Sean Penn and Haiti

Sean Penn is a quality actor, and politically the kind of American I would expect from a B-grade spy movie about communist sleeper agents. He has long put himself on the forefront of criticism for his views, his socialist preferences, and his blatant love fests with unsavory leaders like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.

But given those facts, there is no question that in regard to Haiti and the relief efforts Penn has been putting his XX where his mouth is. He has directly brought doctors (11), water filters, donated huge sums of money, and actively helped to save lives of those buried in rubble. He has directly done what many entertainers only speak about from afar.

I started to search through various posts and news articles on Penn and his activities in Haiti because of the most recent comments by Penn about the efforts of the American military in Haiti. Penn has uncharacteristically stated that

We have worked very closely with Colonel Mike Foster and Sergeant Keith Horn (ph), who have been -- who are truly exceptional men in the 82nd Airborne. And it has -- it has been such an experience working with these people."

"JENKINS [partner of Penn in his Haiti specific charity]: Because I -- in Bosnia, I associated the army with killing. And in my life, they came too late, because I lost everything.

But when I got to Haiti and I've seen what the American Army has done, all I can say is God bless America and the American Army, because they work so hard. And the only sense of order that is there, I think it's them. And they are trying so hard to help, to distribute, to do anything they can to help these people."

"PENN:I would like to tell all my lefty friends out there, these guys are doing an amazing job and they're doing it with the greatest intentions in heart and in conjunction with all of the other organizations. It's a -- and it is an amazing amount of cooperation."

Talk about shock. The only problem I have with these comments by Penn is that it took this sad crisis in Haiti for him to open his eyes and notice the great good the American military does everyday.

But somewhere it seems someone is upset with Penn. Why? I have no idea. Who? I don't know because I can't find it. I imagine it has to be some of the very same far-left wackos that Penn normally rubs shoulders with. But his response to those critics on this issue in Haiti is the very same Sean Penn that we expect to hear about

"...the outspoken actor says he hopes any cynic who dismisses his efforts as a star turn will "die screaming of rectal cancer."

It's extreme all right. And at the moment I don't care as long as Penn continues to help the people of Haiti.

But if I gave myself a moment to look at this situation, I might suggest to Penn the fickle nature of what I presume is the extreme far-left when anyone does anything they don't like. Which includes those that they normally support, as Penn has now found out.

Stepping away from that, I applaud Penn (I can't believe I'm saying that) for what he has done and continues to do in Haiti. I love celebrities that give to those in need and use thier star power to provide for those that most need it. Penn deserves the positive attention he has earned, and I hope this just brings more help for the people of Haiti.

We are the World - Haiti edition

So I'm in NYC, talking to my accountant and enjoying the rapture that is the Obama Administration. But that's not why you are on this blog.

I think that enough time has passed that discussing the "revisioned" We are the World song will not hurt the donations to Haiti that it can provide. By now everyone that planned on buying the song has done so.

Basically I hate the idea. Yes charity and donations from celebrities are always positive. Still you would think they could have been a bit more original. Instead they took the Hollywood approach and just copied something that was far better in the past and redid it.

Of course, considering the "talent" involved something new probably wouldn't have worked. Some might take that to mean that I don't believe T-Pain, Akon (criminal), Kanye West (egoist), (criminal) Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg (criminal), and several others are without talent. And they would be right.

Think about it. Of the original artists and singers in the original, not one of them came back for this remake. It says something about what was being made and why. This group was filled with current day fads, and non-singing gimmicks, but hardly any substance. It was filled with a majority of people that need huge promotion and attention to remain relevant and interesting. I doubt if half of these people will be making records in 10 years, let alone any of the younger talent ever making it into a hall of fame (unless the criteria drops massively).

The original was something that was done, without a media blitz, purely to help people. The number of Hall of Famers and entertainers with decades of experience and ability dwarfs the same counterpart in the new version. And the new kids just had to have lots of advance and post publicity.

There is an old saying in Russia,

"If you have to advertise it, it can't be that good."

Well in America everything is advertised. But the amount of advertising often is in direct proportion to the waste of money you will recieve. Massive non-stop advertising = a piss poor product that is trying to collect money before word of mouth kills sales. Then again that also describes American Idool, modern rap, and most of the artists involved in this effort for Haiti.

