Soulja Boy's "Crank That Soulja Boy" is pretty hot right now, though it's popularity is probably on the downside.  As of two or three weeks ago, football team from high school to the NFL were getting crunk before games with Soulja Boy as their inspiration. And as many of you roll down the street bumping 17 year-old Soulja Boy allowing your kids to sing the clean version, I thought you may like to know what some of the songs more popular lyrics actually mean.  A friend of mine told me earlier this week, but I didn't want to believe him.  I consulted the urban dictionary and found that his explaniation was true. Take a look at the the urban dictionary definitions for the following lyrics. Superman Dat Hoe Super Soak Dat Hoe While your kids or nieces or nephews are doing the Soulja Boy, think about what the lyrics are saying.  The sad part is that most of the kids knew what it meant from the jump.   

DALLAS, TX--- The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2007's eleven newest inductees are an elite class of history making athletes and coaches:  Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson; former Dallas Cowboy and Super Bowler Harvey Martin (posthumously); former Dallas Cowboy, Super Bowl co-MVP, and Dallas South Oak Cliff H.S. standout  Calvin Hill; former Dallas Cowboy and Four-time Pro-Bowler  Derek Harper; former Dallas Maverick all-time franchise assist leader  Micheal Williams; NBA Championship Detroit Piston, Baylor University All-American, and Dallas Carter H.S. standout Nolan Richardson; NCAA University of Arkansas Championship Coach Larry Centers; former Arizona Cardinal and Pro-Bowler Roosevelt Leaks; University of Texas standout, College Football Hall of Famer, and former NFL Indianapolis Colt & Buffalo Bill  Beverly Humphrey; NCAA Prairie View A&M University Track star, current Lancaster ISD Coach, Dr. Thurmin Robins; NCAA Southern University Swimming Record-holder The inaugural “Rube Foster” award recipient, presented to a non-African-American for unselfish dedication and contributions to the success of those in Black sports history, will be awarded to former Dallas Carter H.S. Coach and DISD Athletic Director, Kedric Couch. The 12th Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame Banquet and Auction will be held ...

In a post on the Dallas Morning News Editorial Blog, Sharon Grigsby states that the DMN writing team has struggled to find an alternative to the term "Southern Sector."  "Our writing team has the same negative reaction to the term,"  Gribsby says in the post, "but we've been hard-pressed to come up with an alternative." It seems that Dallas South Blog has helped them to solve their problem.  "...thanks to Shawn Williams at Dallas South Blog for unintentionally coming to our aid," the post goes on to say. "It's simple: Southern Dallas.  Just one more example of what we learn when we leave the fourth floor and actually dig into the communities we are trying to cover." I commend the Morning News for taking what may seem like a trivial step to some.   The change is a subtle yet significant step that helps in the effort to make Dallas whole.  I'd encourage other media outlets to make the same move of ditching the term "Southern Sector." I call on other bloggers and those who leave comments here to do the same.  

AfroSpear bloggers are encouraging Blacks to give "the gift of technology" to their children, parents and others, to empower them to communicate in the Internet Age, with recommended gifts of computers, digicams, broadband and open source software. This Christmas, the same AfroSpear Black bloggers who organized the March on Jena are spear-heading the "AfroSpear Freedom Technology Christmas" (FTC) campaign. One hundred AfroSpear bloggers in forty US states and five countries are mobilizing their readers to give Christmas presents that increase citizen journalism within the Black community. "When you have a blog, what happens to you in a small town can become international news, said Field Negro, who won a Black Weblog Award this year. He cited the case of Shaquanda Cotton, a 14 year-old who was unfairly sentenced to 7 years in prison for pushing a high school hall monitor, but who was released when her Freedom Blog caught national attention. "We're going to teach our children to communicate with the world and give them the tools to do it," said Eddie G. Griffin (BASG), an ex-Black Panther who helps lead the group's outreach to Blacks in the criminal justice system. Shawn Williams, of the AfroSpear's Dallas South blog, ...

