News Break: White Families Now $95K Richer Than African-American Families

A new study by researchers at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA claims that in the last 23 years, the gap between the average net worth of African-American families and white families has more than quadrupled:

In examining data from 1984 to 2007, Brandeis's Institute on Assets and Social Policy found that the average white family now has accumulated $95,000 more in total wealth than the average African-American family. One quarter of African-American families, the report notes, currently have no financial assets to protect themselves from financial ruin. By 2007, the average middle income white household accumulated $74,000," the report's authors note, "whereas average high income African Americans owned only $18,000.

The racial wealth gap results from historical and contemporary factors but the disturbing four fold in crease in such a short time reflects public policies, such as tax cuts on investment income and inheritances which benefit the wealthiest, and redistribute wealth and opportunities. Tax deductions for home mortgages, retirement accounts, and college savings all disproportionately benefit higher in come families. At the same time, evidence from multiple sources demonstrates the powerful role of persistent discrimination in housing, credit, and labor markets.

To read more of the report go here.

News Break: 7 Yr Old Shot by Detroit Police was Asleep

The news has been abuzz about the recent death of a 7 year old named Aiyana Jones who was shot and killed by Detroit police who burst in the home looking for a homicide suspect over the weekend. The father of Aiyana says that his daughter was innocently sleeping and recounts the tragic ordeal:

"I'll never be the same. That's my only daughter,"

"I saw them (police) running with my daughter out of the house. They had my mother on the floor, and they just kept me there for like two hours," Jones told The Detroit News. "I knew it was bad, and they probably had my baby at the hospital, because someone asked me if she had any allergies.

"Her blood was everywhere and I was trying to stay calm, but nobody would talk to me. None of them even tried to console me."

So sad. For those who want to give condolences to the family via Facebook go here.

To Doobie or Not to Doobie... Black Salons Vs. Dominicans

The Wall Street Journal has decided to research the major beef between Black salons and Dominican salons as Dominican's continue to take more of black salons business:

Emily Martinez, a stylist at Sintia's Dominican Salon in Landover, Md., demonstrates the Dominican blowout.

Many traditional black stylists accuse Dominicans of misrepresenting their services as "natural" because nearly all Dominican salons perform relaxer touch-ups. Traditionalists say the "Dominican blowout" technique can cause severe hair breakage. Both sorts of stylists wash, set hair in rollers and seat customers under big dryers.

African-American stylists typically use a curling iron to unfurl the hair, while Dominicans use a two-handed method of unraveling the strands with a round brush, followed by a blow dryer in the other hand to smooth the curl to a straight finish. Dominicans do so by pulling from the hair root, often forcefully. That, along with applying the second round of intense heat, leads to breakage, say black stylists and some customers.

Black women have been going to Dominican's for years on the East Coast and tend to get a great amount of services for under $30 as oppose to black salons which charge $50 and up for similar services. At the end of the day there's room for everyone to grow. What do you guys think?

Lil' Wayne Nailed in Prison

After being behind bars for two months, New Orleans rapper Lil' Wayne was caught yesterday at Rikers in possession of "unauthorized earphones and a charger" during a search according to a corrections officer. The MP3 player was discovered in the cell of another inmate in the unit. It turns out Lil Wayne had hidden the original contraband, the charger and headphones, in a snack bag in the garbage can of his cell.
Lil Wayne is being charged with an infraction, possession of contraband. While Lil Wayne's possession of an mp3 player may seem minor, prison authorities are now searching for the culprit responsible for smuggling the device into Lil Wayne's cell.

Legendary Singer Lena Horne dies

The enchanting jazz singer and actress Lena Calhoun Horne died on Sunday, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, she was 92. Ms. Horne was the first black performer with a major studio contract, and she achieved international success in nightclubs and on records. During the 1940s, she was the first to play the Copacabana nightclub and was one of a few with a Hollywood contract. In 1943, MGM Studios loaned her to 20th Century-Fox to play the role of Selina Rogers in the all-black movie musical "Stormy Weather." Her rendition of the title song became a major hit and her signature piece. The striking beauty with the sultry voice was also a civil rights activist who participated in numerous marches and protest.

Her daughter, Gail Lumet Buckley, survives Ms. Horne.

Former Rikers Guard Falsely Accused Of Trying to Sneak a Peek at Lil Wayne

Ameila Negron a former Rikers guard says she was fired after being accused of trying to sneak a peek at Lil Wayne during lockup:

A former Rikers guard says she was canned after a bad rap - a claim she tried to sneak a peek at Lil Wayne in lockup. Amelia Negron, who is preparing a federal suit against the city, said union higherups forced her to falsely confess she was trying to star-gawk. "I don't even like rap," said Negron, 33.

What really happened March 10 is that she popped her head into the unit where the performer was being held to see a colleague, Negron said.
"The door to the area was unlocked, and so I went in to say hello, and that officer said, 'Hey, you can't be here. We've got a celeb here.' I said, 'Okay, no problem,' turned around and left," Negron said.

A Correction Department spokesman noted Negron was a probationary employee and said her firing was "entirely appropriate."

Now y'all know...

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Swizz Beats Can Do More Than Wreck Homes...

Producer Swizz Beatz will be honored at this year’s SESAC New York Music Awards on May 12th with the “Inspiration” Humanitarian Award:

The “Inspiration Award” is in recognition of Beatz’s humanitarian work raising money and awareness for Haiti relief, specifically on “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)”, the song he co-wrote and co-produced with U2′s Bono and also recorded by the Irish rock singer along with Jay-Z and Rhianna. The song, a moving a call to action to aid the earthquake victims of Haiti, went on to become a top selling download at iTunes raising millions for the cause. Swizz Beatz has also worked with the United Nations to unite the entertainment community in its efforts to promote peace around the world.

Looks like things have been on the up and up since him and Alicia have linked up. Cute.

News Break: Malcolm X Assasin Freed After 44 Years In Prison

Thomas Hagan, the only man who admitted to aiding in the 1965 assassination of iconic black leader Malcolm X, was paroled Tuesday:

Hagan, 69, walked out of the minimum-security Lincoln Correctional Facility at 11 a.m. The facility is located at the intersection of West 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. Hagan had been in a full-time work-release program since March 1992 that allowed him to live at home with his family in Brooklyn five days a week while reporting to the prison just two days.

Last month, Hagan pleaded his case for freedom: To return to his family, to become a substance abuse counselor and to make his mark on what time he has left in this world.

SMH...

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