Am I glad this made millions? Well yes, if the money goes solely to Haiti relief. As long as the money doesn't pay for this or that other interest and function, at least 85% of the money actually getting to the people, then yes I am glad it existed.

But, I have to believe that if some effort was applied to make something new, and that was presented to the very best of the new and old artists around, the money that could have been made would have been 3x as much or more. The key is that little word effort. Like talent, it's not popular these days, nor as important as it used to be.

What I said at the start is still the most important thought though. To be honest about the hodge-podge now won't hurt sales and thus the donations. Just a few egos, that are way to inflated anyway.

Win a $3 million dollar home for $30

Yes this is real. No, M V Consulting, Inc. is not involved though I wish we were. This is the the result of the compassion and efforts of Dennis Rodman and the Mission of St. Francis.

The Mission of St. Francis is a non-Government funded private organization that helps people that are in need. They have been helping people reclaim their lives without becomeing Government dependant for 40 years. But this economy has been as difficult for them as for everyone else, even as those in need have grown.

Dennis Rodman has joined in bringing attention to what the Mission does, and to help raise funds for their effort. This has led (with a super generous offer from a Florida family) to the Rodman Raffle.

A purchse of a $30 raffle ticket before December 25th qualifies you for a chance to win a 6 bedroom 6 1/2 bath Ft. Lauderdale waterfront estate that also has:

1000 sq ft Master Suite

Ocean access

4 car garage

Game room

Wet bar

Pool

Security system

Wood and Marble floors

Hurricane impact widows and doors

Dennis Rodman as a neighbor

The home is valued at $3 million, and the winner of the raffle will receive the title and deed free & clear. The proceeds of the raffle will go to the Mission of St. Francis to allow them to continue to help those in need as they have done for 40 years.

M V Consulting, Inc. loves to hear of and support celebrity donations and many causes. This is another such cause that we are happy to bring to our readers attention.

I will be entering the raffle. I recommend that all my readers who have the means do so as well. Even if you don't win the grand prize you will have the knowledge that your support has helped an organization that has given 10,000 people the means and ability to fight drug addiction.

To purchase a raffle ticket and to see photos of your potential new home go to

RodmanRaffle.org

Tyler Perry donates $1 million

As the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaches, it's always nice to have a bit of positive news. This year Tyler Perry is the one giving some cheer.

Tyler Perry has given $1,000,000 to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in honor of the 100 year the organization has been working on civil rights and empowerment to African Americans. The donation is no small thing, and is an interesting gift.

Perry is the subject of no small debate within the Black community. Some find his movies and television shows to be a welcome source of information on African Americans in the media. Other find his work to be a caricature that is insulting and "bufoonery". Perhaps the most true statement is that it is both in equal parts.

Either way, there is no question that Peryy has become a force in Hollywood. His efforts have provided some of the most consistent and profitable presentations of African Americans to date. There is no question that via his movies more African Americans are getting work and exposure than at almost any other time in entertainment history (when including the work of all other African Americans).

Perry has also been consistent in giving back to the community. The donation to the NAACP is not his first, nor likely his last. But it is the largest individual donation to the NAACP in it's history.

Earlier this year Perry also helped the 65 kids of Creative Steps Day Camp. The kids had been kicked out of Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia under debatable racial motivation, and Perry took up their cause and sent the kids to Disney.

In September of last year Perry donated 2 weeks of food to 1,000 families via Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless care center. At the time I noted how he was doing more for the public than Congress. Not that the major media cared.

So no matter what you think of the work of Tyler Perry, there is no question of his contributions. This is the essense of what the holiday spirit is I think. Not the shopping slaes sprees, but the giving. Perry may not get much major news media coverage for what he has done, but I have no problem commending his actions.

Andy Lau helps victims of Typhoon Morakot

Often I have spoken about various celebrity donations. Whether its opening a children’s hospital wing, building houses in New Orleans, donating funds to relief efforts in Darfur, or numerous other causes (though each of the previous can always use more help). But in general I have tended to focus on American celebrities.

Which is a bit unfair. There are many celebrities from around the world that make a point of giving back to those who are in need. Often we forget that America is not the only country with mega-stars and big hearts.

One of the celebrities from outside the U.S. that I think needs to be commended is Andy Lau. Not an overly familiar name here in the U.S., but he is a huge star in Asia.

