Chris Brown Doing Community Service!

The New York Daily News reports that singer Chris Brown began serving his 180 days of community service yesterday in his home state of Virginia. Brown's location was supposed to be a secret, however he kept everyone abreast of his whereabouts via Twitter. While it's debatable whether Brown will be able to reclaim his crown as the heir to the Usher's of the world, I'm sure he'll be glad when he serves his penalty for his altercation with Rihanna, and can get back to making his fans happy with his music and dance moves.

Is The Obama Backlash Racist?

President Barack Obama's election last November as the first African American President became the true litmus test in our country concerning how far we've come in terms of race relations. Opposition to Obama views seems to have become extremely passionate as the health care reform debate has gained momentum on both sides. Opposition to reform in Town Hall Meetings has become increasingly rowdy, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during the President's speech to Congress was especially disturbing.

Former President Jimmy Carter has stated that Wilson's outburst is tied to racism. It's obvious that the racial divide in our country has not diminished with the election of Barack Obama, however a faltering economy may have as much to do with the opposition's passion as much as anything. The reality is that President Obama was elected during one of the worst economic downturns in our country's history. His success ultimately will be determined based on his ability to impact change as he promised. So far the jury is still out on whether he can deliver on his promises, and that will ultimately drive public perception of Barack Obama, not the color of his skin.

Is Kanye West Really This Important?

Kanye West set the whole country into a frenzy when he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech Sunday night at the VMA's. Everyone it seems, including President Barack Obama has an opinion on Mr. West's outburst. The President reportedly called West a "jacksass" in an off the record remark. Perhaps President Obama has forgotten that his responsibility is to run the country instead of commenting on a rapper/producer who is obviously dealing with a few demons.

West made an appearance on Jay Leno's show last night and was clearly uncomfortable and at times incoherent in his responses. He appeared to be sincerely sorry for the outburst, and appeared to be calling out for help, stating that since the passing of his mother he hasn't had a break and that he plans to take some time off. It's amazing with all of the problems that we're having in this country that our president has time to worry about Kanye West. While Kanye may not be perfect, he has done a lot of work to uplift young people through his foundation. At the end of the day, he's still a talented multi millionaire, and flawed like the rest of us (I even think that knowing that he was going to be on Leno that West possibly orchestrated his outburst). In the big picture of all of our problems, while it's interesting to psychoanalyze Mr. West, he's really not that important.

Kanye Upstages Swift's Award Win At VMA's!

Kanye West continued his sometimes bizarre behavior last night after singer Taylor Swift won Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards show last night. Swift's win in the female video category apparently didn't sit well with West who ran onstage proclaiming "Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!" "One of the best videos of all time!" Boos began ringing through Radio Music Hall, with Swift unable to finish her acceptance speech. Swift later reclaimed a sense of normalcy when Beyonce asked her to come back on stage after winning her own award for Video of the Year.

Kanye West is obviously a musical talent, but he has to realize that his relevancy can be taken away from him if the public decides that they've had enough of his behavior. While Kanye did later apologize via his blog, If Kanye wants to "blame it on the alcohol" that excuse may not be acceptable after last night.

Tyler Perry Still #1!

Tyler Perry continues his hot streak, as his latest movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" made $24 million over the weekend making it the #1 movie. The movie starring Oscar nominated actress Taraji P. Henson proves that Perry is one of the top brands in the movie business, and his movies rarely disappoint.

Mom Doesn't Defend Serena's Meltdown!

Serena Williams had a major melt down last night during her semifinal match against Kim Clijsters, when a line judge apparently made a wrong foot fault call. Serena started dropping the f-bomb, yelling to the judge "I swear to God, I'll f --- take this ball and shove it down your f -- - throat. " This tirade resulted in Serena receiving a code violation (her second violation during the match), causing her to lose the point and subsequently the match. Serena's mother, Oracene, did not defend her daughter's behavior, stating that "She should've kept her cool."

Serena did not want to discuss what she said during her press conference, and was so cool she could've frozen water. She'll learn from this episode, but her image may take a short term hit. The outburst does show the fire that burns within Serena, next time she just has to allow it to ignite after the match. It will be interesting to see how the mainstream media slants this episode. Yes, Serena was clearly out of line, but the call apparently was a bad call. Referee's in any sport should not determine the outcome. Thanks to the New York Daily News for the link.

