The Glory Of Being A Me

New Orleans has had a history of criminal activity for years Pre-Katrina.  A highly impoverished populace housed in projects, so bad that they were dubbed "Vietnam" and "Desire" and likewise, perhaps a totality of eight. 

Circa 1996, there were a number of police officers killed, hence there was high tension between the impoverished and the police department. During that time, the infrastructure was in dire need of rehab - a short walk from the Superdome and the Convention Center would place you in the heart of nothing shy of a ghetto - a nearby cemetery served as a place for drug and other addicts to congregate... used hypodermics and condoms were plentiful.

The all famous French Quarter was roach infested. I took some young athletes there for the Junior Olympic Games... checked into a hotel, checked out immediately and headed out to the suburbs.  A sore sight never expected, having seen arial televised views - Monday Night Football for example. 

In my opinion, this was a city that did not care about its people  or, a bona fide case of classism. 

One of gospel music’s brightest stars is being forced to turn over financial records dating back to 2000. The IRS says Yolanda Adams missed an appointment to clear up a few money matters last month. The agency reportedly wants to collect on outstanding debt from the “Open Up My Heart” singer. The investigation reportedly was triggered when she applied for two million-dollar mortgages, according to filings in a Houston federal court. Adams was busy headlining a Caribbean gospel cruise when the filing took place last week.

 I believe that Yolanda Adams receives "gifts" (Blessings) in exchange for her work... .  Therefore, said gifts are not subject to gift tax nor income tax and are not, by IRS mandate, required to be reported (Ref: IRS Publication 950 Rev. August 2007 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p950.pdf) by a recipient (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=107815,00.html). 

I agree that this story is not worthy of mention.  It may be a publicity stunt for Adams, possibly... .  Moreover, in light of the same current events referenced in comments herein, I am weary of hearing "our" this and that.  Adams, as a Christian Leader is not so, exclusively, to Blacks.  I am both American and Black and in that order. If anyone has a problem with the latter statement... Google me and make contact.

 

Blacks Making Strides in College Education
November 16th, 2009


The good news is nearly 4.6 million African-Americans now with four-year degrees according to a study in the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.

The not so good news is while there are more college-educated Blacks now in America than in any point in history, the gap with other non-Hispanic whites is considerable.

From Afro.com

As of November 2009, 2,670,000 Black women hold four-year degrees or higher levels of academic achievement, according to the Journal, compared to 1,909,000 Black men, and represent 58 percent of all Black students earning a bachelor’s degree.

Likewise, Black women are earning master’s degrees at higher rates than Black men, with 669,000 Black women holding advanced degrees compared to 409,000 Black men. However, Black men continue to lead Black women in the number of professional degrees, such as those in medicine and law, according to the Journal. Roughly 88,000 Black men have professional degrees, compared to 62,000 Black women.

Despite the disparities between Black men and women, African-Americans as a demographic seem to be making positive strides in higher education compared to previous generations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 3,215,000 Blacks nationwide have bachelor’s degrees, and another 1,078,000 Blacks hold a four-year college degree and a master’s. A total of 150,000 Blacks have professional degrees and another 136,000 African American hold doctorates. These numbers show tremendous progress in the Black community, according to the Journal report; in the 1920s, only approximately 10,000 American Blacks were college-educated.

Hopefully more African-Americans will attain degrees.

As is the typical case, I cannot post on BET:

November 16 post on BET

I am an American, Black. I have no ties with Africa and no desire to associate - as Africa has never embraced me.  As for this article, "Blacks Making Strides In College Education" (moot) - as how many Americans are gainfully employed in his/her major field of study ("?"), would thwart the author's conniving attempt at bringing forth hope embedded in disillusion.  Your education is a form of sharecropping. Whereas a formal college education is not a guaranteed key to success.  America wants its citizenry to believe so, as the costs or each citizen's education, is nothing more than a ledger of receivable accounts.  As matter of fact, America is no longer America.  The recessions or economic crisises and social problems, and so on of today, are products of America's being in a state of obscure secession, post an obscure civil war, based upon greed and hatred or collectively, "stupidity" (unless one happened to sleep through it).  There are as many Americas as there are regions, the smallest to its largest, of which it (America) is comprised - every locality does things its own way!  Forgive me for swooping all around my intended point:  As one reads about college degrees... , another should be bailed out of his/her obligation to pay student loan(s) incurred while believing that that education would bring about prosperity in some form or another and, not a lifetime of insurmountable debt!  America's government needs to focus on unification first - in all areas including education.  There are people with college degrees and families who are suffering because of what they owe in government financed educations.