Andy Lau may be familiar to audiences for House of Flying Daggers (Captain Leo), but he has been in over 100 films and 300 mini-series. That is besides his singing career that spans more than 20 years, 180 concerts, 292 awards and a listing in the Guinness Book of Records (Most Awards Won By A Canto-Pop Male Artist), suffice to say the man is A-list celebrity.

But Lau is also a humanitarian. He is noted for his work with the disabled for more than a decade. In 2008 he was the Goodwill Ambassador to the Summer Paralympic Games.

So it is no surprise that Andy Lau is in the front line of celebrities working phones and helping to raise donations to help victims of Typhoon Morakot. Already private donations have reached 7 million Taiwan dollars. I am sure that the influence that Lau brings will help add to that total – which is being matched by the Taiwan government.

I always enjoy hearing of celebrities donating their time, money, and fame to just causes. When they do this it deserves to be mentioned. And there is no reason to limit such recognition to just the celebrities in the U.S.

Brad Pitt doubles his donations along with Angelina Jolie

You just have to be impressed with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Pitt especially. The man is like a slot machine. A slot machine that pays out millions, but for causes that benefit thousands or more.

Not a few days ago I was speaking about how Brad Pitt, along with his siblings, just donated $1 million to create the Jane Pitt Pediatric Center to take care of kids with pediatric cancer in Missouri. It was a generous celebrity donation.

And here he goes again, with his wife Jolie. together they just donated $1 million to aid refugees. This was done via the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and the money went to UN High Commisioner for Refugees. This will help the 2 million people that are trying to escape violence and fighting in Pakistan this year alone.

Jolie has been to Pakistan 3x, and Pitt went with her on one trip as well. Can we say that Jolie has definitely lived up to her position as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN.

I continue to be surprised by the donations and support some celebrities provide good causes. there aren't many that do this so selflessly. I mean there is the money Madonna donated, but that was more of a bribe to adopt a kid that the local laws said she couldn't adopt. No I like the celebrities that just do it because they believe in what they are doing.

Pitt has helped rebuild homes in New Orleans, Jolie has been active in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Don Cheadle is constantly active about Darfur, george Clooney has a host of activies in Africa along with Matt Damon. the list goes on.

It just makes you feel good to know that sometimes, all that money being made in Hollywood, goes to a worthwhile place.

The best award at the 81st Academy Awards

On Sunday, the 81st Academy Awards took place. The buzz has been huge about which films won, which actors took what prize, and what all the ladies were wearing. Which meant really nothing to me.

But there was one thing that occurred at this Oscar Awards that did make an impact. It had nothing to do with the movies and actors nominated. And it is something far bigger than any awards show.

Joseph Levitch, a man best known to the world as Jerry Lewis, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his work to help those with Muscular Dystrophy. He has been an advocate of those suffering with MS and similar diseases since the 1950’s, and has run a MDA Labor Day Telethon since 1966, raising more than $2 billion over the decades.

Jerry Lewis has never received an award form his peers for the lifetime of work he has done. It is his innovation that has led to several advancements in television and movies that we see today. His career is an example of prolific performance on television, stage and movies. A great number of his films are considered classics.



But it is his work with the telethon that is what makes me so interested. No one has ever been able to find out why he had dedicated so much of his life to this cause. And there is no question that he is dedicated. Even if some dispute the manner or apparent reasons he may have. I have even heard in the past that the answer to why he is so obsessed (for lack of a better term) with this cause is sealed in a vault that his attorney is meant to open upon his death, during a telethon – so that it can be used to raise funds, as is the wish of Lewis.

Jerry Lewis is a human being. Born in 1926, I am not surprised by the occasional gaffes and seeming insensitivity he has on various issues that those far younger are appalled about today. Not surprised does not mean I approve. But I do not allow that to take away from what he has done.

This is inspirational I think. Or at least I hope it is. So few actors and entertainers today are truly involved with any cause. Yes many give lip-service to the popular buzz of the day. But few are dedicated, true believers. Which is sad, because their fame can be used to help so many.

