10 Brothers Who Didn’t Do Us Any Favors In 2010

From Left to Right:  Ron Christie, Bishop Eddie Long, LeBron James and Michael Steele

As the year 2010 comes to an end, we decided to take a quick look backwards to see what lessons we learned from 2010.  As a result, we stumbled on 10 brother who did not do the community any favors.  Some of these brothers continued to portray black men in a negative fashion, while others put their foot in their mouth and made excuses for their objectionable behavior.  And still there were others who simply exercised poor judgment.
All of these brothers made what many would consider to be more than a decent living last year in terms of their income.  So on one hand, we’re not mad at them.  On the other hand, some of these guys are making a living and perpetuating negative stereotypes of blacks men.  Hey, it’s just a list.  It’s our opinion.
Take a look and tell us what you think?  Anyone you would add?  Anyone you would remove?

1. Michael Steele – Dude wants to be loved by the Republicans, who can’t stand him.  He consistently puts his foot in his mouth.
2. Jesse Jackson, Jr. – Dude got caught up in an inappropriate relationship with a woman who was NOT his wife.  Jackson, Jr. has trouble “manning up” to the truth in this area, even after you get busted.  Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
3. Flava Flav -This founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy continues to keep negative stereotypes alive about black men.  Flav is set to release his autobiography, Icon, in March 2011.  In the memoir Flav will reflect on his rap career, his struggle with drug abuse, and his reality TV success.  (Yawn)
4. Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. –  Can you say ignorant ass N#$ga?  No amount of money can buy you class and manners.  Mayweather is facing a felony coercion, grand larceny and robbery case stemming from a September 2010 dispute with his children and their mother at her home.  Mayweather goes to trial in January 2011 and could face up to 34 years in prison if convicted.  On top of all that he refuses to fight Manny Pacquio.  He says he’s not scared, but we think otherwise.
5. Bishop Eddie Long – Preacher man was accused by several young men in his church of coercing them into sex.  Did you get a look at the Bishop with his Spandex pants posing in the bathroom mirror?  That not only gets you on our list, you get to merge into the “fast lane” to Hell.
6. Alvin Greene – Alvin Greene’s candidacy in the South Carolina Senate race was an embarrassment and a disgrace. Yes it was his right to run, however, he was not prepared and often appeared to be out of touch on the main issues and incoherent.
7. Antoine Dodson – The YouTube sensation let his 15 minutes of fame go to his head.  Mr. Dodson needs to go away somewhere.  Just go away.
8. LeBron James – For his ESPN televised special “The Decision.”  We don’t fault him for leaving Cleveland, but how he left Cleveland.
9. Jermaine Jackson – In September 2010, Jackson filed child support papers in L.A. County Superior Court claiming he cannot afford $3,000 a month payments for sons Jermajesty and Jaafar.  Jackson claims he is broke and is asking the judge to reduce his monthly child support payments to $215 a month.  The kids were living with his mother while Jackson and his wife lived in a rented mansion that is about to go into foreclosure.  Jackson recently filed a police report claiming that over $150,000 in clothing and jewelry was stolen from his home.  Jackson probably spends more than $215 a month on hair grease, spray and gel.  Men must make an effective effort to take care of their children and spend time quality with them.
10. Ron Christie – We’re all for diverse opinions, but this dude is off the rails like a runaway train.  This political commentator is constantly on national television often defending and supporting Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Michael Steele, Dick Cheney, the Tea Party Movement and more.  Dude will say just about anything to defend the GOP even if it goes against the “community.”  Christie is smart, smug, arrogant, petty and a whiner.  We give the brother credit.  He’s probably the most consistent of this bunch.

Honorable Mention – Tavis Smiley (for being Tavis), Cornel West (for being out there), Tom Joyner and J. Anthony Brown (for “clowning” on syndicated radio when discussing serious topics) and Jesse Jackson, Sr., who despite his good deeds has enough baggage to make this list.

If you’ve never heard of or seen Antione Dodson, you can watch the video that made him an Internet personality.

Comedian Michael Steele

By Gary A. Johnson

May 19, 2009

Comedian Michael Steele gave a much anticipated speech today at the National Harbor Complex in Oxon Hill, MD, where he tried to steady the sinking ship also known as his “leadership” of the Republican National Committee (RNC). If you’ve followed this man’s career, it is hard to take him seriously.  This is why I refer to him as comedian Michael Steele.

In his one-man show in the form of a speech today, comedian Steele promised the that “the era of apology for Republican mistakes of the past is officially over,” declared that “we’re going to take the president head-on” and boasted that the Republican comeback is already under way.

