Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, PhD

It’s been a long time since you’ve witnessed someone publicly implode as Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson did. After having Hall of Fame college and professional careers, movies, investment opportunities, and product endorsements, O.J. Simpson came as close to being an “honorary white man” as a black man can be. As much as black folk rooted…

Barack Obama’s election to the Presidency of the United States has had a residual effect on the economy in ways that are not (yet) reflected on the New York Stock Exchange. Barack Obama merchandise is huge. T-Shirts, hats, buttons, coins, photos, posters, calendars, bobble head dolls and other paraphernalia has created a cottage industry that…

The Los Angeles Times newspaper has rarely offered a fair and balanced portrayal of the black community. It usually was (is) a strategic player in the witch hunt to depose black leaders, no matter who they were (are). Whether it was former Lt Governor Mervyn Dymally, the late Mayor Tom Bradley, former Police Chief, Willie…

“That One”: President-Elect Barack Obama And the Fulfillment of Unreasonable Expectations The day we all thought we’d never see became a reality this week as the nation took a major step toward racial reconciliation by entrusting the country’s government to a black man. President-elect Barack Obama, soon to be President Barack Obama – doesn’t that…

The day we’ve all been waiting for is less than a week away. There are times in our lives we will remember all of our lives. There are few dates in American history that represent watermark changes in American society. There are less than a dozen one can recall where a date can call up…

The most respected public figure in, or out, of American government endorsed Barack Obama this week. To even suggest that the endorsement of former Secretary of State, former National Security Adviser, former Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, the first African American to do any of the three and all of the three through three…

Much ado has been made over Georgia Congressman’s John Lewis’ statements about the nasty turn the Presidential campaign took at Republican rallies last week. From Palin saying Obama was “palling around with domestic terrorists, to Republican rally supporters calling the Democratic nominee “an Arab,” “a terrorist,” and calling for Obama’s death, shouting out, “Kill him!”,…

When Sarah Palin signaled to the “Bubba” vote that she was part of the “Joe six-pack” crowd – meaning she was just an average American seeking to represent the nation on the highest ticket in the land – during her debate with Joe Biden last week, it became obvious that this presidential campaign would no…

Watching the first presidential debate involving the first African American major party nominee was historic. But the aftermath was less than euphoric. By all accounts, Barack Obama won the debate. He was more “presidential,” whatever that means. To me, it means he was more confident, more detailed in his answers, more exacting in his critique…