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September 28, 2006

Black Star Power produces major black money.  Black Entertainment Television founder   Robert L. Johnson does not cease to amaze the masses.  Johnson opened a bank in Washington D.C. recently that will cater to the specific needs of the urban community (that means Black), including home buyers, small businesses and student-loan applicants who might be denied loans by larger institutions.  "We're going to know our customers better," Johnson told the press.  Urban Trust Bank is located at 1350 I Street NW in Washington's central business district.  "We see there's a unique opportunity there," Johnson added. 

The Bethesda, Maryland based bank plans to open three more branches next year in Prince George's County, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia.  Bankers, however, say Urban Trust needs to reach out to customers beyond the black community to ensure that it succeeds. 

"African American institutions are not growing as fast as some of the other community banks around the country," said James Ballentine, community and economic development director for the trade group American Bankers Association, according to the Washington Times .

"They go after African American community.  In order to grow at a rapid rate, you have to go after a broader market."  However, Johnson is ranked 374th on   Fortune Magazine's list of the 400 richest American, acquired his first bank in Orlando, Florida, which gave him and his business partners the Federal Deposit insurance Corporation charter that was needed to open other branches throughout the Washington area.

Bob Johnson is making it happen in every industry he touches.  When I spoke to him last he was working on a major hotel venture.  Word is out that soon he will make a major announcement regarding that deal.  African Americans must support a bank that is going to support the community and extend an opportunity where one may not have been realized under ordinary conditions.  Bob started a television station in the basement of his house that he was able to sell for 3 billion dollars can be insurance enough that his bank will succeed.  Now African Americans should open an account just to have some money there and support an institution that is going to support the community that needs assistance the most.  Johnson may not have a hard time getting individuals to drop money into his new back.  According to an article that I read recently in The New York Times, black's income has surpassed whites in   Queens, New York.  The article stated that in Queens the median income among black households was near $52,000 a year has surpassed that of whites in 2005, according to new census data.

It is good-bye for Aaron McGruder's comic strip " The Boondocks " to publications across the country, recently it was announced that newspapers should stop looking for its return and that McGruder's six-month leave is officially over.  "Although Aaron McGruder has made no statement about retiring or resuming ' The Boondocks ' for print newspapers, Universal Press Syndicate is announcing that newspapers should not count on it coming back in the foreseeable future," the syndicate stated, according to Richard Prince's column

"Numerous attempts by the syndicate to pin McGruder down on a date that the strip would be coming back were unsuccessful," says Lee Salem, president of Universal Press Syndicate.  "It was obvious that Aaron would not be able to meet his original six-month target of returning ' The Boondocks ' to newspapers.  His Sunday strips needed to be in by mid-September to meet newspapers' deadlines of publishing ' The Boondocks ' by the end of October.    We had to consider the newspapers currently running ' The Boondocks ' reruns and expecting its return.  It was unfair to keep them guessing any longer."  Two African American themed strips, Darrin Bell's " Candorville " and Cory Thomas' " Watch Your Head ," were offered by Universal Press to fill in while McGruder took his six month sabbatical.  Aaron's day of visitation is gone, in January Universal Press will introduce"

Maintaining ," authored by the young biracial cartoonist, Nate Creekmore, said spokeswoman Kathie Kerr.  However, Kerr added: "There is no direct replacement for ' The Boondocks .'  I think editors are going to put on their editorial hats and say, let's look at the merit of the strip no matter what it is, without regard to ethnicity of the characters."  In the meantime, Cartoon Network has renewed the animated version of " The Boondocks " for another season, and a feature length film is also reportedly in the works.  This is the biggest mystery since Dave Chappelle walking away from a $50 million deal with Comedy Central Network.    Seems that Aaron either had a serious case of writers block or he was so preoccupied with his other ventures to remember what made him the success he is today.  Aaron has yet to tell reporters why he either refused or could not meet the deadline of Universal. 

Sophisticated funk is what you can call Cartoon Network's latest offering.  " Class of 3000 ," is an animated half-hour series created, voiced and scored by Andre Benjamin of OutKast .  The show centers on Sunny Bridges (Andre), a music superstar and Nobel Peace Prize winner who gives up his glamorous life to teach a group of talented musical prodigies and his old   Atlanta alma mater.  Prior to the show's one-hour season premiere on November 3, 2006 at 8 p.m., Cartoon Network will air the half hour special "Sunny Bridges: From Bankhead to Buckhead."  The mockumentary chronicles the life of the fictional superstar with interviews from the character's fans and celebrity friends.  " Class of 3000 " will feature a new song every week from Andre 3000 within the context of a music video.    Andre Benjamin also wrote and performed the series' theme song.

