Black farmers across the United States have been the victims of systematic discrimination for several decades. This has been proven in court, and the United States Department of Agriculture has agreed to pay a $1.25 billion dollar settlement to the black farmers who brought the suit. What is saddest about the settlement, however, is that Congress has not yet approved the funds. This is another form of racism that the farmers must face, because their justice is being consistently denied by government officials who are insistent upon remaining stubborn.

British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward is reportedly going to step down this week to be replaced by another man who has been running the day-to-day operations of the oil spill. CNN's Anderson Cooper has reported that the announcement is set to take place in England, which is five hours ahead of the U.S. The greatest shock has come from the announcement that Hayward will allegedly receive a pay package of roughly $18 million dollars, which is shocking in light of the fact that many of the victims in the Gulf oil spill have not yet been paid.

Geithner went onto national television to argue that with the economy slumping and deficit rising, it only makes sense for the rich to increase their contribution to the nation's coffers.

S. Tia Brown is a sassy, intelligent woman with a lot of interesting opinions. We also tend to fight a lot. Tia, who is a staple for Essence, is one of the most compelling and provocative black female social commentators in America. She graduated from Columbia University and presents a style of analysis that makes you want to hear more about what she has to say.

The recent immigration law in Arizona has led to both controversy and immediate, undeniable impact. The law gives authorities in the state the right to check documentation of anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. It is now being reported that since the law's creation, over tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have left the state of Arizona.

A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Survey sent bad news to the Obama Administration this week. The poll found that only 42 percent of the American public approves of how the president is handling the economy, while 57 percent disapprove. The disapproval rating has increased by two percent since March of this year.

If you want to know who my favorite spoken word artist happens to be, its Madam Prezident out of Chicago. Madam Prezident, aka Shanelle Walker, is a student at Kentucky State University. She sets the world on fire with cutting edge, hardcore, in-your-face poetry and social commentary.

I had a chance to sit down with award-winning filmmaker Dorian Chandler and radio show host Keisha Dutes to talk about some of their most interesting film and video projects. Dorian made an interesting film called 'Ni**er Nation,' which has set quite a few film festivals on fire. The film breaks down the N-word and talks about when it can be used, by who and in what context. It's very interesting and I recommend checking it out.

As most of you know from my book 'Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College,' I am a strong believer in the importance of academic achievement. Black people are phenomenal in so many ways, and I've never understood those who don't simply translate our commitment to excellence in other areas to what we can become academically. The great thing about excelling academically is that the rewards pay off for a lifetime, whether they be financial, social or otherwise. I didn't become a free and strong black man until I became fully educated.

Recently, when appearing on 'AC 360' to discuss the firing of Shirley Sherrod from the United States Department of Agriculture, I found myself confused. My daughter, standing in the other room watching, asked me why Sherrod was fired from her job. I explained to her that there was an allegation that she made racially discriminatory remarks toward whites and that she was also accused of not helping a family as much as she could have.