Black Market Index

Friday, October 1, 2010

2010-10-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 30, 2010

2010-09-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,025.67 +3.49 +.17%

Gotta say, after all the stories of broke ex-ball players, it's nice to read about someone who's doing well after retirement.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

2010-09-29T23:49:00.001-07:00

Bsi 2,022.18 -16.43 -.81%

Okay, we've been silent on the whole Bishop Eddie Long thing -- respecting due process and all -- but the more we read about this the more we think if it's not this horrible mess, then something else is certainly amiss in the black church.

Y'all know something's up when Soledad O'Brien's on the case.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

2010-09-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,038.61 +11.55 +.57%

Maybe that myth about crabs in a barrel is just that... a myth.

"Affluent Blacks More Charitable, Feel Greater Responsibility to Provide Financial Support to Family Than Non-Blacks, Northern Trust "Wealth in Black America" Survey Shows"

Of course the article goes on to say that too few have wills or estate transfer plans, but we'll take the good news, cause good Lord knows we can use it.

BUY

Michele Norris' new memoir

SELL

MC Hammer's retaliation record.

Jay-Z takes a shot at Hammer and what's he gonna do about that, Hammer?

We must admit... this was our jam.

Monday, September 27, 2010

2010-09-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,027.06 +6.37 +.32

Lil' Wayne celebrates his 28th birthday by releasing an album that shoots to the top of iTunes -- while in jail. What'd you do today?

Friday, September 24, 2010

2010-09-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,020.69 +0.0 0.0%

We at the Index apologize for the timing of our posts, but it's been a long week of moving and work. Normal posting will resume Monday.

WINNERS

LeBron James (LBJ6) 17.48 +2.39 +13.67%

Interestingly enough, King James' Q rating didn't suffer among African-Americans.

You've probably heard about his plummeting Q rating (the industry standard for measuring an athlete's familiarity and appeal). According to The Q Scores Co., for non-blacks, LeBron's positive Q rating went from 18 percent in January to 10 percent in September and, more telling, his negative Q rating went from 24 percent to 44. Nearly half of the non-blacks in this country don't like the dude. Meanwhile, LeBron's positive Q rating among blacks went from 52 percent in January to 39 -- a noticeable drop -- but his negative Q rating barely budged, going from 14 percent to 15. Among African-Americans, says The Q Scores Co. executive vice president Henry Schafer, the shift in opinion was mostly to neutral.

LOSERS

Bishop Eddie Long (BEL) 3.59 -4.59 -56.11%

And I thought my week was bad.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

2010-09-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,020.69 +4.28 +.21%

Mad Men gets a black woman this weekend, the rising star Naturi Naughton.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

2010-09-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,016.41 -5.13 -.25%

Kinda lame to party like you just won the Super Bowl after winning only your first game. But throw a DUI on top of it, in New York City, when the team you play for has set up a car service for players and well that is just too dumb, Braylon Edwards. Not Plaxico shoot yourself in the leg dumb, but well on the way.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

2010-09-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,021.54 -2.19 -.11%

This is not a personal attack, but know who's not "exhausted". The no-answer-having voices on the President's right who are becoming emboldened by the idea of middle class fatigue for a problem they created.

BUY

Chocolate Genius Inc.'s Swansongs

SELL

The Melting Pot

As these maps illustrate, we're not a integrated as we think.

Monday, September 20, 2010

2010-09-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,023.73 +8.13 +.4%

ESPN is launching a new network focusing on HBCUs. Which can only mean one thing... more marching bands.

Friday, September 17, 2010

2010-09-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,015.6 -.89 -.04%

Weather because he skin has been "lightened" or whatever, all the handwringing over the Gabourey Sidibe Elle cover shows that there's not much you can do to make the black media

happy.*

WINNERS

For Colored Girls... (FCGWHCSWTRIE) 2.87 +.76 +26.48%

While here have serious doubts about the movie we must admit two things: first, it's not for us. Second, the posters are pretty damn good. Possibly the most artful thing TP has been associated with (IMHO).

LOSERS

Reggie Bush (RB25) 4.1 -1.88 -31.44%

Ouch. Stiff-armed. The Heisman gives Bush "The Heisman".

Not so fast, Reginald.

*Yes, we're completely aware that a blog that attributes a negative value to something like P-Diddy changing his name from Puffy is in danger of calling the pot African-American. We're comfortable in that irony, though.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

2010-09-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,016.49 +5.73 +.28%

We're REALLY stretching the definition of "firsts" to get excited about with this one, but since we're fans of the show we're as happy that Kevin Sbraga's the first black winner of Top Chef as anyone.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

2010-09-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,010.76 -17.16 -.85%

Pity, empathy and disgust -- the emotional gamut we ran upon learning that Civil Rights activist/photographer Ernest Withers informed on Dr. King and others for the FBI. You can't judge until you've walked in the man's shoes, but this certainly isn't a good thing -- at all.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

2010-09-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,027.92 +4.19 +.21%

We really hope this is the last time that we write this name, but thank God Montana Fishburne is out there seeking help. Seriously.

BUY

Mike Vick

Can you say "quarterback controversy" in Philly?

SELL

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Ducking/issuing racist statements about Manny Pacquiao? Allegations of domestic abuse? Money May ain't quite living up to his championship aura.