La Toya Talks MJ With Barbara Walters!

La Toya Jackson sits down with Barbara Walters and talks about her late brother Michael in an interview that will be broadcast tonight on "20/20." La Toya describes how MJ was dressed and made up as he was finally laid to rest last week. La Toya along with Jermaine are the Jackson siblings who never met a microphone that they didn't like, so I'm sure the interview will be lively.

The Jordan Legacy!

Michael Jeffrey Jordan takes his place among the other NBA greats tonight when he will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan's legacy is secure as simply the greatest basketball player of all time, and for me it's not even an argument. He's arguably the greatest athlete of all time, with perhaps Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods providing argument in that conversation.

Jordan made it cool to be bald again, he always dressed impeccably when doing after game press conferences, and hopefully set an example of how a black man should carry himself in a professional setting. While the black male continues to struggle with an identity crisis in our society in some cases, Jordan's will to win and competitiveness are attributes that would set anyone on a positive path towards success. Jordan is simply the standard in which all basketball players are measured, and the Chicago Tribune offers a special report on "His Airness."

Ludacris Gives Away 20 Cars To Those In Need!

The hip-hop community is fast to be criticized for doing the wrong thing, but rapper/actor Ludacris took time out to help 20 people in need by giving away 20 used cars at a Morrow, GA car dealership near Atlanta on Sunday. Recipients of the cars had to write an essay to Ludaris' foundation explaining their need for the car, which comes with 30 days of free gas. While recipients are responsible for taxes, registration and insurance for the cars, Ludacris did remove the burden of having a car payment to the lucky winners. Thanks to the New York Daily News for showing "Luda" some love.

Jordan Chooses Thompson To Present Him To Hall Of Fame!

Michael Jordan will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. He could have chosen anyone from Dean Smith to Phil Jackson to present him to the esteemed group, but instead he went will a fellow North Carolinian, who he idolized as a kid, David Thompson.

In case most people don't know Thompson is in the Hall of Fame, and was nicknamed "Skywalker" because of his 48 inch vertical leap. It was rumored that Thompson could snatch a quarter off the top of the backboard at one time. Thompson played college ball at North Carolina State, then played with the Denver Nuggets first in the ABA, the NBA when the league's merged. I've included footage of Thompson's top 10 plays for all of you to feast your eyes on, he was truly great, although injuries and drugs derailed his career at the end.

Van Jones Finally Resigns!

It's not a good sign when your "Green Czar's" most controversial comments can be Googled for the world to see and hear and really not a good sign when the White House didn't give Van Jones a vote of confidence this week. Very quietly, Van Jones resigned from his position with the Obama administration this morning.

Jones had come under fire from Republicans and talk show host Glenn Beck for his comments from calling George Bush an unflattering name to his name appearing on a 9/11 petition questioning whether high level government officials had allowed the attacks to happen.

President Obama erred in a major way on the appointment of Jones, and even with his resignation, conservative pundits will be armed with more ammunition to challenge Obama's true views as they see them. The other interesting part of this story is that the mainstream media really didn't cover the Jones' story until this weekend. The best thing for the President to do would be to compromise on health care reform, even if it's watered down, get it passed and move on with running the country.

Basketball Argument Leads To Killing In Philly!

A West Philadelphia Recreation Center which for years has been a safe haven for neighborhood boys and men turned deadly yesterday afternoon when an argument resulted in two brothers being shot, one of them fatally during a basketball game. One of the 2 brothers, who were not identified, was 23 and killed after being shot in the abdomen. The other brother, 19, was grazed in the head by a stray bullet and subsequently released after being treated at a local hospital.

It seems that no place is safe from violence, and the sad commentary on our country with violence being the easy answer continues. Thanks to the Philadelphia Daily News for the article.

Michael Jackson Finally Buried!

Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest last night at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA. The service, which was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. was delayed by the late arrival of the family who arrived in a 26 car procession. Among the estimated 200 guests at the service were Elizabeth Taylor and Quincy Jones. Hopefully Michael can rest in peace now.

