NAACP Statement on Use of ‘N-word’ at White House Correspondents' Dinner

WASHINGTON - NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks issued the following statement about remarks made at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 30 in Washington D.C.:

“On The Nightly Show and in many other programs, Larry Wilmore is a thoughtful and courageous comedian who consistently makes us laugh by confronting the ugly contradictions we see in our government, media, and society. I assume that Mr. Wilmore was sincere in humorously criticizing, commending and mocking the President during the dinner. Context, like race, matters.  The n-word has a long history of hate. It doesn’t matter whether the people listening are wearing tuxedos and gowns, the racist ugliness of it cannot be forgotten. Many in the audience clearly believed he had crossed a line in his final remarks.

“In this election year, we have consistently reminded candidates that the words they choose have meaning and consequence. Even a seemingly ‘friendly’ form of the n-word ending in ‘ga’ rather than ‘ger’ insults many in our nation even when meant to compliment our president.  While it may be common to use the n-word as a racial obscenity for effect with a crowd in a night club or among acquaintances in a locker room or a rhyme in a song, the n-word, as racist profanity, should not be in the same sentence or the same room as the President of the United States. The fact that President Barack Obama is the first African-American to hold the highest office in this country should not be a license for undue racial familiarity or racialized disrespect.

“For many years now, the NAACP has maintained that the n-word does nothing to foster real and meaningful conversations our country needs to have about race, class, segregation and tolerance in our nation and we are, once again, sadly disappointed by its perpetuation in our national dialogue. With a vocabulary of America’s aspirations, the NAACP strives for a day when the n-word refers to a ‘nation’ indivisible by race, class, color, creed, or slurs.”

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Founded Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots–based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

Growing Popularity of Black Superheroes Creates Opportunities for Comic Book Investors

(Black PR Wire) Marvel Comic’s Black Panther—the first black comic book superhero, born in the 1960s—is poised to make his big screen debut in the much-anticipated movie, Captain America: Civil War. It’s culturally significant, but that’s not all. For comic book collectors, the growing interest in black superheroes opens doors for investors, too. 

“When interest in a character rises, comic book values do, too,” says Vincent Zurzolo, co-owner of Metropolis Collectibles, the world’s largest vintage comic book dealership, and ComicConnect.com, its online auction site. 

Take The Black Panther’s first appearance in Fantastic Four #52 in 1966. (First appearances are typically the most valuable comics in a series.) In 2012, a 9.8 graded copy of Fantastic Four #52 sold for $19,200. In 2016, a similar copy sold for $83,650—a 435% increase in value.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The Black Panther character was born as T’Challa, the prince of Wakanda, a technologically-advanced country. He takes on the hero role when his father, the king, is killed. 

Then there’s Luke Cage, a favorite of actor Nicholas Cage, who adopted his surname. This black superhero, who first appeared in Marvel’s Hero for Hire #1 in 1972, boasts superhuman strength and unbreakable skin. Last year, he was featured on the Netflix series Jessica Jones. This fall, he’ll headline his own series. 

In 2011, a 9.8 graded copy of Hero for Hire #1 sold for $2,766. In 2014, one sold for $6,100. But earlier this year, a similarly graded copy sold for $24,000, a whopping 867% increase in 5 years. 

“The interest is industry wide,” notes Stephen Fishler, co-owner of Metropolis/ComicConnect, pointing out the upcoming reboot of Milestone Comics, a DC imprint created by African-American artists and writers in 1993. The best known are Hardware, Icon and Static. 

Hip hop icon Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run DMC, launched his own comic book imprint, Darryl Makes Comics (http://www.dmc-comics.com), in 2014. His graphic novel series, DMC, features McDaniels as a contemporary superhero—complete with trademark Adidas and fedora—confronting evil in 1985 New York City. 


“The Black Panther has been a favorite of many collectors for decades. He has a great back story and cool powers. Once more people learn about him, his vintage comics will become more collectible.”

Source: www.ComicConnect.com

Barbie® Launches Misty Copeland Doll

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Barbie® is honoring Misty Copeland by unveiling a doll in her likeness to continue to show girls they can be anything.  Copeland, the first African-American female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), has been a role model to girls throughout her career. 

The doll is part of the Barbie Sheroes program, honoring female heroes who inspire girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere. Copeland joins an esteemed group of diverse Barbie Sheroes, including Ava DuVernay,Emmy Rossum, Eva Chen, Kristin Chenoweth, Sydney "Mayhem" Keiser, Trisha Yearwood and Zendaya.

