, according to LAPD spokesman Eduardo Funes.

Allow me to school you on something. The messenger need not be perfect in order to deliver the message. Jim Brown,just like Bill Cosby are imperfect people who have indeed made mistakes,but it does not make what they are saying WRONG! You can throw as much dirt on Brown and Cosby as you want,but it does not and it will not change the fact that the two of them combined,have done MORE for their communities than every athlete and rapper out here right now,combined!

Jim Brown, spoke the truth! I think its important when you are of elevated status you should take a stand and speak out. We have seen neither MJ or Kobe endorse Obama, go to Jena 6 or anything like that. I think as a people we would strike a mighty blow if all of our celebrities and athletes stepped up and spoke out for something other than their checks! We all have a responsibility to each other. JB can say so because he was an athlete in a time when there weren’t sneakers for black athletes. I’m glad he called them out. There needs to be more accountability. OBAMA 08!

This is coming from Jim Brown woman beater, that today’s athelete’s don’t know their impact or care… well neither did you, JB!! Get over it your days in football have passed, it was your choice to leave early blame yourself if your not happy.

Sports figures, actors, actresses, etc. should stay out of politics and stop trying to influence people to pick their candidate. All because they made it famous or became sports stars doesn’t make them smarter. Most don’t have any sense or clue when it comes to the political arena, but the sheep line up to follow what they say as if they were God.

Though not exactly �random�, the IBM and Westinghouse logos contain no intentional symbolism. The �bells and whistles� were added to differentiate the logos and make them look distinctive in a wide market, though not to symbolize any of the two company�s dealings.