Jerry Lewis is an icon. But far more than that he is a driven advocate that will do anything to help the causes that he believes in. So don’t be surprised if you hear in the next Telethon this year that he places his award up for sale to the highest bidder – the proceeds to go to those he most directly wishes to help. I’d expect that it’s something he would do, and I can respect that.

Of all the entertainers alive today, I can barely think of any that deserve such an accolade as much as Jerry Lewis. And it’s more than about time.

Oprah does it again

In all the rush and bustle of news about this celebrity doing something stupid, or the media failing in it's mission to the public there are stories that we all miss or fail to recognize. For me that means that there is an item that I intended to write about that I completely about.

In this case it is Oprah Winfrey and what she did at the end of the year. It was a Christmas gift, the likes of which provides more than just money or an material item it provides the chance at a better life. And it's something I think deserves more attention.

In Atlanta, the one of the poorest neighborhoods is a private school run by Ron Clark. This is the teacher who wrote the New York Times best selling book The Essential 55, and opened the Ron Clark Academy. That Academy provides students with in-class computers, a dark rook, a 2-story library, a recording studio, a dance studio and digital recorders. In effect it stimulates the students minds and imaginations with the technology of today and the opportunity to use it. But that isn't cheap.

The school, which was created in part from the proceeds of Ron Clark's book sales, requires a tuition from the parents of those children accepted. The portion of tuition parents pay is miniscule compared to the actual cost, and from the 350 applications for the 50 seats available in the school low and middle income families find it worth the money. That means there is a huge deficit.

Clark makes up that difference in raising donations for the school. It's a daily job that goes on every night after the school day has finished. And the commitment he has shown has helped to bring in funds. And Oprah stepped up as well. She provided the school with a donation that will allow 26 children to attend the school for 1 year. That's $365,000. More importantly that is a child learning.

There is no question that Oprah is dedicated to many causes, chief among them is education. Besides the money for the Ron Clark Academy, she has donated $4 million on education alone last year. That alone equals or exceeds tons of entertainers, celebrities, politicians, and businesses. And as such I think it deserves to be mentioned. Even if I am getting to it after the fact, by my own fault.

I wish more celebrities could be like this. I certainly wish there were more teachers like Ron Clark. Because if we don't invest in our children then we fail to invest in our future.

A rapper with charity: T.I. and Thanksgiving in Atlanta

I have a problem. As is well known to long-time readers of my blogs, I don't like gangsta rap. I find the music to be repetitive, pro-violence, pro-drug, pro-illiteracy, pro-death. I find the entertainers to be some of the worst examples of what (primarily but not exclusively) Black men are and can be. In general I believe that gangsta rappers deserve to be locked-up in a jail cell like the felons they are and/or wish to be seen as.

That being said, long-time readers also know that I love it when celebrities and entertainers go out of their way to make a donation or hold an event that benefits those of us in need. I am especially pleased when that entertainer or celebrity is Black. And I hate it when the major news media ignores or demeans the act of generosity with negative news that is not relevant to the charity.

I think you can see where this is going.

T.I., Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., spent Thanksgiving in Atlanta. He was there with 22.000 friends that day. And not one gunshot went off, nor did any woman lose her clothes while shaking her ass for a camera. I have to say this because of the extensive history of T.I. breaking the law, involvement in fights, illegal gun possession and other such acts.

This was not a rap event. This was charity. And it was an apparently record-breaking act of giving, though not the first time this rapper has done so.

This Thanksgiving Clifford Harris raised $100,000 for Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless, and did so in 2 hours. He followed this up with volunteering to help serve the 22,000 people that were fed at the Atlanta Brave's Turner field.

This had nothing to do with the various community service requirements that T.I. has had to serve for his multiple violations of law. He did it because for all his faults he believes in charity. Such can be seen from his history of giving.

He has helped with Hurricane Katrina relief, worked with troubled youths at Paulding Detention Center, provided scholarships for single parent families at Boys and Girls Clubs, and giving away 200 bicycles to neighborhood children in the Boys and Girls Club in Atlanta. For all the things I don't like about the rapper, I must commend his acts of charity (the ones he has done without court order).

So here I am commending the charity of a rapper that deserves to be lauded for his selfless acts. Yet I am severely at odds with his history of violence and breaking the law, and the music he performs.

