Mike Vick

I'm not sure how I feel about this situation. I thought I was totally against Mike Vick on these illegal dogfighting allegations, but then I read something that made me think deeper.

Someone pointed out that while we make a big deal about people fighting dogs, claiming that it is cruelty and inhumane, there are many other crude and brutal behaviors taking place. The writer pointed out that the Ultimate Fighting Championship is about as raw and violent as it gets right now on TV. Yet, we do not hear anyone shouting that this channel should be boycotted, etc. because it airs UFC.

Violence is wrong, no matter what community you come from.

Drugs have an impact on all of our neighborhoods.

Skin color should not be the determining factor when you decide to help someone. I know a lot of white people in need of financial assistance.

First we need to sell the junk and then we can get to the good stuff.

Spending for the unpopular war

I am not sure what the price tag is at this time on the war in Iraq, but it is in the several hundred billions of dollars.

We are spending this money because we have to...our servicemen and women are over there with their lives on the line. I salute these brave individuals for their sacrifices. I am glad to have them so willing to defend America's freedom. Thank you...

But it is a shame that these fine men and women in our armed forces are being pimped and used as political pawns. Yes. They are used by the president because he dares the Democrats to cut funding for the war because it will jeopardize the troops. That may very well be true. But it shame that these loyal troops would not be in harm's way were it not for Bush's machismo and bravado in the face of reason.

The Democrats are using the loss of life and limb by these troops to support their reasoning for ending the war. Though this is not as bad as the sin committed by the right wing, it is a shame.

We should be beyond fighting wars. We should stop the war because it is unjust. But when you are in the service, this is what you sign on for. There is a chance that you will be called into combat. Every soldier knows that, or should.

What troubles me mostly is how we can suggest additional funding for the war and get it approved quickly by Congress. But ask the federal government to support school construction in some of the worst urban communities and it will take years, if ever, for it to get done. People complain about money being spent on "government entitlement programs" but don't say much about the government entitlements going to firms like Haliburton and other war profiteers.

Imagine how much of a difference we could make in our communities if the money that is so easily being spent on what appears to be a lost cause thousands of miles away. Are the disadvantaged children here in the poor neighborhoods of America not worth it? What about the police forces that are stretched thin? What about the communities that are dealing with road gridlock?

We are fighting a war to prevent the spread of radical Islam overseas. Yes, the threat of terrorism is very real. But so, too, is the threat of losing a chance to save young people who need a helping hand. Are they not worth the same urgency?

Recommended reading...

I'm reading a book right now about an incredible man...Reginald Lewis. Not familiar with the name? Look him up on Google. Lewis, who died in 1993, was at one time the wealthiest black person. He beat Oprah and Robert Johnson to that title.

So who was Reginald Lewis? Lewis was an attorney and entrepreneur. He was extremely smart and confident. He refused to accept excuses and had no time for mediocrity. He demanded the best out of those who worked with and for him because he would give no less of himself.

Lewis, a native of Baltimore, reached his lofty status when he took over Beatrice Foods...

Read this Wikipedia entry. (I've checked this entry for accuracy)
Recruited to a top New York law firm immediately after law school, Lewis left to start his own firm two years later. After almost 20 years as a corporate lawyer with his own practice, Lewis moved to the other side of the table by creating TLC Group L.P., a venture capital firm, in 1983. His first major deal was the purchase of the McCall Pattern Company, a home sewing pattern business. He later sold the company at a trememdous profit for investors.
In 1987 Lewis bought Beatrice International Foods from Beatrice Companies for $985 million, renaming it TLC Beatrice International, a snack food, beverage, and grocery store conglomerate that was the largest black-owned and black-managed business in the U.S. The deal was partly financed through Mike Milken of the maverick investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert.
When TLC Beatrice reported revenue of $1.8 billion in 1987, it became the first black-owned company to have more than $1 billion in annual sales.
At its peak in 1996, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc. had sales of $2.2 billion and was number 512 on Fortune magazine's list of 1,000 largest companies. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.

Reginald Lewis died of a brian tumor. You should read the book on his life which he co-wrote portions of. It is entitled: "Why should white guys have all the fun?"

Lewis was a graduate of Virginia State University and Harvard Law School.

What does this tell us? First, HBCUs have a history of putting out fantastic graduates. And, second, that life is too short; you need to make your mark TODAY. Tomorrow is not promised.

What do you want to see on this Web site?

We here at Black Pages USA want to create an experience that you will enjoy and keep you coming back again and again. The content that you see here is from what we believe to be the best of what's on the Web in terms of news and information related to people of color and empowerment. But this is just our point of view. What's yours? What needs to be here to make BlackPagesUSA.com part of your daily Web browsing?

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I was reading an article on ESPN.com earlier today about how the NFL Draft largely bypassed historically black colleges and universities. Hampton University had a player, Justin Durant, taken on the first day of the draft, but had expected to have as many as five players taken. The article, written by an NFL writer whose work I respect, pointed out that the talent at HBCUs is overlooked. This is a long way from the days of when Grambling sent the likes of Doug Williams to the NFL. Williams, who was the first black quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, and Jerry Rice from Mississippi Valley State, are the most recognizable NFL names to come from HBCUs in the past quarter century. But the NFL Hall of Fame is decorated with many players who were forced by segregation to play at HBCUs and went on to NFL glory. The problem is, the days of concentrated talent at HBCUs may be over. There are a few powerhouse programs like Hampton, but not the overall competition that once existed. The best players of color from the south are going to the SEC or the ACC, or even the Big 12.

Some might even argue that the run to Division I diluted talent in historic conferences like the CIAA which plays Division II. I think this is an acceptable argument, having grown up toward the end of the glory days of the CIAA. The basketball tournament is still a huge draw. But the defections of schools like Hampton, Norfolk State, and now Winston-Salem State to Division I has taken some of the passion from the CIAA. Some of the natural rivalries are no more. Hampton has made the transition with poise and great success, but Norfolk State still struggles with an underfunded and mostly directionless athletic program.

But, as they say, everything must change. So let's not pine too much for the "good ole' days." Yet, I hope that we can get more coverage and attention paid to HBCU sports.

That said, is that sort of content useful here? Let me know.