Oprah To Dedicate Sept. 16th Show To Michael Jackson!

Oprah Winfrey will dedicate her September 16th show to the memory of the late Michael Jackson, offering clips from her interview with the pop star from 1993. Jackson is scheduled to finally be buried tonight at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Cosby Attempting To Impact Detroit Schools!

Comedian turned education activist Bill Cosby was in Detroit yesterday trying to impact the faltering Detroit Public School System. Cosby walked through the streets of Detroit with school financial manager Robert Bobb promoting the city's "I'm In" campaign urging residents to enroll their children in a school system that has seen declining enrollment in the last decade. The campaign is being spearheaded by a $500,000 marketing blitz according to the Detroit Free Press.

Cosby is doing a good thing by supporting the public school systems throughout our country. It's the only educational option for most children, especially those from impoverished backgrounds. Hopefully Cosby's efforts will not be in vain, and parents will encourage their children to take the educational opportunities seriously and use it as a source for a better and brighter future.

Well At Least Whitney Gave It A Good Try!

Well it looks like Whitney Houston's long awaited comeback may be stalled before it even starts. The New York Daily News reports that Whitney's voice cracked as she sang every song yesterday during a taped performance that will air on "Good Morning America" this morning. The first single from her new album has stalled on the charts and the album released this week is expected to sell in the 200,000 range for the first week. Not a bad debut in these times, but not good numbers for a highly anticipated release.

Whitney blamed her lackluster performance on a taped segment of Oprah which will be shown on September 14th. Unfortunately by then, it may be too late to save her new album from disaster.

Detroit On The Brink Of Financial Ruin!

When Dave Bing took over as mayor of Detroit, he knew that the city was in a financial mess. Now he may be forced to layoff as many as 1,000 workers to offset an $80 million budget shortfall according to the The city is facing a $300 million budget deficit, and declining tax revenues continue to plague the city. Bing is facing some tough decisions that will not be popular according to the Detroit Free Press, including dealing with the various unions if he's forced to layoff workers. Bing has a successful track record as a businessman, so he'll do what's best to keep the city afloat.

Atlanta Mayoral Race Going Black!

Atlanta has had an African-American in the position of mayor since Maynard Jackson held the position in 1974, and it's possible that the city could have it's first white mayor since then. Presently, two African Americans are running for the office, Kasim Reed and Lisa Borders, along with Mary Norwood who is white. There is now a letter is circulating endorsing Borders and promoting a "black agenda." Below are the contents of the memo being circulated at the insistence of Atlanta political insider Aaron Turpeau courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Introduction

The debate over the best strategic option for black leadership and the African American community as we approach the Mayoral election in Atlanta has become critical based on the fact that for the last 25 years Atlanta has represented the breakthrough for black political empowerment in the South.

It is debatable to what extent the objective socio-economic and political position of the African American community has improved. At the same time, most would agree that the Jackson breakthrough represented an unprecedented opportunity for black political representation nationwide.

A passionate argument has been made for us to develop a unity of purpose and position, and for that to be defined immediately, given the short amount of time remaining between now and November 2009 election day (two and ½ months from now).

There are unstated assumptions that need to be examined. Perhaps the most critical factor is the lack of an agenda against which to evaluate candidates. An agenda, beyond just electing a Black Mayor, would allow us to move from the margins of the debate to controlling the expectations associated with gaining our support.

Three basic assertions have been made. They are as follows:

1. There is a chance for the first time in 25 years that African Americans could lose the Mayoral seat in Atlanta, Georgia, especially if there is a run-off;

2. Time is of the essence because in order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy we have to get out now and work in a manner to defeat her without a runoff, and the key is a significant Black turnout in the general election;

3. The reasons support should be given to Lisa Borders is: 1) she is the best black candidate in the race who has a chance to win the election because she can attract downtown white support; and 2) based on polling data drawn from a host of sources between May 2009 and July 2009, the numbers suggest Borders is growing stronger as we move closer to the election, while the most recent polling data suggests that the other black candidates are falling further behind over the same period.

