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It wouldn’t matter if Trayvon had a joint in his pocket and beat the hell out of George Zimmerman in an attempt to protect himself, it still could not minimize the fact that this child — Tracy and Sybrina’s baby — was profiled, menaced, then viciously murdered by a vigilante neighborhood watch captain with a God complex who couldn’t just stay in his vehicle.

I wish someone would “break” that news.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing about the autopsy results that changes these facts:

1.) Trayvon Martin was transported to a morgue, labeled as a John Doe, and was there for days while his father frantically searched for him.

2.) George Zimmerman, who was literally standing next to the smoking gun, was not required to submit to a drug test, neither on the scene nor later at the police station.

3.)  The media has consistently attempted to deflect from the fact that Trayvon was simply on his way home when he was murdered — and that all other information is merely a tactic to vilify this child.

4.) State Prosecutor Angela Corey was privy to every, single ounce of evidence and she still found it necessary to charge George Zimmerman with second degree murder.

Bottom line: Trayvon Martin is dead. He is a child who is not here to defend himself and the fact that adults are now trying to murder his reputation is beyond reprehensible.

As we move forward, hopefully, people will remember who the victim here truly is — and it’s not a man who is recorded on a 911 tape saying that “these assholes always get away.”

George Zimmerman made it his business to make sure that Trayvon Martin did not get away. That is the only fact that matters.

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According to a new book, Michelle Obama was planning to walk away from her marriage with Barack Obama.  The possibility of divorce was so strong that the author claims that Michelle actually drew up the papers herself.  The new book, “The Amateur,” by Edward Klein goes into detail about the life of President Obama in ways that he would probably not approve.  Klein is the former Editor-in-Chief of The New York Times Magazine, which gives him more credibility than the average hack.

I read the headline with curiosity, as Klein explains that Michelle was going to leave Barack after he’d been badly defeated in his run for the Illinois state senate against Bobby Rush.  The family was broke, and Michelle allegedly felt that Barack was being unrealistic in his political aspirations.  The Obamas themselves have admitted to running into “rough patches” during their marriage, but I’m sure most of us get the “made for TV” version of their marital challenges.

There is an old saying that “We must spend a few years living like no one else will in order to spend the rest of our lives living like no one else can.”  In no place does this message resonate more than it does in the marriage of Barack and Michelle Obama.  Even if every detail of Klein’s remarks are not entirely true, there are some things we can learn.  Here is a short list:

1) Marriage is not a fairy tale:  Most people who stay together for decades don’t march through years of marriage with comfort and flying colors.  Instead, they have to fight, grind and remain focused on their objective.  We often hear about people ending their relationships because they “just weren’t happy anymore,” or “I fell out of love with my partner,” as if marriage is like a piece of gum that you replace when the sugar runs out.    If you think of love as a perpetual source of instant gratification, then it’s probably best that you never get married.

2) If you aren’t ready for the volatility, then don’t get on the ride: For every woman who fantasizes about being married to the next Barack Obama, the truth is that most people don’t have what it takes.  High rewards require high risk and the ability to stomach significant disappointments.  Those who think that marriage should be comfortable and stable all the time should never consider marrying a man with Barack Obama-like ambitions (or you could also line up with all the women who start chasing the man once he becomes successful).  Obama is a man willing to sacrifice everything in order to achieve his dream, and most women would not be able to live with that kind of risk.

3) Never give up on yourself:  Most successful people become highly familiar with failure during their climb to the top.  Part of the reason that Barack has been so successful in politics and life is that he learned the value of remaining persistent when things aren’t going his way.    Your entire life can change in an instant, and the only people who get to experience the sunrise after the rain are the ones who decided to hang in there.

4) Things are almost never what they seem to be:  Anyone who truly believed that the Obama marriage was as perfect as it appears to be is flat out delusional.   Living your life based on a fantasy is a one way ticket to disappointment.  Don’t believe everything you read, and realize that celebrities have problems, just like the rest of us.  A strong relationship is possible for anyone, but it’s silly to think that it’s going to happen without a great deal of really hard work and commitment.  So, if none of your relationships are lasting longer than a few months, the truth is that you’re probably not built to be an Obama.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “The RAPP Sheet: Rising Above Psychological Poison.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Talib argued that, if anything, Obama is indeed a symbol, but his presence does not negate a longstanding systematic problem in this country. To him we are not ”post-racial” but in fact “most-racial.” Have enough noticed? I’m guessing not from his series of politically themed tweets.

Talib Kweli writes:

These “we got a black president everything is great” losers kill me lol

This is how backwards ppl are. In 08 I was asked in more than one interview, if Obama wins, what would I have left to rap about? As much respect as I have for Obama as a man & historical figure, the president is a symbol.

