Clip of the Day

Former Security Guard Starts His Own High School

CBS News | February 12, 2010

An alternative all-boys high school on Cleveland’s hard luck Eastside is being turned around by a former security guard. In the three years since it opened, not one kid has flunked out. Jim Axelrod reports.

11-Year-Old Lobbies Congress for Health Care
MSNBC | March 9, 2010

At the age of 7, Marcelas Owens lost his 27-year-old mother to pulmonary hypertension after losing her job and health insurance.

Now, the 11-year-old fifth grader is heading to Congress to advocate for health care reform.

Young People Make Film about AIDS and the Black Community
via Black AIDS Institute | August 13, 2009

In “Why Us? Left Behind and Dying,” 20 Students from Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh PA work with filmmakers to discover why AIDS is ravaging the African-American Community.

Mo’Nique on Mary Jones: “Everybody deserves to be loved.”
CNN | March 8, 2010

Last night, Mo’Nique joined an exclusive list of Oscar-winning African-American women.  She spoke backstage about what the win meant to her as well as how she felt about her villainous character in “Precious.”

Strengthening America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities
WhiteHouse.gov | February 26, 2010

President Obama signs an executive order to strengthen the capacity of and increase access to Federal funding for the Nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Funny or Die’s Presidential Reunion
Funny or Die.com | March 3, 2010

The SNL presidents of the past join together to provide words of wisdom to President Obama.

Lee Daniels on His Oscar Nominations
The Grio | March 3, 2010

Daniels: [African-Americans] have to get out of the ‘Huxtable’ mode of trying to be perfect,” Daniels said of the famous Cosby Show family. “There’s so many elements of African-American culture and families that we choose not to examine.

A Girl Like Me
A documentary by Kiri Davis | 2006

Color is more than skin deep for young African-American women struggling to define themselves.  (Read more about the film here.)

Obama Announces Plan to Lower High School Dropout Rates
via CNN.com | March 1, 2010

Today, President Obama attended a press conference in which he introduced a plan to address and tackle the nation’s high school dropout crises.  The new mobilization campaign is called Grad Nation and more information can be found below.

On March 1, 2010, General Colin Powell, America’s Promise Alliance Chair Alma Powell and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the formation of Grad Nation. Grad Nation is a 10-year campaign to mobilize the nation as never before to reverse the dropout crisis and enable our children to be prepared for success in college, work and life. (Read more)

First Black P.O.W. Interviews on Today Show
MSNBC.com | February 22, 2010

This week on the Today Show, former U.S. Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson spoke with Matt Lauer about her experience as a 19-year-old  prisoner of war in Iraq in 2003.  She recently wrote an autobiography about her experience called I’m Still Standing.

Managing High Expectations
ESPN.com

Florida State football star and NFL prospect, Myron Rolle talks about what it means to be a Rhodes Scholar.  Read the ESPN story here.

Sade Horses Around with Wanda Sykes
via Idolator.com | February 22, 2010

The ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha from the University of Arkansas won the $100,000 1st place prize at last weekend’s Sprite Step Off-Challenge in Atlanta.  We have been hearing mixed responses about this result–mixed because ZTA is a white sorority that received the shine participating in a historically black cultural form, but they also apparently stepped really well.  So, we decided to post this video for you to decide for yourself.

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Tiger Woods’s Apology
via CNN.com | February 19, 2010

In case you missed it, here’s all 14 minutes of Tiger’s televised remarks.

Fan Video Gets Picked Up By Lupe Fiasco
via LupeFiasco.com | February 17, 2010

One of Lupe Fiasco’s fans posted a unofficial video for his new single “I’m Beamin” and Lupe happened to see it and enjoyed it enough to post on his official website.  Hopefully this is inspiration for continuing to create and share your hobbies with the world.

Biggest Dodgeball Game in the World
University of Alberta | February 5, 2010

Earlier this month, the University of Alberta successfully set the Guinness World Record for the biggest dodgeball game ever played.  Bring back memories of gym class?

The Slam Dunk Contest We’re Still Talking About
NBA All Star Weekend | 2008

So, the plan was to post a highlight from this year’s All Star Weekend, but unfortunately, it turned out to be uneventful.  So here’s video of what we believe to be one of the best dunk contests in years.  Enjoy!

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ALIen Performs Live Remix of Lupe Fiasco’s “I’m Beamin”
Illroots.com | February 11, 2010

Now THIS is drumming!

President Obama Sings the Back National Anthem
Associated Press | February 10, 2010

Stephen Colbert Celebrates Black History Month
Colbert Report | February 9, 2010

Making of Sade’s “Soldier of Love”
AOL.com (via BlackVoices.com)

25 Years after the debut of her first album, Sade’s long-awaited sixth album, Soldier of Love was released today.  We are celebrating the return from her 10-year hiatus with this video.  Enjoy!

“Who Dat Say They Gon’ Beat Dem Saints!”
CBS News | February 8, 2010

Congrats to the New Orleans Saints for winning the 44th Super Bowl!

HP Computers are Racist?

This hilarious video, which accuses HP of manufacturing a racist webcam, created a lot of buzz on the internet.  Though it was later proven that sufficient lighting-and not light skin- is needed to engage the face-tracking feature, this video still has us laughing!

“We Are the World” Class of  2010
Associated Press | February 2, 2010

25 years after the original, charity anthem ‘We Are The World’ has been given a hip-hip, pop twist by top artists, including Celine Dion, Jonas Brothers and Wyclef Jean. The stars have re-recorded the 80s hit to raise money for Haiti.

Jennifer Hudson Performs “I Will Always Love You”
BET | February 2, 2010

Last night, JHud honored Whitney Houston at the BET Honors.

“Loo$e Change” by Mykwain Gainey

Read Fallon’s blog about this witty short film.

Lupe Fiasco ‘Somewhat’ Agrees With Controversial Bill O’Reilly Comment
Chicago MC says talk-show host had ‘credible argument’ when he compared Chicago to Haiti.
MTV | January 27, 2010

Lupe Fiasco: “I don’t want to be pointed out as supporting Bill O’Reilly in any way because he can be on the garbage sometimes. When you’re comparing certain areas in the U.S. that are predominantly African-American or Latino, it’s very easy to compare it to the Third World,” Lupe said. “Just in the amount of violence that’s there, the corruption that’s there, the gang activity that’s there. It’s prevalent and dominant in Haiti. The corruption of the local politicians, the abject, corporate exploitation that takes place there, loan sharking, all that stuff. I think you can make the comparison to a lot of places in the U.S. Oakland [California], Detroit. Detroit’s got abandoned buildings. On that note, he’s definitely not out of the ballpark. There’s a credible argument there. I agree with that in some aspects.”

Listen to Bill O’Reilly’s comment here

What do you think???

Parks and Recreation – RZA Screen Test
from Parks & Recreation (NBC)

In this hilarious “extra bit”, RZA from the Wu Tang Clan auditions for the part that is later played by Amy Poehler.

Empire State of Mind Part XXII
by PS22 Chorus

The PS22 Chorus delivers big time on this New York anthem by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys! Props to Dominique & Messale for amazing jobs on the lead vocals & rap (respectively). And of course to Ethan for a well-deserved happy dance at the song’s conclusion.

We based our version more on the Alicia Keys “Empire State of Mind Part II,” but as a tribute to Jay-Z version, the kids and I created our own little rap that obviously was a bit more age appropriate.