Monday, September 13, 2010

2010-09-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,023.73 +5.43 +.27%

Kudos to the Washington Post for writing about a forgotten piece of American history, the Negro Motorist Green Book.

Friday, September 10, 2010

2010-09-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,018.3 +11.12 +.55%

BHO gets an assist from the courts which declare "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional.

WINNERS

The Smiths (SMTHS) 33.93 +5.69 +16.77

No... not Morrissey. Forget China, we gotta worry about the Smiths taking over. Next up, Willow.

LOSERS

Ray Lewis (RL52)* 1.49 -.59 -28.37%

Good thing it's football season, Ray. Cause this ain't your finest moment. Of course, it's not your worst either.

*By the way Ray-Ray, we're not calling you a loser. Far from it. We DO NOT want to make you angry. Believe us.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

2010-09-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,007.18 +3.33 +.17%

Hey, if getting your ass beat by the police, precipitating an officer trial that begets a riot and leads to your ending up on "Celebrity Rehab" en route to finding the right one doesn't end up as a romantic comedy I don't know what will. Just call it The Rodney King Story.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

2010-09-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,003.85 -10.23 -.51%

Post-Racial America: where you can still get away with calling a black man "boy".

We hear cats acting like people is big on the Internets, so...

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

2010-09-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,014.08 -3.66 -.18%

The Index mourns the loss of Jefferson Thomas, one of the "Little Rock Nine" who integrated Central high school in Arkansas in 1957.

BUY

Undercovers

Screw it, we'll give "black Heart to Heart" a shot.

SELL

Dancing Black Traffic Cop

Save it for the clubs, buddy.

Monday, September 6, 2010

2010-09-06T19:53:00.001-07:00

Friday, September 3, 2010

2010-09-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,017.74 +2.99 +.15%

We don't know about you, but we're just glad this week is over.

WINNERS

Jay Pharoah (JPHRO) .99 +.99 NA

Is Saturday Night Live about to hire a Negro -- specifically this guy? Even if they mess up and don't this impressionist's profile has been raised over the past couple days.

LOSERS

Wal-Mart (WMT) 1.29 -.46 -26.29%

Guess who segregates their books by race? That ain't part of no Dewey Decimal system.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

2010-09-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,014.75 -7.61 -.38%

T.I., didn't you just get out of jail? Damn, man!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

2010-09-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,022.36 0.00 0.00

So over seven years after "Mission Accomplished" we're saying that the Iraq War is over. But we all know it's not. 50,000 troops on the ground says so. Here at the Index we understand why for political reasons, now's not the time to address curtailing America's imperial ambitions (and that's if the POTUS even believes that's something worth addressing), but the sooner we have that conversation in this country the sooner we can get to actually pressing issues.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

2010-08-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,022.36 -2.71 -.13%

Kanye didn't listen when they said Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuthin' ta fuck with cause he and Raekwon done fucked with it -- for Justin Bieber's "Runaway Love."

BUY

Mic Sounds Nice

BET does a doc on women in hip-hop. It does sound nice.

SELL

Alveda King

Taking her name and lending it to the Tea Party "cause" gets you the gasface.

Monday, August 30, 2010

2010-08-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,025.07 +3.1 +.15%

Between Sharpton and Beck, after this weekend we've had about all the politics we can handle for a while so how about this: big ups to Lewis Hamilton for winning the Belgian Grand Prix.

We'd say that maybe Lewis could become the Tiger Woods of racing, popularizing it among a whole new demographic, but we're tired of that story, too.

Friday, August 27, 2010

2010-08-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,021.97 +9.11 +.45%

As Glen Beck brings his re-writing history circus to D.C. this weekend let's take time to remember the true March on Washington.

WINNERS

Spike Lee (SPK) 19.49 +4.1 +21.04%

The more "God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" and fewer "Miracle at St. Anna" the better for Mr. Lee's legacy.

LOSERS

Mississippi (MS) 9.19 -3.97 -30.17%

Mississippi fails again. In 2010 there's a middle school in the state where there are restrictions on what race someone can be when running for class office. We wish we were making this up.

Are you kidding me?!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

2010-08-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,012.86 +6.55 +.33%

Good for Shirley Sharrod for standing by her principles and declining the USDA's job offer. If they're so willing to throw you under the bus once, don't think they wouldn't do it again.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

2010-08-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,006.31 +6.49 +.32%

Okay, so the DEA wants to hire Ebonics translators. You know what? Not the craziest thing we've ever heard. And if it means getting black people jobs in this economy we say go for it.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

2010-08-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

Bsi 1999.82 -3.19 -.16%

The Index mourns the loss of "48 Hours" correspondent Harold Dow.

BUY

Cee-Lo Green and "Fuck You"

Yeah, all that stuff we said about Bed Intruder Song -- well, it didn't take long for that to look like a silly prediction.

SELL

50 Cent

Responding to Cee-Lo's song out of nowhere just two days after it comes out seems kinda desperate and uninspired to me. Leave the Youtube parodies to the amateurs, Curtis.

Monday, August 23, 2010

2010-08-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,002.01 +5.55 +.28%

Not to go all Bill Maher New Rules on you, but here's a simple rule of thumb. If you claim to care about the Constitution and still have a problem with building a mosque in lower Manhattan, than you are an asshole. That's all there is to it.