The fashions for the doll were inspired by Copeland's Firebird costume from her first American Ballet Theatre principal role, which she is performing again on May 18 (matinee) and 19 as part of ABT's annual spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. Copeland was intimately involved in the doll's design and partnered with the Barbie design team on all the details. 

"I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on," said Copeland. "It's an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll."

Copeland shows girls how to break boundaries both on and off the stage. She began dancing on a Boys & Girls Club basketball court and continues to be very active in local Clubs in various cities. She also works with Project Plié, ABT's comprehensive initiative to increase racial and ethnic representation in ballet and diversify America's ballet companies.  

"Misty Copeland is at the center of a cultural conversation around how women continue to break boundaries," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "As a brand, we want to honor women, like Misty, who are inspiring the next generation of girls to live out their dreams. We know role play often leads to real "play" in life and we're thrilled to celebrate Misty with her very own doll."

This initiative furthers the Barbie "You Can Be Anything" campaign message echoing that when a girl plays with Barbie, she imagines anything she can become. Earlier this year, Barbie expanded their Fashionistas® line by introducing even more diversity with three new body types – tall, curvy and petite – seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles and countless on-trend fashions and accessories.

For more information and images, please visit www.barbiemedia.com. The doll is available today for $29.95on www.thebarbiecollection.com and rolling out to retailers nationwide.  

About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, Fisher-Price® brands and MEGA® Brands, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2015, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ approximately 31,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.

© Misty Copeland Enterprises, Inc. 2016

I really don't like Larry Wilmore right now.

By George L. Cook III. EMAIL

I'm sure by now you have heard or read about Larry Wilmore (You know the comedian you had never heard of with the show on Comedy Central that you don't watch) refer to a sitting President of the United States as "My nigga" at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Not just any president mind you, but Barack Obama the first black president.

I won't post the video of his ignorant comments because there are other blogs where you can view them. I just want to make my feelings known.

Now if you are like me your immediate response was "What the f*@# did he just say?"

I was shocked and angry at his comments. A black man finally becomes President of the United States, something all black men of my age bracket were told we could never be by are well meaning teachers. Then in Obama's last year in office, it's a black man that calls him the N-word to his face in public?!?! (Everyone else called him ni**er behind his back or online). The use of the word is always inappropriate regardless of the setting and to refer to Obama that way on national TV (Yes, C-Span counts) is just mind boggling.

My first angry reaction to Wilmore's comments was "F*ck Larry Wilmore!"

I decided to calm down, watch Wilmore's comments again to see if I missed any context, and try to come up with a more adult and mature response. So after much contemplation I came up with this:

F*CK LARRY WILMORE!

I actually wanted to title this post-F*ck Larry Wilmore, but I took a full day to calm down before posting and thought better of it. But I'm still pissed.

Who the hell is Larry Wilmore but a poor man's Chris Rock (I know you thought that was the other black guy that took Jon Stewart's place on The Daily Show) without the wit and jokes. Couldn't he have said "You did it black man." and gotten what I think was his point across?

I wanted to start a boycott of his show but how can people boycott something they don't watch? It would be like asking black people to boycott Fox News

I'm sorry for going at Wilmore like this, but we have to do better with how we represent ourselves publicly. Calling the President of the United States "My ni@@a" is an embarrassment not only to African Americans but in my humble opinion it attacks the legacy of Obama's presidency.

Fortunately Larry Wilmore will soon be forgotten (or on a reality show), but President Obama's legacy will live on.

Al Sharpton not happy with Larry Wilmore's use on the N-Word toward Pres. Obama

Civil rights activist, TV show host, and Radio show host Al Sharpton is none to happy with Larry Wilmore after the comedian referred to President Obama as "My ni@@a" at the White House Correspondence Dinner.

Speaking to the LA Times, Al Sharpton made the following comments:

"Many of us are against using the N-word period," Sharpton told the Times at MSNBC's after party that followed the event at the Washington Hilton. "But to say that to the President of the United States in front of the top people in media was at best in poor taste."

Sharpton said Wilmore's comic monologue at the dinner "was all right until he dropped the N-word."

"I think he was trying to in his own way to act like he was relating," Sharpton said. "But relating to who? Or what? I really didn't like it."