General Information Home Submit Your Article Submission Guidelines Advertise Article Categories Disclaimer Online Articles at BlackRefer.com Self Improvement Articles African Americans: A Look in the Mirror, Part 1   By: Bret Searles “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” James Baldwin. At present, African Americans stand at the crossroads of great hopes for wealth and freedom exceptional for the great-and great, great-grandchildren of former slaves and great despair caused by family disintegration, generational... African Americans: Decide Your Destiny, Master Your Mind, Part 1   By: Bret Searles “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Maya Angelou Our ability to exercise self-discipline is key to taking control of our destinies. It is the ability to delay self-gratification while working ... I've Been Broken, But I'm Not Weak   By: Mrs.Wilson So many times in life we get down and discouraged and it seems that we have no where to turn and no one to turn to. They say when it rains it pours and before you know it all the bills are due, your car is in repossession status, your kids find any and every... Opinion - Commentary Articles I Am Not An African - American  By: Tamika Johnson I am not an African-American. Don’t call me an African –American. I’m an American plain and simple. I was born here as were my parents and grandparents and you would have to search many a generation back before you found anyone in my family who originated from the continent... The So-Called War on Drugs Is Racially Oppressive and Should It Be Ended Now!   By Robert N. Taylor At the risk of dating myself, in 1972 I was a student at Columbia University in New York City earning a masters degree in Mass Communications. During one of my classes a professor invited a former drug addict from Harlem to address... What Currently Defines African American Culture?   By: Sarah H African American culture can be regarded as both part of, and distinct from American culture. From the days of the slave trade, Africans and African Americans have contributed by means of literature, art, agricultural skills, foods, music, and language to American culture. Even before... Our Problem as a Black People – Emotional Schizophrenia   By: Robert N. Taylor I have finally figured out what is wrong with Black people! As a people (and of course this is a generalization) we suffer from emotional schizophrenia. If the psychological experts are right that most behaviors are driven by deep-seated emotional beliefs, then we as a collective tend to be... Please Tell Barack Obama He Cannot Become President with Right-Wing Military Rhetoric   By: Robert N. Taylor A debate has raged over the past week between the two Democratic Party front runners for president which is both ridiculous and scary. In an apparent bid to appeal to neo-conservative, afraid-of... A Tribute To My Brothers: “What Black Men Are”  By: William Jackson, M. Ed. Black men are ageless, ageless like the land that has been in existence longer than any other land. The Motherland, the land that nurtured him and aided him to provide for his family. Enabling him to... 5 Ways To Produce A Menace To Society  Author: George Cook Helpful satirical article filled with tips for black mothers who claim " I don't need a man" to raise their sons to be the best thug they can be. 5 easy steps to producing a menace to society. Hi everyone I'm sure many single mothers just can't... Are African Americans Losing the Race? Part I  Author: Matthew Lynch The infamous childhood tale about the tortoise and the hare has infused valuable lessons concerning strategy, wisdom and patience into the lives of many around the world. It proved that one who is swiftest does not always win a race to one who is equipped with self-sufficiency, endurance, protection and perseverance. Unfortunately, the... Are African Americans Losing the Race? Part II  Author: Matthew Lynch Though the state black entrepreneurship has progressed significantly in the past decade, the inner cities in which most of these businesses (supermarket chains, check cashing stores, retailers, banks, fast-food restaurants, service firms, churches, etc.) subsist are still perceived as poor environments that fall short in breeding proactive, high-powered... The Top Ten Reasons Why It’s Hard to Date a Black Woman  Author: Matthew Lynch There is no denying that the state of Black America today is grim and just about hopeless. Some of us spend money on superfluous items just to hold an image of ourselves that prove to be phony and unaffordable to begin with. Some have yet to rise above victimized mentalities embedded into our minds since the days of slavery. Some remain angry at... A Message To My People  Author:Kenneth Brown Bill Cosby seems to be the only prominent black person that’s talking to us about what we need to do for ourselves, instead of at us about what others are doing to us. And we have criticized him for it. There’s no doubt that racism is alive and well in America however our problems are also within. When a black person is shot or stabbed, nine times... President Obama  Author: B. Kenneth McGee Forty years ago in 1967 Carl B. Stokes was elected the first black Mayor of a major American City. I was the operations manager of that campaign along with my partner Geraldine Willliams. In 1965, Stokes had run and almost won in a city that