Get riled up about something that matters.

Friday, August 20, 2010

2010-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 1996.46 -18.43 -.91%

If one-in-five Americans still believe Barack Obama is a Muslim I think we know the over/under on percentage of hopeless idiots in the country, too.

Sigh.

WINNERS

Antoine Dodson (TWAND) 1.39 +1.39 NA

As uncomfortable as we are with certain aspects of this meme we have to say that there hasn't been a catchier single this year. And we're not alone in thinking that as Mr. Dodson checked in with a Top 100 Single this week. We don't know if that says more about the power of the Internet or the state of the music business.

With Wezzy locked up someone had to take over, right?

LOSERS

Antonio Cromartie (AC31) .39 -1.01 -72.41%

Let's just say he didn't come off as Dad of the Year on the HBO series "Hard Knocks."

Thursday, August 19, 2010

2010-08-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,014.89 -3.46 -.17%

Overheard at the New York Post's Page Six:

"Should we fact check this piece on Desiree Rogers stabbing Obama in the back by taking her new job at Johnson publishing to make sure we got everything right?"

"Why? We get this. I mean, it's not like there are TWO black Johnson media empires or anything."

And that's how they get shit wrong. Too lazy to be real.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

2010-08-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,018.35 +4.79 +.24%

Just so we're clear, Dr. Laura Schlessinger is resigning because she can't say "nigger" on the radio without people getting upset. Somehow she's conflated that with some sort of First Amendment infringement, but then again she's not smart so we're not surprised by any of what's transpired.

Good riddance.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

2010-08-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,013.56 -14.37 -.71%

Andrew Sullivan's blog has been on point lately dealing with a downright devastating statistic. From John McWhorter's review...

One of the most sobering observations made by [author Amy] Wax comes in the form of a disarmingly simple calculus presented first by Isabel Sawhill and Christopher Jencks. If you finish high school and keep a job without having children before marriage, you will almost certainly not be poor. Period. I have repeatedly felt the air go out of the room upon putting this to black audiences. No one of any political stripe can deny it. It is human truth on view. In 2004, the poverty rate among blacks who followed that formula was less than 6 percent, as opposed to the overall rate of 24.7 percent. Even after hearing the earnest musings about employers who are less interested in people with names like Tomika, no one can gainsay the simple truth of that advice. Crucially, neither bigotry nor even structural racism can explain why an individual does not live up to it.

BUY

Childish Gambino

SELL

Lance Stephenson

Born ready? Not if you're abusing your baby's mama*. Just sayin'.

*Allegedly. Due process and all.

Monday, August 16, 2010

2010-08-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,027.93 -5.31 -.26%

The Index mourns the loss of vocal great Abbey Lincoln.

Friday, August 13, 2010

2010-08-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,033.24 -4.83 -.24%

While it's really just a bureaucratic miscalculation during a time of great need in many communities the Atlanta Section 8 News story is being treated as another "look at all the Negroes looking for free hand outs" story. Good to know.

WINNERS

Desiree Rogers (DROG) 4.91 +.88 +17.92%

The former White House social secretary has bounced back post-Salahigate and will be the new Chief Executive of Johnson Publishing group.

Guess who's on the list after all.

LOSERS

Charles Rangel (CRHAR) 14.59 -8.01 -35.44%

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Charlie Rangel's War

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

Thursday, August 12, 2010

2010-08-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

Bsi 2,038.07 -9.54 -.47%

Montana Fishburn got into pornography to become famous... and it's working. This is not setting the best example, people. Not at all.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

2010-08-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,075.1 -3.11 -.15%

Pray for Fantasia, but call it Hilton's Law or Kardashian's Law or whatever, if there's one thing people should know by now it's that if you make a sex tape people you don't want to see it are going to do just that.

Put the cameras down in the bedroom, people.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

2010-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,078.21 -5.29 -.25%

At a Pennsylvania church fair there was a shooting game where contestants could fire at the likeness of a black president holding a health bill. Again -- church fair. But there's not an element of crazy racism underlying it I'm sure. None at all.

WTF?!?!

BUY

Moon Molson

SELL

Kanye West and the Illuminati

I guess it's not hip-hop if there ain't some Illuminati shit, right?

Monday, August 9, 2010

2010-08-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,083.5 -11.57 -.55%

For the record, we believe that had Omar Thornton shootings in Connecticut proceeded to trial they would justifiably be prosecuted as a hate crime. No one, though, should take any joy in that. And that there's a portion of the right who'd make hay with it in order to chase "reverse racism" ghosts in the name of political gain is further evidence of a particular stain of political bankruptcy running through their end of the discourse. The summer of the shitty dialogue on race continues.

Friday, August 6, 2010

2010-08-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,095.07 +8.17 +.39%

If you're on the right, you know your premise for changing the 14th Amendment when even Alan Keyes doesn't back it.

What other wake up call could you need?

WINNERS

Gay Blacks (GAAY) 33.59 +9.43 +28.07%

Well, at least in California... for now.

Get yours, girl.

LOSERS

DAS EFX (DFX) .29 -.43 -59.72%

Accoring to Gawker they want more than efx... they want a manager. And they're looking for one on craigslist. Yikes.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

2010-08-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,086.9 +16.88 +.81%

The Elena Kagan Supreme Court confirmation process has gone smoother than almost any in years. Again, we all got gripes, but BHO keeps getting it done.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

2010-08-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,070.02 +2.88 +.14%

Now Bill Cosby has something else in common with Mark Twain.