Post racial society? Nah. Most racial society. Stop #stopandfrisk

There are MANY criticisms of Obama that I feel are accurate. But when u call him a socialist u expose yourself as a Fox News watching moron.

The president can be criticized for his record. No need to make stuff up just because you don’t understand your real reason 4 disliking him. Obama is Christian, a capitalist and a shrewd politician. He is not a Muslim or a socialist. Even if he was, so what?

I pray for the brain cells of those who posed Talib such an asinine question, but shouldn’t they be revisiting the aftermath of those post-racial proclamations more anyway?

Why not dissect the overt racism President Obama’s political opposition has leveled against him since he was sworn in? We had plenty of well-intentioned — albeit grossly superficial — fantasy works on America’s potential in light of his candidacy.

How about something revisiting the reality? The boldly racist, consistently xenophobic, vitriol often hurled Obama’s way.

Watch President Obama on “The View” this week:

Even during his appearance on “The View,” President Obama (pictured below) responded to Sherri Shepherd’s question about how competitive his reelection bid will be by quipping, “When your name is Barack Obama it’s always going be tight.”

There are countless other examples of divide to highlight, too. Say Travyon Martin’s death and the racial divide with respect to the perception of his killing, or the spectacle less-subtle Americans have made of it – i.e. using Trayvon’s image to sell target sheets. There’s a lingering hostility in the air as it pertains to race, and while it would be wrong to not denote improvement, it’s even more so to sweep it under a dusty rug completely.

Just a week ago, I tweeted: “How are all of you post-Black, post-racial, and other post-posturing folks enjoying the headlines of the week?”

I never got an answer, but perhaps I’m just as silly to expect that I’d ever get an answer on that or any one similar to it. What to do? I’m not sure, but I guess I’ll start humming Mariah in the meantime.

Tell us!

Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer currently based in Los Angeles. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick

Church! Today Bishop Secular talk about people who are always stage ready but don’t go anywhere. Listen now to hear Bishop’s new sermon “Stage Ready.”

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Ask any Black person native to the D.C. area about Prince George’s (PG) cops, and you will see a collective tension come over their faces. The PG cops were notorious for targeting Black boys and men in my neighborhood, often beating us senseless and daring us to say something to a higher-up. It’s no wonder, then, that one of my good friends snatched a gun and shot two officers in retaliation many years ago.

I am not condoning violence against police officers — many perform their duties with dignity. However, the truth remains that many police officers nationwide abuse their power. To those officers who dare to target African Americans incorrectly, here are some things you should know the next time you consider targeting another Black man.

1) I am NOT your living target practice. Do not take aim at me when I am clearly unarmed and stationary — much like the body silhouettes you take aim at in gun ranges with your service weapon. If my hands are raised, it is NOT an invitation to shoot me. If I turn around with my hands on my head, I am NOT offering my back for you to place a bullet there. In short, do not be spineless and shoot a person in a submissive, non-threatening position.

2) A large group of Black males does not mean we are up to no good. Why is it that a gathering of three or more Black men bring about such worry in police officers? What if the men are strong supporters of the community having a conversation about improving their surroundings? Why must you assume the worst about us? If loitering is that much of a nuisance, apply that same scrutiny with large gatherings of Whites.

Unfortunately, we know that isn’t going to happen.

3) Stop applying illegal chokeholds on non-violent suspects. If you have cause to make an arrest and the subject is not exhibiting any violence toward you, you do not have the right to choke and bully the person into fear. Save your pro-wrestling dreams for your video games or roughhousing with your children. Even though the practice is supposedly banned, the cowards among you still apply this illegal and abusive tactic.

4) Everyone who is Black isn’t a suspect. If I haven’t committed a crime that I can be formally charged with, I should be free to go about my day. Why does it take four police cars, K-9 dogs, and cops surrounding my vehicle for a busted tail light? Your excessive show of force draws a clear line in the sand that you perceive me as a potential threat. This same show of force you’re applying for a traffic violation could be readily applied to the dope boys — that you categorically avoid — down the street slinging.

5) Do not single out the young. Not every Black teen, even in the roughest of neighborhoods, is out in the streets doing bad things. Unarmed Pasadena 19-year-old Kendrec McDade didn’t have to be shot seven times to be apprehended. The police had the power and the ability to question him legally as a suspect in a recent robbery and instead hastily shot the young man dead. Kendrec should be alive today, but the officers on the scene decided his fate far too soon.

I don’t deny that being a police officer is a difficult job. I used to see my father come home with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I can even remember when he came home, bleeding from a gunshot. I looked up to my dad as a hero, a savior in the streets fighting for justice.

Sadly, I’ve come to learn the other side of the coin.