Perhaps this is an example that even the most insulting, crude and ignorant of people have redeeming qualities. Perhaps I am too harsh a judge of things that I find offensive and detrimental. Perhaps Clifford Harris Jr. is growing up and becoming a man; not in terms of his age or ability to father children but in terms of his actions in society.

Whatever the case, I am glad to hear of and mention the good work that was done for so many this Thanksgiving.

Celebrity donations - some numbers and organizations you may not know

Recently I had the opportunity to share my thoughts about how Reuters deliberately diminished the generosity of Oprah Winfrey, and the lack of major media attention to the kind and helpful donation of Tyler Perry. That got me wondering, who is giving back to the public and not getting any attention – or worse being diminished – for it.

Well my first stop was at The Giving Back Fund. I looked at the donations made by celebrities for 2006 and 2007 (the last full years of donations reported). In addition I wanted to see how many African American celebrities and entertainers were on the list, as I feel they are the least reported or acknowledged of all high-profile donors.

For the prior 2 years Oprah Winfrey set the bar high. She donated the single most of all celebrities each year, and combined. Her donations totaled $118 million. That 66% of the total of the top 12 White celebrities combined.

The total donations made the top 16 celebrities and entertainers combines to $316.5 million dollars. That’s a huge amount of money. This money went to help prevent and cure HIV/AIDS, provide scholarships, cancer research, Katrina relief, hospitals, day cares, organizations that help various groups and nations in Africa, and more.

Another interesting thing of note is that the top 4 Black celebrities and entertainers’ donations are equal to 77% of the top White celebrity and entertainer donations.

I mention that last part because one of the points of notables making these donations is not only what they can do but also the attention they can being to an issue, and the fans they can inspire to do the same. The more that is mentioned about these donations, the more these issues get attention over Miley Cyrus career decisions or the outing of Clay Aiken – which really don’t matter.

In addition I feel it’s important that African American celebrities and entertainers are symbols of success and inspirational in the Black community. They have broken the stereotypes, and excelled in an industry that affords them few opportunities. And when they do something as important and beneficial as the donations I’m mentioning, they often are either ignored (like Tyler Perry and Don Cheadle), or are diminished (like Oprah) by the major media.

Out of all the donations made in 2006 and 2007, only 9 made donations each year (for a total of $183.6 million) out of over 48 from both years. Those consistent and vital personalities are listed below.

• Oprah Winfrey - $118 million, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy,
  Oprah's Angel Network
  
• Barbara Streisand – $22 million, Barbra Streisand Foundation
  
• Tiger Woods – $10.8 million, Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D.
  Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund
  
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt - $10.8 million, School and Community Center in
  Swakopmund in Namibia, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Namibian hospitals, Doctors without Borders, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation
  
• Rosie O’Donnell – $9.2 million, Katrina Relief, day care centers, Habitat for Humanity, Broadway Kids Initiative
  
• Lance Armstrong - $5.5 million, Lance Armstrong Foundation
  
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - $3 million, University of Miami
  
• Andre Agassi - $2.3 million, Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
  
• Denzel Washington - $2 million, Save Africa's Children, Wiley College
  

I hope you take a moment to look into the causes that they each have made donations to and if you agree make a donation yourself.

Tyler Perry helping more families than Congress right now

I have often said that the major news media gives short shrift to celebrities and entertainers that are doing the right thing. With all the media swirling around the mortgage bailout plans, you might think that all other news has been thrown to the wayside but that would be untrue.

A casual look in the search engines finds that there is plenty of news on celebrities. There is news on Meg Ryan and her divorce. There is news about whether Miley Cyrus will stay or leave Hanna Montana. There is even a focus on Isis King, the first transgendered model in the ridiculous and brain-cell depleting America’s Next Top Model.

Not a single one of those ‘news’ items are worth the time to read more than the headline.

But what you haven’t heard, what isn’t rushing across the internet or the cable news networks is a simple bit of good. Yes, a celebrity is actually helping regular people. Just because it felt like the right thing to do.

The celebrity in this case is the renown Tyler Perry. In case you are unfamiliar with this acclaimed director, actor, movie writer, producer and playwright I’ll give you a bit of help. He created Diary of a Mad Black Woman which he may be best known for. He is also responsible for Tyler Perry's House of Payne. If you are unfamiliar with either of these it may be because all of Perry’s work focuses and stars predominately Black actors and actresses.