*Happy birthday Mr. President.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

2010-08-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,067.14 +19.53 +.94%

Baby steps, but it seems as though congress will ease the disparity in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine convictions.

BUY

Black Folks Sanity

The Fox News audience is less than 2% black. And those folk are probably just there making sure they don't get away with any more crazy shit.

SELL

Tea Party Diversity

They threw a party to show how diverse they were -- they just forgot to tell the brown people.

Monday, August 2, 2010

2010-08-02T07:55:00.001-07:00

Bsi 2,047.61 -7.18 -.35%

First Rangel and now Maxine Waters? If you're black and you've served a bunch of time in the House you better watch your back and make sure your shit is straight.

Friday, July 30, 2010

2010-07-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,054.79 -15.43 -.75%

Rangel's dazed and on the ropes. Will something sensible happen? Cause you know what, Charlie gotta go.

WINNERS

Whoopie, Sherri and The View (WSTV) 2.13 +1.88 +88.26%

Ignore what you're hearing about Obama's appearing on the morning talks show being "un-presidential", that's just sexism. We give it up to The View for asking in the kind of questions we'd expect from the news media -- well, most of the questions at least (Snookie?... c'mon).

LOSERS

Black Media (AAM) 22.69 -5.1 -18.35%

Essence magazine hires a white editor and people lose their shit. Oddly, it's the most relevant thing to happen to the magazine, or black media in general, in what seems like a long while.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

2010-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,070.22 +4.28 +.21%

Wow. So Wyclef Jean is thinking of taking a page out of Manny Pacquiao's book by considering a run of public office, in Jean's case President. We tried to be cynical, but how could he be worse than the guys who've run the island nation before?

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

2010-07-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,065.94 -3.88 -.19%

So let me get this straight, you're black, you're at San Diego Comic Con and you STAB somebody? Seriously?

Did you think you were going to get away? "Can you describe the assailant?" "He was the only black guy here." DUH! This is why we can't have nice things, people. Hell, we can't even have nerdy things.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

2010-07-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,069.82 +4.16 +.2

While The Playlist may have approached the news with the general Internet snark, we're looking forward to director Barry Jenkins' take on the Will Eisner classic "A Contract With God.

BUY

Aloe Blacc

SELL

The American Spectator

If you need any more indication that the political right is willing to stoop to about anything to make Shirley Sherrod seem like a liar, we point you to an article that wrongly makes the argument that the former USDA official misrepresented her father's murder when she called it a "lynching".

At some point you have to stop asking why blacks don't vote for you.

Monday, July 26, 2010

2010-07-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,065.66 +11.51 +.56%

Russia elected a black guy to office. Russia -- where there are like, eight black people. The world is changing.

Friday, July 23, 2010

2010-07-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,054.15 -2.97 -.14%

As comedy writers we can't tell you how much it hurts our soul to have to move the Index down over Wisconsin state assembly candidate Ieshuh Griffin's campaign slogan: "Not The White Man's Bitch." Really, it's killing us.

WINNERS

Shirley Sherrod (USDASS) 1.84 +1.84 NA

Teaching moment for all -- us included.

LOSERS

Ben Jealous (NAACPBJ) 7.81 -6.39 -45%

You were not duped by the right -- they just gave you enough rope.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

2010-07-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,057.12 +21.59 +1.05%

Maybe this week we've been missing the forest for the trees -- although the administration and NAACP reaction to the Shirley Sherrod thing is still bumming us out -- one thing's for sure... BHO is getting shit done.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

2010-07-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,035.53 0.0 0.0

The Index takes a pause as in the past few days discourse on race in this country has gotten so out of control that everyone needs to take a step back.

America may have elected a black president, but we think the argument can be made that we're still not ready for one. At least by judging the vitriol on the right and their victim mentality that's looking for "reverse racism" in any form. Their kind of gotcha politics thrusts someone like Shirley Sherrod forth to be a sacrificial lamb -- red meat -- in a ridiculous effort to either drive web traffic, headlines or worse... policy. It's sickening.

But the left isn't blameless either. The NAACP essentially said "how high" to Andrew Breitbart's "jump", condemning Sherrod before getting all the facts. And then there's the Obama administration. Whether or not they're involved in this there's the appearance that they are. They need to get their house in order -- now.

Nobody's looking good in all this -- except for perhaps The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates, who once again breaks it down just right.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

2010-07-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,035.53 -7.61 -.37%

It's not a good sign if the White House is so afraid of racial bogey men that they need to intervene in a controversy involving the USDA rural development director for Georgia. It's the job of the White House, liberal and conservative media and the NAACP not to make kneejerk reactions just because a story may or may not involve race.

You don't need this shit right now, man... c'mon!

BUY

Bettye Swan

SELL

Oakland Street Fights

Damn Oakland. Just... damn.

Monday, July 19, 2010

2010-07-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,043.14 +8.88 +.43%

Okay, okay... there was something good that came out of the whole Tea Party-NAACP broohaha its that one of their public faces, Mark Wilson, came out as neither comedy writer nor critical thinker.