was 70% white and 30% black. In 1965 he had come so close to winning that there was a recount. His victory in 67 was hailed as... Barak Obama  Author: Travis Refuge I believe Mr. Obama to be a caring person that wants to do something for his people and the world, and that would be great, but he, like all other Blacks, is fighting a losing battle under this political system and government. You cannot bring significant change to a system that has already been established. The constitution/foundation has already been laid. A person... OUR POLITICS, OUR PROGRESS  Author: Zekita Our children- we feed them, we clothe them, we provide shelter for them, and make sure that they are healthy and get to school each day. So shouldn’t our collective progress and current struggles for liberated economics, justice, and unity heavily involve them? Just as many times in the past have demanded our immediate attention and dedication, we have not... Hold Fast To Dreams   Author: B. Kenneth McGee We knew it was coming if he was nominated. The slurs, the innuendoes, the wink-wink nod-nod of subtle racism, the outright attacks of not so subtle racism. There would be whispers about religion and questions about his background. There would be slime and dirt, Swift Boaters and stupid jerks. What the smear-experts didn't know, they ... Talking About Race   Author: Kenneth Brown As a result of statements made by the Reverend Wright, of Chicago, not only is America talking about race; but it has also brought Presidential Candidate Obamas campaign to a halt so that he could give his position on race in America today. This speech was warmly received, but... IRAQ   Author: Kenneth Brown During a visit to Congress by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, America was told what Iraq needs, wants and should have. As I listened to them make their statements to Congress, I could relate to the Iraqi people, because the same thing happens to... Media Articles The History Of African American Magazines  By: David B The African American magazines or the black magazines are a source of information and entertainment for the community with a sense of identity, which makes it the most priceless of all publications. To some the African American magazines or the black magazines are considered... The Airwaves Use to Belong to The People  By:Tommie Butler I work in the high-end electronic home entertainment equipment industry doing solution-selling, in-home consultation and design.In total, I've worked at various levels of the media and entertainment production industry for more than thirty years. It saddens and frustrates me to have to report that... African American Magazines  By David Chase The African American magazines or the black magazines are a source of information and entertainment for the community with a sense of identity, which makes it the most priceless of all publication... Political Articles Black Republicans  By: Kenneth Brown I have heard people say that most blacks are Democrats. However, if you watch CNN or MSNBC you will see the same three black men express their pride in being black republicans. But my question is: “How can a black man justify being a republican?” It appears to me that any black person that is a republican now would have been what Malcolm X referred to as... Travel Articles An African American Heritage Tour Of Baltimore   By: Melissa Goldman African Americans have blazed a distinguished trail through Baltimore, from Frederick Douglass to Eubie Blake. Visitors to this charming East Coast port city can explore a history of unparalleled achievement and inspiration on a remarkable... African Safari Trips - 3 Ways To See Africa On Safari   Author: Dean Caporella An African safari trip would be the ultimate vacation for most of us but for the inexperienced, it can be an overwhelming experience on the organization front.How do you plan for African safari trips; where do... The Must-See Attractions in Detroit   Author: Ann Knapp Detroit has its secrets; most of them in the form of little known tourist attractions. Now that the city is becoming a haven for weekend getaways, they're springing to life again, adding vibrancy to a slowly resurrecting industrial town. All of the following attractions can be reached... Think About Taking a Tour to African Safari - Serengeti National Park  Author: Hunter If you're planning your next vacation, and want something on the fun and wild side, you may want to think about taking an African safari to the Serengeti. Serengeti National Park is one of the most amazing wildlife parks in the world. Not only is this area of Africa beautiful... Food Articles African And African American Cuisine, The Tie That Binds  By: O Quinn African and African American cooking has quite a lot in common. This is understandable as the ancestors of African Americans are mostly Africans and therefor have passed on a rich legacy of flavorsome recipes. Of scrumptious dishes wonderful... Super Chef Articles MARVIN WOODS: OBAMA'S CHEF IN WAITING http://superchefblog.com/2008/02/marvin-woods-obamas-chef-in-waiting.html Make It Super Simple with G. Garvin http://superchefblog.com/2008/02/make-it-super-simple-with-g-garvin.html Food Network: Down Home with the Neelys http://www.superchefblog.com/2008/01/food-network-down-home-with-neelys.html Marcus Samuelsson: Starbucks http://www.superchefblog.com/2007/09/marcus-samuelsson-starbucks.html