Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 661

Rapper T.I. Released From Prison

Source: Alan Duke / CNN Rapper T.I. walked out of a federal prison in Arkansas Wednesday morning, 10 months after he began serving a sentence for violating his parole on a gun conviction, a prison official confirmed. "The storm is over & da sun back out. IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!" T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, wrote in a Twitter message Wednesday. T.I. will complete the last weeks of [...]

Maya Angelou Upset Over MLK Memorial Inscription

Source: Jessica Hopper / ABC News Poet Maya Angelou says the inscription on the newly unveiled Martin Luther King , Jr. Memorial makes the civil rights leader look like an "arrogant twit." The official dedication to the memorial was postponed due to Hurricane Irene, but the monument on the National Mall is open to visitors. In an interview with the Washington Post, Angelou took aim at the inscription which reads "I was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness."  The inscription paraphrases King's [...]

What Will Beyonce-Jay-Z Baby Look Like? (VIDEO)

An artist creates a rendering of what Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby might look like. WATCH:

President Obama Set To Deliver September 7 Economic Address To Congress

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Source: CNN Washington – President Barack Obama requested time Wednesday to deliver an economic address to a joint session of Congress on the evening of September 7 — a prime-time platform to unveil his long-awaited jobs proposal. The speech is set to be delivered at 8 p.m. ET. "Our nation faces unprecedented economic challenges, and millions of hardworking Americans continue to look for jobs," Obama said in a [...]

Black Caucus Jobs Fair Draws Thousands (VIDEO)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy The Congressional Black Caucus representatives are helping Americans meet employers through a series of job fairs across the US. NBC's Mara Schiavocampo reports.

United States Is Wasting $12 Million A Day Among Contracts In Iraq And Afghanistan

Source: CNN Washington (CNN) — A nonpartisan panel reporting to Congress says the United States is wasting $12 million a day among contracts issued in support of American efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Commission on Wartime Contracting spent the past three years documenting whether American funding went where it was supposed to. The findings show misdirected money has totaled between $31 billion and $60 billion, and that both the government and the contractors are to blame for fraud and [...]

Admirers Pay Respects To Motown's Esther Gordy Edwards

Source: Francis X. Donnelly / The Detroit News Detroit- The late Esther Gordy Edwards wasn't alone during her visitation today. She was surrounded by music royalty. Motown music wafted over the speakers of the James H. Cole Northwest Chapel. Her casket was surrounded by flower arrangements from The Miracles, The Four Tops and, of course, her baby brother, Berry Gordy Jr., the founder of Motown Records. "It's beautiful," said well-wisher Cynthia Bostic, 54, of Detroit. "It's so sad, but it's [...]

Taxpayers To Foot Bill For Second Lawyer To Defend Kilpatrick's Dad In Federal Case

Source: Robert Snell / The Detroit News Detroit — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's father Bernard had one freebie lawyer defending him in the City Hall corruption case. Now, taxpayers are paying for a second attorney, who will be paid $100 an hour to defend the former Wayne County official. According to documents filed today in U.S. District Court in Detroit, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds approved hiring lawyer Michael Carter to help defend Bernard Kilpatrick. Carter will join lead [...]

Appeals Court Denies Kilpatrick Appeal Over Book Proceeds

Source: Mike Wilkinson/ The Detroit News The Michigan Court of Appeals has rejected former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's request to block the state from taking a cut from his book sales. In a brief statement released Tuesday, the court denied Kilpatrick's appeal of a Wayne Circuit Court judge's order that places the money from the book sales into an escrow account to payoff his still-large restitution bill. The three-judge panel concluded the appeal lacked merit. Wayne Circuit Court Judge David [...]

Critic's Notebook: Oprah, You Need A Break From Reality

Source: Mary McNamara / The Los Angeles Times The Oprah Winfrey Network's fall schedule is overstocked with shows hammering home the same inspirational self-love formula, but here's how to shake things up. Dear Oprah Winfrey: It's been a month and a half since you announced that you would be forfeiting the much-deserved vacation you planned to take after the final episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to devote yourself to the struggling Oprah Winfrey Network. Now, I realize that is [...]