Tyler Perry grew up with abuse as a child, he has been homeless, he dropped out of school at 16 but went back for his GED. His book Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life was number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. He has released 5 films (his 6th just hit theaters) that have made $187 million dollars just in the U.S.

Tyler Perry is a success by virtually any standard you chose to mark him by.

And he went out and donated 2 weeks worth of food for 1,000 families today. He is actively helping families in Atlanta that are struggling and hungry. And the major news media seem to not care.

The people at Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless care center certainly are happy to have received this huge gift. I cannot fathom how families in need in Atlanta are not happy as well. But it seems that the major news media aren’t happy reporting a successful Black man directly helping people in a way that virtually every politician refuses or is incapable of doing.

Keep an eye out though. I guarantee that the second a Black entertainer is arrested, or does something stupid, regardless of the financial woe of the day you will see it on the national news. Miley Cyrus on a drunken binge will get a side note, but say a rapper getting arrested will upfront news. Yet improving the lives of 1,000 families is a minor footnote.

It makes me sick. Especially when polls show that some 48% of White Americans think Blacks are violent, or that 38% think Blacks are lazy. Tyler Perry, and many other African American celebrities, proves that the stereotypes that survive and plague this nation right now are wrong. But you wouldn’t know it from the major media.

Reuters slaps Oprah Winfrey over donations

When it comes to entertainers and African Americans the major news media really can’t say a positive thing. In fact when they do, you virtually always find any positive surrounded by or minimized by negatives. It’s disgusting.

Let me give you an example.

The worst example that was readily available is the news on celebrity donations. Generosity by some of the wealthiest of entertainers is a great positive. It’s uplifting to see them giving back to their communities and to people in need, here in the U.S. and overseas.

The top of the list goes to Oprah Winfrey. She gave a total of $50 million to children, advocacy for women, healthcare and education in 2007 alone. This amount is more than the rest of the top 5 celebrity donations combined. As donations go she has made a substantial gift to many that need it, and in comparison to other celebrities she stands towering above them all.

Yet Reuters wants to keep this downplayed as much as possible. To achieve this they found the need to state

“Winfrey is a former Bob Hope Humanitarian Award winner, but her girls' academy in South Africa made headlines last year after a former dormitory matron was charged with abusing students.”

Now I ask you this, why is it necessary to mention anything about the negative incident at Oprah’s South African school for girls?

The article is about celebrity donations. The goal was to document how much they gave and who they gave to. For each of the other entertainers (Herb Alpert, Barbara Streisand, Paul Newman, and Mel Gibson) there is not another mention of a negative in relation to their donations. There isn’t a whiff of controversy, except for Oprah.

Why did Reuters find it important to acknowledge Oprah for her voluntary donations, laud her past, and then slap her with an unfortunate event that she had no control over and resolved without delay. I mean if this is what they wanted to do they could have brought up Newman’s illness, or Gibson’s racial comments and lack of sobriety. But those are White entertainers.

Maybe it’s not a racial thing. But I don’t see any other reason.

Oprah doesn’t need media attention, scandal does not help her ratings. Her donations are not tied to publicity, nor is she craving a reward for what she does. She has nothing requiring her to give as much as she does. And Reuters thinks so highly of this that they felt they had to cut her off at the ankles. Wasn’t that kind of them.

I realize that negative news on entertainers and celebrities gets ratings and sells newspapers. I realize that we live in a world where media feed off of mishaps, miscues, and mayhem like vultures feeding on carrion. But sometimes good news doesn’t need to be anything else.

When you read what Reuters states in its article think of this. If you remove all mention of the South African school incident does the nature of the article change? No it doesn’t. So this information is superfluous and solely in there to denigrate Oprah Winfrey. I am insulted by Reuters.

Belinda Goldsmith wrote the article, Miral Fahmy was the editor. Both should be ashamed of themselves and embarrassed to have this published as it was. I would love to hear from either of them, or both, so that they can explain why they felt the absolute need to minimize the outstanding generosity of Oprah exclusively. I would love to hear them explain how this benefits the article or provides any new insight about celebrity donations.

Do you agree?

The History you weren't taught

In light of the unyeilding fervor over the various comments and meanings of soundbites and statements made by Rev. Wright, the less covered anger and bile by men like Rev. Manning, the repetition of legal imbalances in the Wesley Snipes, Sean Bell, and Megan Williams cases, and other items I wanted to ask a few questions.