The Cartoon Network rolled out a sky blue carpet for the premiere of " Class of 3000 " at the Fox Theater in   Atlanta, Georgia.  Not the best night for interviews with a number of celebrities out with their children that was eager to get inside.  Doing it big Andre rolled up on a yellow school bus that had all of the faces of the cast of " Class of 3000 " on the sides.  The children went wild and adults could hardly contain themselves when the music mogul arrived.  Brian Jordan , Evander Holyfield , Diana DeGarmo , and Katt Williams were a few of the big names that came out to support Andre's venture.  "Anything that is promoting a positive message for children and black men is something that I had to be a part of," said comedian Katt Williams .  The father of seven mentioned that he works and gives back in a number of ways that people are not aware of and that he is deeply moved by the needs of children which is why he adopted six children   Katt shared with me.  "I wanted to help them out of some bad situations and provide for them things they would not have been exposed to if they stayed in the conditions they were in," Katt explained.  "So I adopted them."  The short perm wearing comedian is a serious guy, but he still managed to get his jokes in during our interview.  When I asked him why he did not have his hair flipped he said they same reason why you picked that bowtie.  "I would have never imagined that I would be at this point in my life," Andre said with a huge smile on his face.  "The character is me in a number of ways, but my life is really based on the character Lil' D, who wants to one day make in the music business," Andre added.  On plans to leave the entertainment world anytime soon for Andre , but he is going to remain focused on his acting.    Andre should consider playing Sammy Davis, Jr ., the musical talented would be perfect for the role. 

According to my " Street Committee "...As the author of a nationally syndicated column I get more invitations to events than I care to attend so let me bring you up to speed on some of the ones that was lucky enough to have Obnoxious make an appearance.  The 100 Black Men's Football Classic is known to been on of the hot games to attend.  The who's who of the African American community came out in big numbers to watch FAMU and TSU go at it.  For the first time in the history of the classic the game went in over time.    U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop , BET's Cousin Jeff , Judge Glenda Hatchett , and funnyman Jonathan Slocumb were among the attendees that I hung out with in the box seats while eating everything that was not nailed down. 

Hattie B. Dorsey is finally retiring from her years of dedication and commitment to providing housing for the poor.  Susan Taylor of Essence Magazine , a good friend of   Hattie's was in attendance for Hattie's roast and toast.  A night to honor a woman who had given so much to others, jokes were made about Hattie's long list if ex-husbands and known for her ability to put her hand on her hip and point her finger to anyone apposing her vision.  The diva described a Safire, Hattie would get you told.  Ingrid Saunders Jones of Coco-Cola sponsored the night for Miss Hattie B .  The evening was great until I watched Hattie pass the torch and her life's work to a young white guy.  It was whispered to me that the board decided the organization had grown beyond what any of them would have ever imaged and he was the best man for the job with development being big business these days. 

A legend of the Civil Rights Movement turned 85 years-old; Rev. Dr. Joseph Echols Lowery is still on the battlefield fighting for equality for all people.  The evening's program consisted of a long list of noted pastors, activists, politicians, and dignitaries.  Tom Joyner led the evening as the Master of Ceremonies with good laughs when former Governor Roy Barnes was late.  "You know white people are always late,"   Joyner said laughing.  Laughter roared throughout the entire audience. Harry Belafonte in his bold true to form fashion said, "I am very cautious about invitations to speak in Atlanta these days.  But I know I was in good company with my long time friend Joe ."  The night was full of political jokes as a number of important people celebrated a great man.  Congresswoman Maxine Waters reminded the audience of how bold Dr. Lowery was at the funeral of Mrs. Coretta Scott-King and stated that President Bush lied and there were no weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.  Whispers overshadowed the invocation of Rev. Marvin Moss , pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, were Lowery pastored for years.  According to rumors Moss' wife, Gwen, has three children and never been married.  The first lady is said to have quite a past with Dr. Dre the father of her eldest child and two by NBA basketball player Damon Stoudemire of the Memphis Grizzles .  Seems that Cascade has lost a number of members since the new pastor and first family has taken the lead at Cascade, not long ago Gwen allegedly preached a sermon and reminded the congregation to not judge her past.    Gwen and Marvin have no children and only have been married a year and a half.  Now you do the math.  You have officially been choked by the bow tie!