Dear Mr. Lincoln
We Colored People have taken a vote and decided that we don't cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People and we demand that it stop!
In fact we held a big meeting and took a vote in Kansas City this week. We voted to condemn a political revival of that old abolitionist spirit called the 'tea party movement'.
The tea party position to "end the bailouts" for example is just silly. Bailouts are just big money welfare and isn't that what we want all Coloreds to strive for? What kind of racist would want to end big money welfare? What they need to do is start handing the bail outs directly to us coloreds! Of course, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the only responsible party that should be granted the right to disperse the funds.
And the ridiculous idea of "reduce[ing] the size and intrusiveness of government." What kind of massa would ever not want to control my life? As Coloreds we must have somebody care for us otherwise we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves and make decisions!
The racist tea parties also demand that the government "stop the out of control spending." Again, they directly target Colored People. That means we Colored People would have to compete for jobs like everybody else and that is just not right.
Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government "stop raising our taxes." That is outrageous! How will we Colored People ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn? Totally racist! The tea party expects coloreds to be productive members of society?
Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a great gig. Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa in the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments and let us get back to where we belong.
Sincerely
Precious Ben Jealous, Tom's Nephew National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Head Colored Person.

Wow.

Ha ha very funny mother fucker.

Friday, July 16, 2010

2010-07-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,034.26 +6.72 +.33%

Noting makes the Glen Beck's of the world happier than black boogeymen. Take, for instance, the curious case of the Fox News obsession with the New Black Panthers. Would they care about this "story" if it didn't advance their narrative that Barack Obama gives preference to blacks over whites? Yeah, we thought not, too.

The nice thing about Beck is that he makes it so easy to realize how right our side is.

WINNERS

Black Broadway (BBWY) 6.39 +1.33 +20.81%

Denzel wins Tonys. Halle Berry and Sam Jax hitting the stage. Will and Jada in "Streetcar"? May not be the "Great White Way" for long.

Well, let's not hope it gets this black.

LOSERS

Blacks and the Tea Party (BTEAP) .29 -.2 -40.82%

We gave the NAACP some grief for their resolution, but the thing is, they're right. The core sentiment that drives the Tea Party is race. Not taxes (cause they're not higher -- even though they should be). Not deficits. They "want their country back"... from the black guy.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

2010-07-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,027.54 -9.77 -.48%

Here at the Index we wonder what exactly the NAACP thought they were going to get out of going out of their way to "officially" label the Tea Party movement racist other than strengthen the resolve of the group and weaken the NAACP's own credibilit-- what's that?... CNN's doing a piece on both groups. Oh. Now I get it.

Wow. Back-to-back NAACP posts. Can they make it a three-peat?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

2010-07-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,037.31 +9.77 +.48%

Kudos to First Lady Michelle Obama for daring the NAACP to move beyond the slavery, segregation and discrimination narrative and focus more on issues like obesity that are ravaging the black community.

Tuesday, July 13, 010

2010-07-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,027.54 -6.1 -.3%

The View is under fire for a recent segment of the show where Sherri Shepherd and D.L. Hughley alleged that the high rates of HIV in the African-American community can be attributed to "the Down Low" phenomena -- which not only seems wrong, but irresponsible in that it points blame and takes accountability out of the hands of everyone in the community.

Must we point out the whole "DL" irony here?*

BUY

Paris Barclay

The Emmy nominations last week were, no surprise, glaringly whitewashed so it's nice to see the director get a nomination.

SELL

Jesse Jackson

So now we know how the Reverend feels about the whole LeBron thing. Phew. Good thing nothing too important is happening in Oakland or anything.

*I guess we do. We are not insinuating that D.L. Hughley is in the closet. Only that his initials match that of afore mentioned controversial phenomenon.

Monday, July 12, 2010

2010-07-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,033.64 -4.97 -.24%

Well, look who's back. And he ain't got nothing on Mel Gibson in the anti-Semitism front. Ugly. Just ugly.

He even hisses during the speech. I kid you not.

Friday, July 9, 2010

2010-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,038.61 -38.56 -1.86%

Once again the American judicial system validates the murder of young black men by people in uniform. As much as we never thought we'd see a black president, living to see a day when black life isn't valued as less than just doesn't seem like it's going to happen at times.

In addition we don't like the way the protests over the Oscar Grant verdict got more play than the decision itself. Particularly since a fucking BART transit cop killed an unarmed, handcuffed man and was only convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Talk about burying the lede. Thank God for the perspective of the Rachel Maddow Show.

WINNERS

None.

LOSERS

LeBron James (LJ6) 19.16 -16.3 -45.97%

Welcome to the dark side Mr. James.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

2010-07-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,098.08 +18.53 +.88%

LAPD arrested a suspect they believe is the "Grim Sleeper" serial killer, who over two decades murdered ten African-Americans in South Los Angeles. Didn't hear about it... probably because the suspects name isn't LeBron. Way to go media!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

2010-07-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,079.55 -1.59 -.08%

DUI while creepin' with your jumpoff -- not the way to keep your job Mr. First black athletic director in the SEC.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

2010-07-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,081.14 +9 +.43%

The Williams Sisters are owning Wimbledon right now people. Winning nine of the last eleven championships -- including Serena's fourth tournament title Saturday.

BUY

Arthur Ashe

Twenty-five years ago Ashe became the first and only African-American to win Wimbledon.