This is not a test. This is simply questions to see what you know. It doesn’t matter what race you are, what country you come from, or what religion you believe.

Some questions I will answer, some I will leave for you to find out for sure. But I guarantee that one item on this post will be a blatant lie, though it is a lie that my readers have read in my posts before. That I will leave for the end to tell you.

Africans have been in America since at least 1619. In the 389 years since then can you name a war that Blacks have not fought in?

Today virtually all people of color with brown to black skin are called African Americans. 10 years ago we were known simply as Black. What were we called going all the way back in time to 1619?

How many songs made famous by Elvis Presly were not originally songs created and performed by Black singers/entertainers?

What group of people were the ones to find the means to cure the Bubonic Plague and to realize its source?

Where is the cradle of civilization found?

Who was Thurgood Marshall, and what did he do?

What year did the military stop segregation?

Who has done more for African Americans, Republicans or Democrats?

Have Blacks always voted Democrat?

Name 2 groups of Americans that the Constitution did not cover initially?

What is the original meaning of Cowboy?

What does Jim Crow represent?

How many Black colleges exist today? How many were started? When was the first?

Did Africans ever control Europe?

How many communicable diseases did the original American Indian tribes have?

How many treaties did the American Government break with the American Indians?

How many nuclear bombs have ever been used against people?

Name 3 Empires of the world that did not involve Europe?

Who created the 0 and thus all modern math?

Who are the Tuskegee Airmen?

What is my name?

Who founded Chicago?

Where was the city of Rosewood and how many were in it?

How many years was the South Carolina House run by a Black majority?

How much was the largest donation ever made by a Black American?


Now the point of all these questions is not to embarrass anyone. Nor is it to condemn any nation or people.

The purpose is to highlight the lack of knowledge that exists in America. I have no doubt that while most of these items are known historical facts, most are not taught in American classrooms, and I would bet not in European ones either. So how can so many believe they can have a realistic conversation about race in America when I doubt most can answer half these questions without going to Google?

In case you were wondering, here are some answers you may or may not have known (and I don’t profess that these are the only facts available or worthy of knowing – in fact they are the tip of an iceberg of information). Not every question is answered though. Some things need to be sought out to be learned best.


There has never been a war in America (even when it was a colony) that Blacks did not participate in. While history classes, movies, and popular books may overlook the fact African Americans have always fought for America, even when we were not recognized by the nation as people.

Prior names for African Americans go back to Black, Colored, and Negro (beyond the repulsive and ignorant N-word). That covers just the last 50 years. Only 339 more to go.

Elvis stole all his early songs (to my knowledge), and his manager advertised in newspapers to only buy the Elvis version. Or did you really think he wore blue suede shoes and knew about hound dogs back in the 1950’s?

The Moors, an African Empire, were the first to discover that cutting the blisters helped to increase the survival rate of plague victims, and that the cause was infected rats living in the squalid conditions of European cities.

The Euphrates River is known as the cradle of civilization.

Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer and Supreme Court Justice from 1963 to 1991. He was the first Black Supreme Court Justice (there has only ever been 2).

1948. That’s after WWII where African Americans did serve with honor.

For about 100 year Blacks voted with the party of Lincoln, Republican.

The Constitution did not cover women, Native American Indians, or anyone with more than 3/5ths African blood. Proving 3/5ths was harder to prove than you might imagine.

A cowboy was originally meant as a derogatory term to describe African Americans that worked with cattle in the field. As the number of Americans moving west increased and the need for cowhands rose the term grew to encompass Whites, and was later romanticized to exclude the Black it originally meant to describe.

After 1861, 20 Black colleges and equivalent institutions were created.

The Moors conquered and controlled Spain, Italy, Sicily and several other parts of Southern Europe and Northern Africa. This says nothing of the control and influence of Ancient Egypt over the Mediterranian countries.

To my knowledge there were no communicable diseases in the Americas until after European explorers arrived. Once they were here these diseases spread like wildfire.

The American Government broke every treaty ever made with a Tribe during the Wild West expansion and well after.