There are also at least three unstated assumptions that should be further explored:

Unstated Assumption

1. With the “Black Mayor first” approach there is an unstated assumption that having a black mayor in Atlanta is equal to having a black social, economic and political agenda or at least someone in office who would be sensitive to that agenda if not a full promoter of that agenda;

2. By coming out for Borders now would eliminate Reed, Spikes and Thomas as viable candidates. Some would argue that if the polling data is correct then those candidates who are only polling at 8%, 2% and 1% respectfully, are already effectively out of the race; and

3. It is unlikely that there will be a unified preference among existing black leadership and in the African American community for one candidate prior to the general election.

The Missing Factors in the Current Approach

There are at least seven real world common knowledge factors that must be taken into consideration as we debate how best to manifest our support in the run-up to the November elections. They are as follows:

1. The impact of current alienation among Black Atlantans from the political establishment;

2. The imperiled state of the Jackson Machine, (in part because of the displacement of close to 100,000 black residents over the past few years) and the effect operation of the NPU system by whites;

3. Shirley Franklin’s perceived poor performance;

4. The changing demographics in the city, the potential role of new city voters and the diminished role of religious and labor leaders in mobilizing the black vote;

5. The importance of the City Council races (which to date seems to have been ignored);

6. The persistent poverty in the city, the educational crisis in the schools; the human security/public safety concerns; the type of economic development policies being pursued; and the city’s awful financial management issues;

7. A Black Agenda that any candidate should be evaluated against.

What’s At Stake?

Determining what’s at stake depends on perspective:

1. The view that the times are too serious to stand on the sidelines is absolutely correct from the perspective of a black mayor at all cost. In fact, if a white candidate were to win the 2009 mayoral race, it would be just as significant in political terms as Maynard Jackson’s victory in 1973.

2. Therefore, the question becomes, if that were the case, how would African American interests be addressed; thus, the need for a comprehensive agenda. At the same time, just having a black mayor doesn’t guarantee that African American issues and concerns would be effectively addressed either (as the current administration’s relationship to the African American community clearly demonstrates). In other words, are we simply providing votes without any expectations of the candidate that would enjoy our support?;

3. While some may think that Franklin represents the last link to the Jackson Machine, it is not widely known that both Borders and Reed are directly connected to Franklin; or that Spikes and Thomas are Republicans, as is Norwood. Additionally, it should not be overlooked that whoever is Mayor of Atlanta will be in position to play an important role in the upcoming 2010 Georgia Governor’s race;

4. The changing demographics which show a more rapid growth in the city’s white population (faster and a higher percentage than anywhere else in the country) requires that we critically evaluate all candidates;

5. To ignore the alienation that exists among black voters towards the Franklin Administration’s performance is naive at best and dishonest at worse; and finally,

6. We need an overall governance strategy and a definition of who really governs in Atlanta. In other words, in 2009 we have arrived at a place in time where we can no longer afford to just look at race in the Mayor’s race or individual council races.

At the end of the day, “when the morning comes,” a black agenda would better enable us to have our interests respected by and our influence realized in any administration.

While the memo may make some valid points, the political process has to simply evolve over time with the best candidate eventually emerging. A potentially polarizing memo does a disservice to both African-American opponents.

Vick's Smiling Again!

Michael Vick ended a 2 year hiatus from football last night when he made his preseason debut with his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick played in 6 series going 4 for 4 in completions and running the ball once. Vick looked like he still has all of the skills that made him a Pro Bowl quarterback, but he clearly needs repetition and playing time.

Clearly this has to be a situation for Vick to get re acclimated to the NFL because he is a starting quarterback, and two stars Vick and Eagles starter Donovan McNabb will not be able to co-exist long term if this experiment is a success. As I've stated previously, Vick's ordeal has humbled him, so he will be a team player for the sake of his career.

Aaliyah: What Might Have Been!

Yesterday marked the 8th anniversary of the death of hip-hop superstar Aaliyah from a plane crash in the Bahamas. Aaliyah was 22 at the time of her death, and poised to rule hip-hop like no female artist before her. While Beyonce Knowles rules popular music from a female perspective, Aaliyah would've ruled the "cool" aspect of music with her quiet confidence and undeniable swagger. She had ruled the hip-hop and R&B charts with the assistance of mega producers R. Kelly and Timbaland and was coming off a hit movie with "Romeo Must Die." Aaliyah's trademark was her mystery, and she was surely just coming into her own as an artist and actress. Her music still resonates today and doesn't come close to sounding dated.

