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Gary Johnson's Weekly video detailing the latest happenings on Black Men In America.com for November 2009.

Black Men In America.com Founder talks about the hot topics for the week.

Tim Wise has been a friend to Black Men In America.com since we launched the original online magazine in 2001.  Over the years Tim has graciously allowed us to post his work.  In fact, time was probably the first white writer that we posted on the site.  In case you’re not aware of Tim, let [...]

By Harold Bell
August 19, 2009
Football players and real sports fans across America are wondering why would Michael Vick chose the worst sports city in America to try to re-start his NFL career.
Philadelphia is called “The City of Brotherly Love.” It is anything but a city that loves brothers!
Racial profiling among the city’s police department is [...]

From the creators of the award winning web site Black and Married With Kids.com comes a ground breaking documentary set to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding marriage and parenting in the black community.
Couples and experts discuss topics such as the image and portrayal of black marriages and families, the effect the Obamas will have on marriage [...]

From the producer of the award winning documentary “What Black Men Think” and “Men II Boys ,” comes the next installment in the ground breaking series. “Reconciliation” will be a series of free online webisodes demonstrating the ability of two parents to finally make the correct sacrifices for the benefit of their children in order [...]

On July 16, 2009, President Barack Obama addressed the NAACP.  His message is not a new one, however his  style seems to be more “hearable.”  Let’s be clear.  Stand up black men.  Bill Cosby has been saying this for years.  In case you missed it, we have President Barack Obama’s speech in its entirety.

What do [...]

Lil Rounds belts out the Motown favorite "Heatwave" during Season 8 of American Idol. Lil had trouble pleasing the judges, but there was NEVER any doubt that she could sing.

This is the song that changed America's opinion of Kris Allen and convinced America (and Kris) that he could win.

This is the song that changed America's opinion about Kris Allen. This was a bold move on his part that convinced American (and Kris) that he could win.

By Gary A. Johnson

Wayman Tisdale lost his two-year battle to cancer today at the age of 44.  It was reported that Tisdale discovered he had an aggressive form of cancer called Osteosarcoma about two years ago after breaking his leg after a fall at his home.  Osteosarcoma affected his knee specifically and doctors needed to remove the cancerous cyst.  Though the procedure was successful, the subsequent rounds of chemotherapy didn’t convince doctors that the cancer was gone.  The bone cancer lingered and Tisdale consented to have the lower portion of his right leg amputated in an attempt to stop the cancer from spreading.
I was a big fan of Tisdale as an NBA player but a bigger fan from his life as a musician.  I have all of his CD’s and enjoyed his unique bass playing.  After news of Tisdale’s cancer became public, I followed his career closely.  From every report that I’ve read, Tisdale never took a music lesson.  He just loved to play music as a young man and that he didn’t know the names of the notes for his songs.
Part of Tisdale’s public persona was optimism, even after a portion of his leg was amputated.  Take a look at this video of Wayman giving his fans an update on his condition after his surgery.

When I hear that a man who was a world-class athlete dies at 44 it stops me in my tracks.  It forces me to reflect on a discussion I had with my father earlier this year about 3 weeks before he passed away.  My Dad was down in the dumps because his mother was healthier than he was.  I looked at him and said, “Dad, you have to put your energy on getting better and play the hand that you were dealt.”  My father lived a full adult life, having survived a terrible childhood.  The father I knew was decent and kindhearted man who loved his family.
I imagine there must have been times when Wayman Tisdale asked:  “Why me?”  I also imagine Wayman probably answered the question by replying: 

A political poem on President Obama and the many issues facing his administration. Written and performed by Michael A. Price, Jr.


Posted in African American, Barack Obama, Black Interests, Black Men, Politics Tagged: Barack Obama, Jr., Michael A. Price, Politics

Dr. King's last speech in Memphis, TN on April 4, 1968.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech at the March on Washington, DC. August 28, 1963

Jackie Wilson in a 1971 television appearance singing "Higher and Higher."

Jackie Wilson singing "Lonely Teardrops" on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Here is a live 90's version of "Rock Wit You," by Michael in concert.

This is a rare clip of the Jackson 5 on the Carol Burnett Show in 1975. Randy is introduced to the audience as the newest member of the group as the J5 perform a tribute to vocal groups such as The Mills Brothers, the Andrews Sisters, The Coasters and The Supremes, This was a period in the group's career when Berry Gordy and their father Joe Jackson wanted to market the group as a mainstream Vegas kind of act. Check out their hair. The group also sings their hit "Dancing Machine" and toward the end of the clip they introduce their 8 year old sister Janet. Randy and Janet do their version of Sonny and Cher.