in the news Political Beat
The King of Pop
laid to rest
White men
Michael Jackson was laid to rest on Tues-
day as millions watched via various media out-
lets and social mediums.
can’t jump
Thousands flocked to the Staples Center
in L.A. to partake in the icon’s memorial trib-
ute which included appearances by dozens – but they
of stars including Mariah Carey, Jennifer
Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Kobe Bryant and
MC Lyte David Banner
many more.
er” recording studio and a chance to be one of
12 artists featured on the Pride 360° CD.
can run
The singer
died Thurs- Last year’s contest drew 300 percent more
By Jason Johnson
day, June 25, entries than it did in the first year. This year,
from cardiac to demonstrate its commitment to uncovering
The sports and pop culture story of the
arrest and the freshest musical talent and spice things up
century is happening right now and most
leaves behind a bit, KFC enlisted Lyte and Banner. The two
people in America haven’t even heard of it.
three children, artists will help contestants and winners raise
Imagine if an NBA superstar, former Most
Prince Michael their game, said Jermaine Higgins, KFC man-
Valuable Player who had been to the Olym-
Jackson, Paris ager of multicultural marketing.
pics and the NBA finals was caught up in an
Michael Kath-
“MC Lyte and David Banner are two of the incredible sex scandal. He has been living
erine Jackson
most respected artists in urban music and with a woman for over a year, video clips
Dirk Nowitzki
and Michael
they also stand out for their commitment to the are all over the web of them kissing and ing and agreeable to this group than some-
Joseph Jack-
community,” Higgins said. “I’m very happy that canoodling at his home and in the locker thing that might offend their own sense
son; his par-
Michael Jackson they’ve added their muscle to KFC’s search for room for months. of racial and class hegemony. When you
ents and eight
up-and-coming music stars.”
siblings, and a multitude of friends, fans and
Then tragedy strikes. In the middle of a
add in sex, any discussion of out-of-control
admirers.
Musicians’ songs will be heard on the Hit-
competitive playoff series police break into
Black male sexuality, especially from ath-
maker web site, ww.KFChitmaker.com, and
his home and arrest his girlfriend on eight
letes, is fair game regardless of how little of
they will be available for download as mobile
A song for Detroit
counts of fraud and robbery. Even better,
an actual story exists.
phone ring tones. KFC will donate all profits
once she is in police custody it is revealed Kobe Bryant was accused of raping a
from ringtone downloads to the “Heal the Hood
that she’s known to have up to 10 aliases, White woman while recovering in his hos-
Detroit City Clerk Janice M. Winfrey, in
Foundation,” a national non-profit organization
sports an engagement ring from the MVP pital bedroom in 2003 and the coverage
partnership with Radio One Detroit (WHTD-
founded by Banner to support the victims of
player and is pregnant with his child. Upon hit every news outlet across the nation
FM, WDMK-FM and WCHB-AM), announced
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
hearing this news, the same superstar for months. People who knew nothing of
winners of the “Song for Detroit” songwriting
“One thing I love to do is help young musi- leaves the country to spend his summer sports, let alone basketball, were inundated
contest. More than 400 original songs were
cians find their way to shine in the music busi- “training” for the upcoming season and with the details of Bryant’s sex life, past and
entered in the online voting contest.
ness,” said Banner. “That’s why I’m proud to can’t be bothered to comment on the case. other events surrounding the case. Bryant
be a part of the KFC ‘Hitmaker’ contest.” Amazing story, isn’t it? Now imagine that and his teammates were forced to answer
the player is a White man and the woman questions about the case after every game,
Search on for 101 best
is Black. even after his accuser dropped the case.
companies to work for
The events described above are play- In 2004, Monday Night football ran a
ing out right now in the lives of Dallas Mav- promo that showed Desperate House-
Nominations are now being accepted for
ericks star Dirk Nowitzki and his one-time wife Nicollette Sheridan trying to seduce
the 2009 101 Best and Brightest Companies
fiancé Cristal Taylor who has been in jail wide receiver Terrell Owens to keep him
to Work For in Metro Detroit awards, spon-
for weeks having been cut off from the NBA from playing in the first half but apparently
sored by the Michigan Business and Profes-
superstar after her arrest at his home. This nobody got the joke. In fact, over 50,000
sional Association (MBPA). The organization
story has all of the elements to make it the complaints were sent to the FCC in the
will honor 101 companies as well as present
next Kobe Bryant, Pacman Jones, Terrell days following. Even though Nicollette
11 elite awards.
Owens level story that transcends sports Sheridan’s character is blatantly promiscu-
These awards were established to rec-
press and becomes the hot topic in gossip ous on the show, the notion of her want-
A song for Detroit winner Curtiss Boone
ognize companies that employ exceptional
magazines, E! Entertainment network and ing to have sex with a Black man was too
(center).
strategies to create organizational value
even a back page of Newsweek. Yet it’s much for the audience to bear. In 2004,
and business results through their poli-
The grand prize winner is Curtiss Boone for
received little or no mainstream coverage, Justin Timberlake tore off Janet Jackson’s
cies and best practices in human resource
his song entitled Detroit. The second-place
and sports outlets like ESPN have all but clothing during the Superbowl, the biggest
management. Anyone can nominate their
song, Our Detroit, was written by Johnnie
ignored it. It’s not difficult to imagine that sporting event in the nation, and somehow
company or employer. Complete the online
Humes. Third place was awarded to Gerald
if an African American athlete skipped the she’s blamed for the incident. The lesson is
entry form at www.101bestandbrightest.com
Marshall for Detroit I Luv Ya. Each of the three
country and left his White fiancé and baby pretty clear, when sports, race and sex mix
or call (586) 393-8800. The nomination dead-
winning songs can be heard at www.songfor-
momma in jail, the coverage would be the end result will seldom play out fairly for
line is July 10.
detroit.com
vastly different. African Americans and the White person is
Nominations are evaluated by an inde-
At a basic level, the coverage of ath-
never at fault.
KFC teams with
pendent research firm. Entries are judged on
their communication, community initiatives,
letics and entertainment in America is a Dirk Nowitzki, part of a long line of great
reflection of the main audience that these White hopes promoted by the NBA since
music icons
compensation and benefits, diversity and mul-
ticulturalism, employee education and devel-
forms of entertainment serve. More spe- Larry Bird retired almost 20 years ago, is
cifically, advertisers crave the dollars and going to receive no public scrutiny for his
Legendary lyricist MC Lyte and chart topper
opment, employee engagement and commit-
attention of middle-class White Americans behavior. Since he’s not Black and the
David Banner will add sizzle to KFC’s search
ment, recognition and retention, recruitment
and chose to report or not report on stories woman involved is, the onus will always
for the next hot musician in this year’s “Hitmak-
and selection, and work-life balance.
that appeal to that portion of our society. be on her to justify her life decisions while
er” song contest, now in its third year. Aspir- The winning companies will be hon-
The fears, desires, concerns and fantasies his are not held up to the light. White men
ing musicians are invited to submit their hot- ored at the annual 101 Best and Brightest
test beats to win national exposure and great
of middle-class White America drive report- may not be able to jump, but they can cer-
Companies symposium and awards lun-
prizes as part of KFC’s Pride 360° program.
ing, especially in sports, and therefore re- tainly run – from any major responsibility so
cheon on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Dear-
The grand prize winner will receive a “Hitmak-
porting on large, physically elite Black men long as an all too complicit and tacitly racist
born Inn, a Marriott hotel in Dearborn.
and their scandals is much more comfort- press allows them to do so.
The Michigan FrontPage • July 10, 2009 3
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