Taste of Ebony: Black Chefs http://superchefblog.com/2007/10/taste-of-ebony-black-chefs.html Education Articles African American Scholarship  By: Low Jeremy The African American population had been the most discriminated race in the country for the past decades. This resulted to fewer opportunities for the Blacks and lesser chances for them to... Southern States Ahead on African American Racial Representation Within Institutions of Higher Education,   Author: Shay Rosen Colleges and universities within the southern states are now, for the first time ever, showing representation figures that coincide with African American population densities, according to a study by the Southern Regional Education Board. This is above average for the... Resources for African American Home Schoolers Rise to Meet the Growing Demand  Author: Mimi Rothschild African Americans are the fastest growing demographic group of home schoolers in the United States. Because this is a new development in home schooling, there is a great deal of interest in the world of epidemiological research concerning... Different Schools in the Seattle School District Honor Graduates   Author: Stacy Andell Garfield High School Honors 84 Year-Old Graduate. On Monday, June 19th, Richard Coone received an honorary diploma from Garfield High School, a Seattle High School. He walked with the... Philadelphia Schools Gains New Institute for Teacher Diversity   Author: Patricia Hawke The Philadelphia schools need to improve the effectiveness and diversity of their teacher workforce. Currently, 85 percent of their students are African American, Latino and Asian, but they have only 38 percent... Homeschool Links for African Americans   Author: Mimi Rothschild The National African American Homeschoolers Alliance: This comprehensive webpage is full of resources and recommendations for African American Homeschoolers with reviews of textbooks, support... Moving African American Students Past Stuck Point Author: Tsahai H. London Sandrock What causes disproportionate numbers of minority students to become stuck and refrain from taking a seat at the table of opportunity granted them by schools? Dr.John Ogbu, noted scholar, after an extensive survey-based research, shed some... Los Angeles Schools Run Nation’s Second Largest District Author: Patricia Hawke In terms of numbers, Los Angeles Schools make up the second largest public school district in the country. Only New York City Schools top them. The issues of running any urban system are complex, but in massive districts the numbers make ... The Disadvantages of High School Rankings Author: Patricia Hawke In a knowledge based global economy where your educational qualifications will invariably decide your social and economic status in life, it’s not surprising that such importance is attached to categorizing schools based on high school rankings. This is... Career Articles How to Land Your Dream Job in 5 Easy Steps? Author: Matthew Lynch If you are like most working people in America, there is a great chance that you may feel undervalued, under appreciated, stagnant, stressed and possibly even disgruntled over the fact that you are being paid peanuts in comparison to profits accrued by the company that hired you. Lack of recognition, boredom, the invisible glass ceiling, poor pay and... Entertainment Articles Radio Golf Broadway Show is not Just an Entertainer Author: Al Terry An ambitious lawyer and the inheritor of real estate property, Harmond Wilks, has the dream of redeveloping African American Hill District in Pittsburgh. He wants to convert the neighborhood that’s in shambles into a sophisticated area with a high rise building and a chain of stores. He teams up with his friend Roosevelt Hicks, who has recently ... Oh yes, it's Ms. O! Author: Jacquiline Macaraig Everybody knows the woman called Oprah. She is in the Forbes list of 100 richest and most powerful celebrities in the world. Aside from being a talk show host, magazine publisher, and producer --- she is also known as a philanthropist and a global media leader.... Relationship Articles Online Dating Tips: How To Make a Productive Profile Author: CoolVibeOnline No matter what online dating service you use, people are the same and look for the same things. The Key to a successful singles profile is CLARITY. You want to have nice clear photos and an easy to read profile. Don't be fooled by your own thoughts about beauty is only skin deep. Photos are the most important element in a profile. Everyone has... Are You Happy With Your Love Life? Author: Michelle Annette There are times when your love life just doesn’t seem as exciting as it was when you first met your mate. We get so set in our ways that tradition just does not do it for us anymore. You wonder to yourself, what can I do to spice things up? Often times you think to look for something or someone else that will give you that “New Feeling”. Some of you know... Interior Design Articles Interior Design, an Ethnic Approach Author: David Mcevoy Designing your rooms around an ethnic theme can be exciting and fun and allows you to bring elements of other cultures and distant lands into your home. You can be more daring in your approach to colour and with such a wide variety of textures and patterns available, this can collectively add a whole new dimension to your interior design ...