SELL

JaMarcus Russell

Wethinks he's not taking this comeback very seriously.

Monday, July 5, 2010

2010-07-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 2, 2010

2010-07-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,072,14 -5.27 -.25%

Note to Michael Steele: if you keep messing up like this and the GOP won't hire another black guy for you job for a LONG time.*

Looks like the GOP has two Negro problems.

WINNERS

Black/Jewish Relations (AAJW) 3.99 +.68 +17.04

For those who think we don't have a lot in common we give you this guy...

See, we share more than Lenny Kravitz.

LOSERS

Black Professors (AAPROF) 2.74 -.93 -25.34%

Turns out there's a pattern of discrimination against black professors seeking tenure. No. Way.

Looks like black profs are discriminated against outside the home, too.

*Not that that was in their plans anyhow.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

2010-06-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,077.41 -3.41 -.16%

As long time Eagles fans we have to mention that our hearts go out to Randall Cunningham, a black quarterback who paved the way for all the rest, for the loss of his son.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

2010-06-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,080.82 +7.29 +.35%

In light of the lengthy, costly and biased drug war the NAACP has come out in support of the California ballot initiative to legalize marijuana. While we wholeheartedly support the uncharacteristic, of late, move to be on the right side of history, we still have to ask... who's running that place?

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

2010-06-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,073.53 -9.76 -.47%

So a cop murders a guy, gets away with it and then wants to sue... you've got to be kidding me.

BUY

Krystle Warren

SELL

BET AWARDS

JSmooth said it best, "what i learned watching the BET Awards: apparently Chris Brown is completely redeemed, and Guru is completely forgotten."

Monday, June 28, 2010

2010-06-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,083.29 -2.44 -.12%

You know what we like a birthday parties? Some cake. A little music. No shooting incidents. Guess Michael Vick and I have still less in common.

There's a whole saying about being known by the company you keep that Mr. Vick should look into.

Friday, June 25, 2010

2010-06-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,085.73 +3.46 +.17%

What seems like a long week ends with the Index trending up.

WINNERS

The Roots (RTS) 16.4 +3.48 +21.22%

The hardest working band in hip-hop release a new album. This between gigging with Jimmy Fallon every night. Where do they find the time?

LOSERS

Barack Obama (BHO) 279.57 -14.53 -4.94%

We know he wanted to emulate Lincoln, but essentially firing generals for what amounts to be insubordination probably wasn't what he was referring to.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

2010-06-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,082.27 -8.13 -.39%

There's nothing new about anti-snitchin' videos, ask Carmello Anthony, but there's something about the way this clip uses kids that just makes us sick to our stomach. We can do better.

Go do your homework, kid!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

2010-06-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,090.4 -12.49 -.59%

It's weeks like this, when your top general in an unwinnable war speaks on the record to Rolling Stone blasting the administration and the oil spill gushes on with no end in sight, when you wonder why anyone would want to be president in the first place.

Sure could use some good news.*

*U-S-A! U-S-A!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

2010-06-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,103.19 +5.59 +.27%

This last week's episode of The Boondocks has a black on black crime feel to it. Sure was a funny episode of what we think has been their best season yet.

BUY

Ron Artest

Championships make stars. And while we don't fell he'll be a music star -- again, see Afghan Girls -- he'll certainly be someone who'll be talked about for some time to come.

SELL

African World Cup Squads

Not a lot to celebrate this year.

Monday, June 21, 2010

2010-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 18, 2010

2010-06-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,097.6 +7.49 +.36%

Now may be a good time to hit your friend who works at Oprah's magazine for a loan. They may have a spare dime -- or 100,000.

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey has gifted an iPad and $10,000 to each employee of the O magazine to mark the publication's 10th anniversary.

'As a thank you for their hard work and dedication, Oprah Winfrey surprised the staff of O, The Oprah Magazine, with an Apple iPad and a cheque for $10,000, to commemorate the magazine's 10th anniversary,' contactmusic.com quoted a spokesperson for Winfrey as saying.

What'd your boss do for you?

WINNERS

Kobe Bryant (KB24) 18.75 +4.89 +26.08%

What does winning a fifth title mean to Mamba?..

"I got one more (Championship) than Shaq."

Damn. Dude's an assassin even off the court.

And now THIS MAN has a title. U-S-A! U-S-A!

LOSERS

Shaquille O'Neal (SHQFU) 10.89 -2.97 -21.43%

The Big Aristotle may just now be regretting this little freestyle from a while back.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

2010-06-16T22:12:00.001-07:00

Bsi 2,090.11 -5.52 -.26%

We're sorry, but there's got to be a way to do your job without punching a jaywalking teenaged girl in the face.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

2010-06-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,095.63 -4.19 -.2%

Iowa Republican Steve King sees President Obama's administration forwarding policies that favor African-Americans. You know, policies like making sure only black people get health care, extended unemployment benefits and bank bailout money. Those are his policies, right?

As Chris Rock said, "if you're losing, who's winning?"

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

2010-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,099.82 -3.43 -.16%

What is it with Tennessee Titans and getting in trouble at strip clubs. C'mon Vince.

BUY

Black Broadway

Congrats to Fences, Fela, Viola and Denzel.

SELL

Alvin Greene

Oh, Alvin. That didn't take long.