Only 2 nuclear bombs have ever been used against people. Both were in Japan. Hiroshima is the most famous, but Nagasaki was also bombed. At the time it was believed that use of nuclear bombs would be the only alternative to fighting WWII right up to the steps of Japan’s Emperor. 2 bombs were used to prove that the first was not just a luck invention and that we could reproduce the results at will.

While not the only Empires, better know ones are the Ottoman, the Mongol (of either Khan), and the aforementioned Moors.

The number zero can be traced to the Babylonians. But use in mathematics in Europe is traced from the Middle East and the Islamic religion.

As stated often in various posts, Vass is not my birthname. This is the one outright lie on this page or any post I have ever made. Vass is my legal alias though. Did you catch this?

Chicago was founded by Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.

6 years.

$20,000,000 by Bill Cosby to Spellman College.

A quick question about my video clip - 7.19.2007.4

On a side note I want to mention something. As you have all noticed by now, I have a short video clip on the site. I am developing a couple of commercials and a special item and need your help.

What do you like, or dislike, about the video clip? Good music choice? Too short? Too fast? Tell me your thoughts.

I have a few ideas, but there is nothing better than your feedback. You tell me what you think and I will work on the best/most frequent comment.

Oh, if you don’t want one of the over 200 items I have available for the store but you want to still contribute to the blog sites, you can always donate whatever you wish. Dollars add up, though $20’s are faster. But honestly it’s your choice.

I’m listening intently.

John Travolta donation, Big Tuna vacation, and ice cream with a kick - 3.7.2007.3

In other news, I suggest that the ladies out there becareful when dining out. If you decide to have an after dinner dessert you may wind up with more than you were barganing for. I’m not talking about extra pounds or changing your figure. I’m talking about ice cream and other fatty dairy foods getting you pregnant. Not on their own of course.

It seems a study that was out recently states that if you have one of these dishes a day then the odds are 27% greater to become pregnant. Now this could be a factor for a a few couples out there. And you thought the worst you had to worry about was a few extra pounds. Still it makes that little snack a bit risque. One thing they didn’t mention in the study is if having whipped cream and/or chocolate syrup with the ice cream makes the odds go up even more (or even the odds without the ice cream). Just thought you might want to know.

For those lamenting the time until football (American) returns in the summer, there is a bit of news as well. The Big Tuna, Mr. Bill Parcells, is going to miss the 2007 season. Like 2002 Mr. Parcells will be going back to ESPN to be on the Monday Night Countdown. Mr. Parcells is always interesting to listen to and ESPN will no doubt have better rating with him. Still there is the thought that some team in the next season will sorely miss the overall strategy and ability he brings to any team. I suggest that once the season starts everyone pays attention to the teams doing poorly. I believe that this recent ‘retirement’ is temporary, perhaps being a way to drive up the bidding wars and to better evaluate which team will best match his criteria as a head coach. 19 years, 2 Super Bowl wins (with the NY Giants of course!) and being one of 5 coaches to take multiple teams to the big game just doesn’t seem to be enough I think. Mark my words, in 2008 there probably will be another go round, the question is where to go?

Oh, did anyone notice the news about the box office leading film Wild Hogs? It’s the buddy film with Mr. Matin Lawrence, Mr. William H. Macy, Mr. Tim Allen, and Mr. John Travolta. I haven’t seen the film but I was moved by the fact that Mr. Travolta decided to use the opening of the film to give a donation to victims of the Lady Lake tornadoes of $15,000 which helped to raise a matching $15,000.

I enjoy mentioning when actors and celebrities make donations for a cause they believe in. This wasn’t a business move, the check was a personal one from Mr. Travolta. That makes the difference for me. It’ may not be the most money ever, but using the clout and attention a leading star has at a movie premiere to bring attention to a worthy cause is something seen too little these days. It doesn’t matter the cause as long as it is genuine and worthwhile. Sadly we just don’t see enough of that.

And just to mention a wacky item I caught, it seems voodoo is a world –wide phenomenon. In this case Pakistan. It seems that a man, obviously distraught, decided that he was going to dig up his father – who was dead for 2 years – so he could resurrect him. I think this is how a couple of old zombie movies started, but life is stranger than fiction. In case you wondered the spells didn’t work and the skeleton has since been laid back to rest. The things you find on the internet some days.

This is what I think, what do you think?