Oh really?

Steele is shaking in his boots that he doesn’t upset another entertainer—Rush Limbaugh, because that will mean Steele would have to apologize to Limbaugh (again).

Absent from the comedian’s remarks were new ideas.  He said nothing new and nothing of substance.  This dude is really obsessed with President Barack Obama.  I don’t know what the President ever said or did to him, but comedian Steele never misses an opportunity to try and “diss” President Obama.  Comedian Steele repeatedly argued that President Obama was making our lives worse by increasing federal spending.  He never mentioned any Republican plan to help families and small businesses.

I bet leaders in the Republican Party are sorry they ever elected this dude as the front man for their party.

Why do I say this?

For starters he appears to be in over his head.  He doesn’t know where he stands on an issue and some of his positions are not consistent with the party line.  I don’t care what HE says, comedian Michael Steele appears very much to be a figurehead for the organization and he knows it.  What is beginning to bother him is that WE know it!

Comedian Steele addressing reports that the RNC is seeking to reduce his funding authority told FOX News that part of his job is to “manage the money” and suggested that if committee members strip him of that authority he’ll step aside.  Think about it.  The RNC elects a black chairman to run the party and now they’re looking to implement ways to restrict his ability to manage the money.  Yeah, that’s a vote of confidence.

The Republican Party is treating comedian Michael Steele like a baby wearing “Pull Ups.” They just don’t think he’s ready for “big boy” pants.  Real power in politics comes with MONEY! If you can’t control the money, you have no power.  The Republican Party is sending the comedian Michael Steele a “warning shot” in the form of a message by threatening to mess with his money.

“They can contemplate all they want to, but the reality is if they want a figurehead chairman you can have a figurehead chairman, but it won’t be Michael Steele,” the comedian said.

If ever there was an “empty suit” it is comedian Michael Steele.  His party lost the presidency and control of Congress in the last two major national elections and national polls show more Americans are moving away from the Republican Party.

Under Steele’s leadership the big debate on the agenda today is whether to refer to the Democratic Party as “socialist.”  Is this leadership?

And you wanted to know why I refer to this guy as a comedian.  He’s funny and not to be taken seriously—that’s why.

Gary Johnson is the Founder & Publisher of Black Men In America.com a popular online magazine on the Internet and the Black Men In America.com Blog. Gary is also the author of the new book “25 Things That Really Matter In Life.”

The Fall of Michael Steele

By Brandon Whitney

Mike Steele is in bad shape, but then so is the Republican Party. A party that has been very much unified, but that has used a short term strategy deficient in practicality but heavy in ideology, is on the ropes. Mike has gotten a Republican party that is in the same condition as the nation, battered and bruised. Both Barack and Steele are African American men who received leadership positions after their organizations have been put into precarious positions, the difference is the level of skill and competence level that the men possess.

Barack Obama is a grassroots guerrilla guy. His approach to government is asymmetrical, he thinks creatively and outside of the box. Obama is an imaginative thinker who attacks problems in new ways. Barack is revitalizing American government and Mike Steele, if his approach was similar, could do the same to the Republican Party. He won’t, or at lest hasn’t so far. Mike Steele seems unsure of himself. His attempts at being more inclusive of minorities have been clumsy at best. Mike has be inconsistent in his message, he has appeared weak an ineffectual in his leadership, both because of his apology to Limbaugh for stating his opinion, and because he has yet to hire a staff for the RNC.  He is failing and is probably going to be drummed out of leadership.

As a Democrat, I see the dissolution of the Republican Party and Michael Steele’s failure as an opportunity to push the progressive agenda. However, as an American, I find the destruction of the opposition party, or its return to extremism, to be unfortunate. It is best when the two sides of the debate are moving in a common direction even if they have different ways of getting there. The extremist Republicans vision of America is narrow and self-limiting. It is my hope that the Republican Party reemerge as a useful part of our nation’s political process. Unfortunately, at this point it seems that both Michael Steele, and his party, is sinking into a mire of self delusion and bitterness. Hopefully, the Party of Reagan will reemerge as the Party of Lincoln and political debate will replace the foul and disheartening monstrosity that we have been victim to since the 1994 revolution.

Brandon Whitney is the creator of Homelandcolors.blogspot.com a blog that focuses on issues that affect the African American community. He is also a frequent guest on News and Notes’ Blogger Roundtable. Brandon has political experience as an Outreach Director for the Democratic party and is passionate about being a positive force in his community regarding African American issues.  He is also a frequent guest on News and Notes’ Blogger Roundtable. You can read more of Brandon’s work at Homeland Colors.