The Re-Invention of Michael Vick

Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick (#7)  in September 2009.
Photo Credit: Ed Yourdon/WikiCommons

I understand the contempt many people, especially dog lovers, still hold for Michael Vick. I, too, am a dog lover and was shocked and dismayed by Vick’s crime. Vick was convicted, served time, has come out of prison and done volunteer work- beyond what the court ordered- to educate young people about his mistakes so they could avoid them. In my book, he has– and is– paying his debt.

Vick has successfully rebuilt his professional football career.  He is enjoying-- what many analysts call-- a MVP level season as starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. There are many people who felt he should never be allowed to play again.  So, I am not surprised that many people feel that he should never be allowed near a dog again, let alone, own one.

In a recent interview with NBC News correspondent Mara Schiavocampo, Vick-- when asked-- admitted that he would like to one day own a dog again.  He told Schiavocampo that he felt it would be good for his rehabilitation. (Watch the interview.)

His response appeared spontaneous and sincere.  Despite that, many people--including popular commentator Roland Martin-- feel Vick should keep those thoughts to himself.  "This is NOT the time for @MikeVick to talk about wanting a dog," Martin wrote to me on Twitter.  "When you're walking a fine line, don't open a door for your critics. Keep it moving forward."

Authors to discuss "The Makings of a Man" on WFMV radio program

Jabari Price, Michael Holoman and Gerard Droze, authors of the recently released book "The Makings of a Man," will be guests on the next edition of "I-95 with Dawn Mills Campbell."  The public affairs radio program airs on Gospel 95.3 (WFMV-FM) this Sunday evening at 6:00 pm.  The program also will stream live on the WFMV website.

In “The Makings of a Man,” Price, Holoman and Droze explore manhood and offer their perspectives on how to achieve it from three distinct points of view.

For more information on the book or to purchase a copy, visit The Makings of a Man website.  Order by December 24th and receive free shipping.

COMMENTARY: The Polarizing "Palin Effect" in Politics

Former Alaska Governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will visit Columbia tomorrow as she continues to promote her latest book, America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag.  Books-A-Million is hosting a book signing for Palin at its Village at Sandhill store.  The event starts at 6:00 pm.

I'm no Palin fan so I was not among the people standing in line last night to get one of the 500 wristbands Books-A-Million distributed for Friday's event.  As I posted on my personal Facebook and Twitter pages, I drove past the book store on my way to a nearby Starbucks Coffee store and was amazed to see the ticket line stretching halfway around the store at 4:45 pm.  I'm not sure what time Books-A-Million started passing out the wristbands, but The State newspaper reported that by 5:30 pm, most of them had been distributed. I was SMH (Shaking My Head in Twitter language).   Even crazier, in my mind, was the fact that the newspaper r article also included this little tidbit:

"Sarah Palin fans began lining up Tuesday night about 10 p.m. at the Books-A-Million in Northeast Richland for the chance to meet the Republican star." Read the entire article.

I went from SMH to LMBO (Laughing My Butt Off)!!! Those folks need help and if they don't get it at Charter, I hope they get it somewhere. I would not spend a warm night-- let alone a cold one-- outside anyplace trying to get anything.

The discussion on my Facebook page was fairly quiet with all but one person choosing to comment agreeing with me.  The one dissenting comment came from Sonny Young-- who I do not know personally but, in the world of Facebook, is a "friend."

"A lot of you are still upset that you got your butts beat in the last election, wrote Young. "Wait until 2012."

Former Richland One Schools leader to be honored at fundraising dinner

Dr. John R. Stevenson

Dr. John R. Stevenson, former superintendent of Richland School District One, will be the honoree at the 2010 Elder of the Year Dinner staged by Africa’s Future-Umbuntu.  The event takes place on Friday, December 3rd.

Dr. Stevenson was the first African-American superintendent in Richland School District One history.  He served in that capacity from 1986 until his retirement in 1994.  He was later named superintendent emeritus in honor of his many years of outstanding service and distinguished leadership to the district.  The Richland Street administration building bears his name.

Africa’s Future-Umbuntu is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by Dr. Jerome Hanley of Columbia.  The mission of the organization is to improve secondary educational opportunities in Zambia, Cameroon and Ghana by providing school fees to children.

“American children have access to a free education,” said Hanley.  “That is not the case in many African nations.”  According to Hanley, who has visited West Africa several times, tuition for one child is often more than a family earns in a year.  Families with more than one child face difficult choices.  “Africa’s Future works to make education more affordable for the children who desperately want it,” Hanley said.

The Elder of the Year Dinner will be held at the Margarette H. Miller Center on Fontaine Road in Columbia.  Tickets are $30 and tax deductible.  For purchase information, call 803-216-0083.
The money raised at the Elder of the Year dinner will be used to further the organization’s mission.

Who: Africa’s Future-Umbuntu
What: Elder of the Year Dinner honoring Dr. John R. Stevenson
When: December 3, 2010
Where: Margarette H. Hiller Center
1509 Fontaine Road
Columbia, South Carolina
Time: 7:00 PM
Tickets: $30 (Tax Deductible)

World AIDS Day 2010

World AIDS Day events will be observed throughout South Carolina today, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"Free or low-cost rapid tests for HIV will be offered in many of DHEC's county public health departments and community-based agencies to mark World AIDS Day," said Janet Tapp, division director of DHEC's STD/HIV Division. "Community-based groups will offer events and candlelight vigils to raise awareness of HIV issues and remember those who have died from AIDS."

Tapp said the World AIDS Day theme for 2010, "Act aware: Stop AIDS – keep the promise," stresses the importance of learning the facts about HIV and taking personal actions to help prevent it and the stigma that comes from misinformation.

"In South Carolina, more than 14,000 people are known to be living with HIV/AIDS and we estimate that one new HIV infection occurs in the state every nine hours," Tapp said. "Every county in the state has residents living with HIV, but many South Carolinians remain unaware of their HIV status because they have not received an HIV test."