And while we're at it, we're pretty sure we're not the only ones to make this observation, but...

I'm not sayin', but I'm just sayin'...

Monday, June 14, 2010

2010-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,103.25 +6.57 +.31%

He has a terrifying amount of swagger for a child his age, but after the Karate Kid topped the box office with $56 million in receipts, maybe he just knows something we don't.

Friday, June 11, 2010

2010-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,096.68 +29.76 +1.42%

By the time you read this Africa will have begun to host the first World Cup on the continent. Here's hoping the historic event goes off without a hitch.

WINNERS

Alvin Greene (AGSC) 3.19 +3.19 NA

No one saw that coming. Greene's primary win puts him on the map, but with the party asking him to bow out following the unearthing of criminal charges against him, this may be a short celebration.

LOSERS

NAACP (NAACP) 20.37 -3.89 -16.03%

Racist graduation card-gate... oh, boy -- not the way to show that you're a 21st Century organization.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

2010-06-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,066.92 -2.73 -.13%

So The Globe pays cash money for ghoulish deathbed photos of Gary Coleman and then accuses the person they gave the money to of murder? Seriously? That is just some messed up shit.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

2010-06-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,069.65 +13.43 +.65%

Sure, we'll follow the MSM's lead and dub Tuesday's election results "Ladies Night." The lady being Kamala Harris, who won the California Democratic Attorney General primary last night.

Is it too soon to push Harris for governor?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

2010-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,056.22 -2.11 -.1%

Dear Internet,

Yeah, that's not President Obama in the Tag Team video. Got us Huffington Post? Guess we all still look alike.*

BUY

Terry Callier

SELL

NCAAOM

If no one knows who you are it's not very likely that your boycott threat will be very effective.

*Although... damn if that doesn't kinda maybe look like him.

Monday, June 7, 2010

2010-06-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,058.33 +5.2 +.25%

It's Prince Rogers Nelson's birthday. That is a good thing.

Friday, June 4, 2010

2010-06-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,053.13 +6.73 +.33%

The closer we get to realizing that the election of Barack Obama was more about him as a candidate than him being an African-American, the better. And it's clear, in the wake of a couple recent elections, that the Washington Post isn't there yet...

Eighteen months after Barack Obama's presidential win seemed to usher in a new era in racial politics, a different reality has emerged: Black candidates in races around the country are struggling so much that the number of African Americans in major statewide offices is likely to drop from the already paltry three.

...And once again, Ta-Nehisi Coates is way ahead of us.

It's worth noting that the "racist black voter" meme works two ways--when blacks didn't support Obama early on, they were practicing an insidious intra-racism in which the labeled Obama "not black enough." When blacks swung his way in major numbers, they were blank-mindedly supporting him because, lo and behold, he was black, That black folks, a group who were summarily deprived of voting rights for much of their time in this country, might actually vote on issues is inconceivable. Or here's a more pedestrian notion--human beings want a champion who think can win.

WINNERS

Henrietta Lacks (HLKS) 6.86 +1.43 +20.85%

A woman whose story is finally being told gets a headstone on her previously unmarked grave.

LOSERS

Major League Baseball (MLB) 17.63 -4.53 -20.44%

Baseball loses one of its greats, and perhaps one of the last big African-American players.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

2010-06-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,046.4 -14.53 -.71%

More cheery news from the Dirty Dirty as a new study finds blacks being excluded from jury participation.

A study conducted by the Equal Justice Initiative has found that Blacks' exclusion from sitting on southern juries is a practice that remains in vogue and unchecked...

While jury makeup varies widely by jurisdiction, the organization, which studied eight Southern states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee — found areas in all of them where significant problems persist. In Alabama, courts have found racially discriminatory jury selection in 25 death penalty cases since 1987, and there are counties where more than 75 percent of black jury pool members have been struck in death penalty cases.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

2010-06-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,060.93 +9.46 +.46%

Donald Glover as Spiderman... why not*?

*Okay, there are probably as many reasons why not as there are millions of people asking "who's Donald Glover?" We care not... for now.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

2010-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,051.47 +8.67 +.42%

We've got no love for debt collectors and the tactics they employ so it does our heart good to see them pay -- literally.

BUY

Todd Bridges

Last Man Standing.

SELL

CNN

It's seemingly obsessed with race nowadays, so you wouldn't expect them to make this mistake, would you?

CNN aired a story about a 103-year-old African American lady who is still cruising around in her Cadillac Coupe De Ville. The only problem was that they played a song by Coolio, when she entered her car and it contained an racist obscenity.

Monday, May 31, 2010

2010-05-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 28, 2010

2010-05-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,042.8 -9.73 -.47%

So I guess there's still a some black and white -- even amongst the blue.

A panel convened after two officer-on-officer shootings said police departments must confront both overt and unconscious racial bias among officers to reduce the risk of one officer harming another during "friendly fire." A task force examined police-on-police confrontations around the country, finding 26 killings during the past three decades. The panel also found numerous other officer-on-officer confrontations that did not lead to a fatality.
The review of the confrontations found that "inherent or unconscious racial bias plays a role in shoot/don't-shoot decisions made by officers of all races and ethnicities," the report said. Ten of the officers killed were off duty, including Edwards and Ridley. And nine of the those were minorities. The last white off-duty officer to be killed by an on-duty colleague died in 1982, the task force found.

