Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, PhD

Manhood, in the black community, is defined in many ways. The more mature contextual definitions are fatherhood, “Bread winner,” protector, role model. The more immature definitions are “Gangsta,” “Playa,” “Pimp,” “Dog” (anything but a “Man”). One of the rarest definitions of black manhood is “healthy.” Black men often confuse physique with health. They tend to…

Forty years ago last week, one of America’s saddest and most shameful episodes concluded with the assassination of the single most significant leader in America’s history. Save Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, no individual had a greater impact on the race question in America. Certainly in the 20th Century, no individual sought to challenge the…

The nation grew a little bit last week, when Democratic Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama, give a speech on race unlike any this nation has ever seen. In the very week America thought it had discovered the bone in Obama’s closet that would derail his run for the Presidency, Barack kicked down the door of the…

Watching the Democratic Party play out the politics of relative engagement with Hilary Clinton (relative engagement is when an engagement fits the engager – and nobody else), is like watching a camp fire (where the party is all warmed and huddled) turn into a forest fire (where everybody’s running for their lives). What should be…

The issue that makes America – the beautiful to some and Amerikkka – the hated in the eyes of many others, has finally come to the forefront. Race is America and America is (and always has been about) Race. While race (and gender) has tried to be subordinated to the politics of hope and change…

The media “spin” has been absolutely incredible since Hillary Clinton’s “comeback” wins last Tuesday in Ohio and Texas. Can somebody explain to me how a net four (4) gains in delegates represents a comeback? Never mind that Barack Obama is still between 110 and 150 delegates ahead (depending on whose estimate you believe). Never mind…

Based on that one statement, both Russert and Clinton (sensing an opening) called on Obama, not just to denounce AND reject Farrakhan statements but Farrakhan himself. Obama “conceded the point,” clearly an uncomfortable moment watching him get twisted on someone who has huge street cred in the black community. They then turned to Obama’s personal…

Though we know the Republican “right-wing” conspiracy is still out there, and the so-called “progressive” Democrats with passive-aggressive racial tendencies, who vote Republican when convenient, are still out there – you get the impression that many white Americans are prepared to be fair and do what’s right (two adjectives that can be rarely used to…

The current issue is always free to everyone Every time I hear Republican Candidate John McCain refer his party as the “Party of Lincoln,” I wince. It is probably one of most factually inaccurate references in politics today. In fact, if you were to measure it against some of the biggest lies ever told, it…