The Power of Black Preaching Interdenominational Forum, hosted by Brite Divinity School, is coming to Dallas November 1-3.  All services will take place at Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 Wheatland Ave. in Dallas.   Friendship-West is pastored by Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III. Scheduled to preach during the forum: Rev. Dr. Brad Braxton Associate Professor of Homiletics and New Testament at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. Rev. Dr. Stacy L. Spencer  Senior Pastor of New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee.  Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry-Brown Associate Professor of Homiletics at Emory University's Chandler School of Theology. The forum was created by Dr. Stacey M. Floyd Thomas, director of Brite's Black Church Studies Program.  The weekend promises to deliver inspiring messages from some of the country's leading theologians. Services begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.

“It makes a significant difference when you have somebody in the Statehouse willing to take the lead.”                                           President George W. Bush It's obvious the above statement made by Bush while with Arnold Schwarzenegger was directed at former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. In a recent article, the New York Post compares the evacuation and emergency response to the fires in California this past week and the Hurricane that struck Louisiana Mississippi two years ago. See the Post's A Firestorm, a Deluge and a Sharp Political Dig. Here are some of the highlights of the article. *  “I think you’re comparing a paper cut to an amputation,” said Sally Forman, the former press secretary to Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans and author of a new book, “Eye of the Storm: Inside City Hall During Katrina.” “We had no communication capability, we could not drive on our roads, we had 80 percent of our city under water, we had no power.” *  Mr. Bush’s remarks in California have clearly struck a nerve. Governor Blanco complained to The Times-Picayune of New Orleans that she had spent nearly a week as “the only game in town,” leading without the president’s ...

Since I moved to Dallas in 1997, I have heard city and community leaders refer to the area south of the Trinity River as The Southern Sector.  Back then, it seemed like a good way to discuss what was happening in what most agreed to be a forgotten area of town.   But the term has run its course and it's time that the area receive a different moniker.  Southern Sector has no real value and doesn't sound like a place to go under ANY circumstance.  You might as well say Southern 51 or The Southern Triangle.   Southern Sector doesn't even acknowledge the fact that you are in Dallas.  Does anyone ever say the Northern Sector? It's always North Dallas or Northern Dallas. Southern Sector needs the same treatment as the 'N' word; dead, buried, and gone.  So you ask, what do we replace Southern Sector with?  That's easy: SOUTHERN DALLAS  I'm sure the lack of creativity of this term doesn't excite anyone.  And many would say that the term still divides the city.  While both those statements may be valid, there is still a need for addressing the unique circumstances of an area that the city turned its back ...

A look back at stories from the past week.  1.  Michael Sorrell, President at Paul Quinn College, is in the news at the Houston Chronicle.  2.  Dallas Progress reports on the new DPD South Central Division Sub-Station.  3.  Interesting takes on J.C. Watts by a young Black Republican.  4.  Roland S. Martin says saving marriages must be a national priority.  5.  King Tut is coming to Dallas with an economic impact expected to rival Super Bowl.  Also visit KingTut.org for more info.

The following is a paid review. I'd like to blog for a moment about my experience in Dallas Hotels. Though I live in Dallas, I've had the opportunity to stay overnight for business meetings as well as utilize meeting space at area hotels.   As one might imagine, I've had a number of meetings at the Hilton (AKA Wyndham, AKA Lowes) Anatole.  With the number of rooms and amount of meeting space, it's hard to miss.   My first experience there was for a national sales meeting.  I was surprised at the amount of space contained in both the Tower and the Atrium.  All of the business was held at the hotel, including meetings, meals, and receptions.  I'd say that most of my better hotel experiences in Dallas have been at the Anatole. Recently, Dallas has seen a rise in the number of "Boutique" and upscale hotels in the area.  I'd have to include Hotel Za Za, The W, and even The Belmont in that mix.  The great thing about these hotels is that they provide locals with an alternative destination even if you are not planning to stay overnight. In most cases, there is an opportunity to find decent rooms ...

Genarlow Wilson was released from a Georgia prison on Friday, putting an end to another sad tale of American Justice.  Wilson had spent over two years in prison after he was convicted for having consensual (oral) sex with a minor.  At the time of the "crime" Wilson was 17 and the minor was 15. His sentence for the act was 10 years. On Friday The Georgia Supreme Court ordered that he be released. In a 4-3 vote, the court ruled that his sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. Wison's release is covered at CNN, The Atlanta Journal Constitution , and The New York Times.  Justice is served, God Bless Genarlow and his family.  I have seen and heard enough to believe that Genarlow Wilson will do all of us proud and this situation will only make him stronger.