WINNERS

Kanye West (KANW) 13.69 +2.73 +20.94%

It's been slow making up the ground lost after last year's award show hijacking, but supporting a music boycott of Arizona with Zack De La Rocha, a funny appearance on The Cleveland Show and a new single on the way, maybe he's turning a corner. Maybe.

LOSERS

Tyra Banks (TYRA) 9.88 -2.71 -21.53%

Today's the last day of the Tyra Banks Show?! What happened to being the next Oprah? Oh, I get it. She's going to out-Oprah Oprah by quitting before her. Genius.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

2010-05-27T10:17:00.001-07:00

Bsi 2,052.53 -6.16 -.3%

Ladies, are you black, kinda famous, willing to make a fool of yourself on national TV and conveniently fall into the contemporary narrative of being single, fabulous and without a man? If you are, you're probably on TV already.

VH1 is giving a second season order to three of its new reality skeins: “Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business,” “Basketball Wives” and “What Chilli Wants.”

Guess we don't need to worry about the lack of diversity in comedy, after all. It's all on cable. And it's a joke.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

2010-05-26T09:38:00.001-07:00

Bsi 2,058.69 -5.13 -.25%

Lord knows we need more kids who want to grow up to be like this...

Raymond V. Haysbert Sr., 90, who led Parks Sausage, one of the first black-owned businesses in the United States to go public, and who was a political adviser and community leader in Baltimore, died May 24 at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.

and fewer who grow up like this...

Oh no, not him!

or this...

It hurts my soul that I know who this person is.

Just sayin'.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

2010-05-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,063.82 -2.71 -.13%

Firing Mike Brown? Too little, too late?

BUY

Amy LaCour

SELL

LOST

So, what? Black people can't go to heaven?

Monday, May 24, 2010

2010-05-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,066.53 +4.49 +.22%

The trial of former Chicago police Lietenant Jon Burge, who's accused of overseeing the torture of over 100 African-American men while on the force in the 1970s and 80s, begins today. Let's just hope that there'll be justice.

Friday, May 21, 2010

2010-05-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,062.04 +6.71 +.33%

We're Number 2! We're Number 2!*

An Associated Press-Univision Poll found that 61 percent of people overall said Hispanics face significant discrimination, compared with 52 percent who said blacks do and 50 percent who said women.
The survey also underscored how perceptions of prejudice can vary by ethnicity. While 81 percent of Latinos said Hispanics confront a lot or some discrimination, a smaller but still substantial 59 percent of non-Hispanics said so.

WINNERS

Bill Cosby (COS) 51.56 +7.13 +13.83%

He may be a bit of loose cannon, but he's also one of the greatest story tellers and comics this country has ever produced and a national treasure. Good to see him doing what he do again.

LOSERS

Malawi (MLWI) .73 -.69 -48.59%

As much confusion and lack of dialogue as there is in this country regarding the black community and homosexuality, it could be a lot worse.

Malawi’s first openly gay couple was ordered to serve a 14-year jail term, the maximum punishment allowed under a law that forbids homosexuality in the country.

*At least according to this, we're sure, very scientific poll that measures victimhood.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

2010-05-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,055.33 -2.13 -.1%

Say a prayer for the Dinka Dunker, folks.

Former Washington Bullets center Manute Bol was hospitalized in Northern Virginia with kidney failure and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome last week, according to a friend and associate.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

2010-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,057.46 +4.83 +.23%

Hey, did you hear Tyson Gay broke a 44-year-old 200m record positioning himself as a potential rival to track-and-field superstar Usain Bolt? You didn't? Is that because it's a sports related story that has nothing to do with LeBron James? Yeah, that's gotta be it.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

2010-05-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,052.63 -5.11 -.25%

Lest we forget that America is broken.

Brandeis University’s Institute on Assets and Social Policy released a report that found that the wealth gap between white and African-American families more than quadrupled in the last quarter century. In 1984, the median value of financial assets for white families in America — not including home equity — amounted to $22,000. The median value for African-American families was $2,000.

Hmmm... We wonder why.

According to the Pew Economic Mobility Project, the vast majority of federal deductions and benefits to enhance upward mobility ended up in the hands of the wealthiest Americans. For instance, between 72 percent and 98 percent of deductions for retirement savings, health insurance, home mortgages, self-employed health insurance, and preferential rates on capital gains in 2006 went to the top 20 percent of income-earning Americans.

Oh yeah, that's right. Well, let's keep on truckin' to that plutocracy. What could go wrong, right?

BUY

Didier Drogba

Having lead Chelsea to the FA Cup and Barclay's Premiere League double and named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people on the planet, and with the first World Cup to be played in Africa on the way, you'd be well served to get to know this Ivory Coast superstar.

SELL

Network Television Comedy Diversity

If you've checked out the new schedules you'd think it was the 1950s. So much for the Obama Effect.

We want some brothers on the wall, right Buggin' Out?

Monday, May 17, 2010

2010-05-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bsi 2,057.74 -19.43 -.94%

For those keeping score, it's still okay to shoot innocent, unarmed black men in their own drive-ways in Houston and kill little girls so long as you have a no-knock warrant in Detroit.

And still people ask why law-abiding black folk don't trust the cops.