The Detroit Free Press has reprinted an article that was originally published 2 days after her death. Detroit was Aaliyah's home town and she graduated from Detroit's Performing Arts High School with a 4.0 GPA. Her loss is still evident 8 years later, and her legend was instantly cemented with her passing with a void that has yet to be filled.

R.I.P. Edward Kennedy!

Massachusetts Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy died last night succumbing to complications from a brain tumor diagnosed about 16 months ago. Kennedy was the last living male from the Kennedy political dynasty who served nearly 50 years in the Senate. Kennedy's support of President Barack Obama was instrumental in continuing Obama's political momentum last year.

While Kennedy was a major political force in the Senate, he also had his dark side with the Chappaquiddick incident from 1969 in which Mary Jo Kopechne died while a passenger in a car with Kennedy that overturned in a tide of water being prominent. Kennedy left the scene of the accident leaving Kopechne in the car and didn't report the accident until hours later. This incident dogged Kennedy's political career, and likely prevented him from becoming President of the United States. Kennedy did continue to be an influential Senator despite this incident, but his political effectiveness was always somewhat diminished because of his past.

Chris Brown Ordered To Stay Away From Rihanna For 5 Years!

Singer Chris Brown was sentenced yesterday in a Los Angeles court and ordered to stay away from Rihanna for 5 years in connection with the Feb. 8 beating that left Rihanna bruised and battered. Brown received 5 years probation and has to perform 180 days of community labor and 1 year of mandatory domestic violence counseling. Brown is required to stay a required distance from Rihanna and have no written or phone contact with her or face prison. Rihanna does have the option to have the protective ordered modified, but as of yesterday the judge was not interested in reviewing any modifications.

Brown is also reported to be "depressed" since the incident according to the New York Daily News. Brown will still have a long road back to the stardom that he once enjoyed. He was on track to join the likes of Usher in terms of longevity, but it remains to be seen if he can overcome this incident and get his career back on track. Still only 20 years old, it may be possible, but Brown will have a lot of work to do to regain the adulation of many of his fans.

Charlie Rangel Claims $500G More In Assets!

Politics is a very lucrative profession, just ask Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel. Rangel amended his 2007 financial disclosure forms to include more than $500,000 in assets, including an account at the Congressional Federal Credit Union worth at least $250,000, another account with at least $250,000, land in New Jersey and stock in Pepsi and fast food giant Yum!, according to the New York Post. Rangel, who is the subject of 2 House ethics probes has seen his net worth grow dramatically in a short period of time.

Hope the residents of Harlem, who Rangel represents are seeing their wealth grow at the same pace. This is the reason that many people become cynical about Washington politics. Certain occurrences just seem a little shady to the outside world, but I'm sure Mr. Rangel has a good explanation for his increased wealth.

Beyonce Named Billboard Magazine Woman of the Year!

Beyonce Knowles continues her almost unprecedented streak of success by being named Billboard's "Woman of the Year!" She will receive the award on October 12th in New York City. Arguably the best female musical performer of her generation, Knowles is riding high off a number 1 movie this year in "Obsessed" and a double platinum album in "I Am... Sasha Fierce."

Will Iverson Practice If He Joins The Bobcats?

Allen Iverson finds himself without a team, and rumors are circulating heavily that he may join the Charlotte Bobcats, reuniting him with Larry Brown his former coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. It's hard to believe that Brown would consider reuniting himself with Iverson. Perhaps he needs to see Iverson's infamous "Practice" rant that took place 3 years ago when Iverson was still arguably one of the top players in the NBA. Iverson is now coming off one of his least productive year as a pro, and quit on his former team the Detroit Pistons. He's apparently become so desperate that he went on a Twitter rant last week regarding how he's in such great shape.

While I love Iverson's talent and he's a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer, it pains me that he hasn't adjusted his game with time and evolved as a more complete player. Iverson only goes with one direction and purpose and that's the the direction that serves him points instead of trying to make teammates better. Warning to Larry Brown, beware of what you ask for, and hopefully Michael Jordan will have the foresight to veto this possible move.