Police officers in large cities and small towns have committed acts against African Americans that would put ordinary Joe Citizens like me behind bars for many years. Mr. Officer, I’ll say it again: I am NOT your living target practice. My brothers are not here to lay down when we’ve done nothing wrong. We will respect you, most certainly, but that has to go both ways.

It’s fine time that police officers stop profiling and start policing.

Sound off!

Pastor Marvin Winans was robbed and carjacked in Detroit at a gas station, according to Praise 102.7 Detroit.

Apparently Pastor Winans was pumping gas at the Citgo Gas Station at Linwood and the Davison when he was robbed.

Those at the scene stated the pastor was pumping gas when two men came up and basically started kicking and punching him. They stole his Presidential Rolex watch, his cell phone and then his 2012 purple Infiniti SUV.

From what we were told, Pastor Winans may have some bruises and scratches, but he is going to be okay. He drove himself to the hospital where he is being treated.

Detroit police are investigating and looking for that vehicle and the suspects. They are also working to get surveillance video from the gas station.

Below is a photo courtesy of WXYZ at the scene of the crime.

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Today Marcus D. Wiley put Pastor Timothy Wright  “Under The Microscope”. Check out today’s segment to hear what he has to say about this song.

By Tanya Wilson
Visiting my parents is always a treat. Both are really funny people as I spend time with them in their later life. Each one is amazingly talented even at this age and stage of their journey.

My mother is quite the “Energizer bunny” and keeps going and going even when there is no place for her to go. My father on the other hand has settled into a routine that includes MSNBC, with an occasional CNN thrown in for good measure. I must say, all he really needs is a microphone and a platform and he would be a great co-host for a political talk show.

During the visit, dad shared with me a video of an interview he participated in for a local talk show. I was reminded of the man that fought so hard for the community we lived in. I was also reminded of the disappointments that caused his retreat.

So often in life, if we are not careful we can get off track and distracted away from our true destiny. Events can happen, and we allow ourselves to focus more on those things than the things we know are our truths.

Each one of us has a purpose for which we were born, and only we can do it. I used to wonder what my purpose was early in my life, until I finally realized that it was that burning desire that never left me no matter what the situation.

Enemy forces never want us to reach our purpose easily. It seems that the closer we get to our true purpose, or the more work we do within our purpose, the more road blocks and challenges we seem to face; or as a friend would say to me “I’m being tested.”

Take a look at what 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 has to say on this subject. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

My father is not the only person that has allowed disappointment and conflict to park him in his easy chair; there are so many procrastinating dreamers amongst us.

Greatness lives in each one of us and sometimes we have to fight along the way. The road will be bumpy at times but remember; only you can fulfill your purpose no matter how big or how small, the world misses out if you don’t move.

In the words of TD Jakes, “procrastination never gets it done, fixing to do, don’t get done.” Now that’s a word!

Tanya is an inspirational speaker and writer living in Charlotte. You can friend her on Facebook or email her at tw360you@aol.com. Read more columns by Tanya Wilson.

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Between 2000 and 2009, life expectancy at birth increased more for African Americans than for Whites, narrowing the life expectancy gap between these two racial groups, the report shows. In 2000, life expectancy at birth for Whites was 5.5 years longer than for the Blacks. By 2009, though, the difference narrowed to 4.3 years.

Hispanics still have higher life expectancies than both ethnic groups.

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Overall, the report found that higher-earning, educated people tend to have lower rates of some chronic diseases, including obesity, compared to people with less income and lower levels of education.

“Looking at poverty and education is critically important, but it’s also helpful to look at the distribution by race and ethnicity because Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to live in poverty,” Bernstein said.

Those who are more educated are more likely to have jobs that afford them the ability to pay for health care services, experts say. They are also more likely to be able to afford exercise classes and partake in healthier behaviors.

The report’s findings are a part of the government’s 35th annual report on the status of the nation and was compiled by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Other findings include:

• In 2007–2010, obesity among boys and girls 2 to 19 years of age decreased with increased education of the head of household. In households where the head had less than a high school education, 24 percent of boys and 22 percent of girls were obese, compared with households where the head had a Bachelor’s degree or higher education, in which 11 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls were obese.

• In 2010, 19 percent of U.S. adults smoked, which is down 2 percent from 2009. Over the last decade, cigarette smoking among students in 12th grade has decreased from 33 percent to 22 percent for male students and from 30 percent to 16 percent for female students.

• Between 1998 and 2008, birth rates declined 27 percent for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17.

• In 2008–2010, the percentage of adults 18 to 64 years of age who reported not receiving or delayed seeking needed medical care due to cost in the past year was lowest in large fringe metropolitan counties (12 percent), compared with large central metropolitan counties (14 percent), medium and small metropolitan counties (15 percent), and nonmetropolitan counties (17 percent).

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