Continue reading Black Homeownership Problems: Many Upside Down Mortgages, Money Tight
Photos on Guanabee.com (first shown on a site called Funny Junk) show the Ballerina Theresa Barbie doll, who is black, and the Ballerina Barbie doll, who is white, hanging side by side in a store. Price of the black Barbie: $3.00. Price of the white Barbie: $5.93.
The photo was reportedly taken at a Walmart in Louisiana, according to Guanabee.com.
Walmart told ABC News that the chain needed to clear space for new seasonal products and thus marked down the prices of many items.
While that is an interesting argument, Walmart is a company that is hardly well-known for a simplistic reasoning behind its operations. Usually Walmart deals with everything -- from people to produce -- with the hardest, coldest business eye imaginable. It has deep reasons for all of its actions. But it's not politically correct to say on the record that a black doll is just worth less. That would be too similar to stating that black females are worthless. Walmart may have decided to cut the prices of black Barbie dolls "to clear shelf space," but at what cost to black girls' self-esteem? This video shows how preferences over a doll's color says a lot about the low self-esteem of black children.
Find more videos like this on National African American Congress Forum
Walmart is promoting the belief, which is created by society at large, that black is "less than" white. Is that horrible effect worth "clearing the shelves"? Not to corporate executives who possess souls. If this story picks up steam, it could even further tarnish Walmart's public reputation for insensitivity -- which would be bad for business at the very least. But at least the concern over the bottom line might inspire this global behemoth to be aware of it's emotional impact on communities through its practices.
Continue reading Black Barbies Sold For Half the Price of White Barbies at Walmart
But Snipes and Sinbad are hardly alone. There is actually a long history of actors, singers, athletes, entertainers and celebrities of all kinds getting chased by the tax man.
Here is a list of some high-rollers currently making news for having major tax headaches – along with a few celebrities from the past who have also endured tax troubles.
Actor Red Foxx
His parents named him John Elroy Sanford, but most of us knew him by his stage name: Redd Foxx. He was also famous for playing the lead role in the 1970s hit sitcom "Sanford and Son." In his later life, though, Foxx battled the IRS and even saw his Las Vegas home, furniture and household belongings seized by IRS agents in 1989 because of unpaid debts. When Foxx died of a heart attack in 1991 he still owed the IRS, which had been after him for $755,000 in back taxes.
Singer Otis Williams
We all remember The Temptations, right? Well, Williams was the tenor who co-founded this famous Motown group. He's also the last surviving member of the original group. It's a shame that after 50-plus years of having his records heard all over the world, Williams presently owes the IRS an estimated $176,000.
Singer Martha Reeves
Here's another big name from the Motown era. Martha and the Vandellas certainly made a name for themselves back in the day, especially with the hit song "Nowhere to Run." Sadly, it looks like Reeves couldn't outrun her tax issues either. She was a Detroit City Councilwoman from 2005 to 2009. But that hasn't stopped her from currently being in tax debt to the tune of about $280,000.
Continue reading Celebrity Tax Troubles: Scandals & Stories of Famous Tax Evasion
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The CEO of Tennessee's Hospitality Association, Walt Baker, has joined the club of high-ranking public figures to hurl racial slurs at members of the first family. Hip Hop Wired has the full story:It was reported by the Tennessean of Nashville that CEO Walt Baker's e-mail compared Obama to the sidekick of character Tarzan, Cheeta. The message features a picture of the first lady caught off guard with her lips pursed, accompanied by a chimp that has a similar expression on its face.
Since news broke, Baker has apologized for his actions.
How many of these figures would be up here apologizing if they weren't caught? There's no point in saying sorry for something that had its full intentions when the idea first came to mind.
On Saturday, he stated, through e-mail to Nashville Metro Council, that the message was not meant to be looked at as being something malicious, but was only trying to provide some type of "political humor."
Continue reading CEO Compares Michelle Obama to a Chimp in "Political Humor" Email
Tagged as: CEO, Chimp, first lady michelle obama, FirstLadyMichelleObama, Michelle Obama, MichelleObama
Any victory at the Academy Awards gives the winner some serious bragging rights, instant recognition and additional credibility. For some stars, however, winning an Oscar also translates into an enormous payday. And that's likely to to be the case for Monique -- particularly since she proved to Hollywood that she's more than just a funny, lovable comedian.
In fact, by taking a huge career risk and playing an unpopular character -- an abusive mother named Mary Jones in the emotionally gut-wrenching film 'Precious' -- Mo'Nique showed off some serious acting chops and set herself up to get more serious, and more lucrative job offers in the future.
Continue reading It's No Joke: Oscar Win May Help Mo'Nique Reap Millions
Tagged as: Academy Awards, AcademyAwards, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, LynnetteKhalfani-cox, millions, money, monique, oscar, oscars
If you are a black scholar in America, then you probably know about the work of Dr. Lee Jones. Dr. Jones is the founder of the largest organization of black male PhDs, The Brothers of the Academy. He has also spun his amazing organizational skills into the creation of Inspire Magazine, one of the strongest and fastest-growing publications in America.
AOL Black Voices had a chance to catch up with Dr. Jones:
AOL Black Voices had a chance to catch up with Dr. Jones:
First let me say that I have been truly Blessed to have the opportunity to live within my purpose. I am doing exactly what I want to do, which is to serve and provide inspiration. I have met my Purpose in Person! I have enjoyed a very peaceful career in higher education thus far. I started as a Hall Director at The Ohio State University and moved up as Coordinator of the Mentoring Program, Director of Retention, Executive Assistant to VP of Business Affairs and adjunct professor before leaving Ohio State. I went on to Washington State University, where I served as Director of The Office of Multicultural Student Serves and Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership. It was at Washington State University, where we started Your Voice TV Show. After leaving WSU, I accepted a job at Florida State University as Associate Dean for Education and Associate Professor Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. I earned tenure at FSU. I also served as Executive Producer and Host of Your Voice TV. After leaving FSU, I accepted job as Dean of The School of Graduate Studies and Full Professor of Educational Leadership. Currently I am Professor, President and Executive Editor of InSpire Magazine! I have just started producing and hosting B-InSpired Talk Radio www.binspiredtalkradio
Continue reading Black Professor Becomes Major Media Entrepreneur
Strategy #1: Open an Individual Development Account or IDA
An Individual Development Account, or IDA, lets low-to-moderate income earners save money for a specific goal – such as a down payment on a house or starting a business – and receive matching funds from non-profit groups, corporations, and government agencies. Many IDAs provide a $3 to $1 match, meaning for every dollar you save, you get $3 in contributions. What's the catch? You must agree to save money for a set period of time, usually at least one year. Some IDAs require you to set aside money for two or three years. Whatever the term, it's worth it – because you'll get rewarded with a huge cash bonus in the end.
The Payoff: If you save $100 a month, or $1,200 in one year, and your IDA has a $3 to $1 match, at the end of a year, you'll receive a $3,600 contribution.
Resource: Visit http://www.IDAnetwork.org to find an institution in your area that offers Individual Development Accounts.
Continue reading Three Ways to Save More Money By Getting Paid to Save
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