Lil Wayne, bound for New York's Rikers Island to serve a 12-month sentence for weapons possession. (Photo: Terry Richardson)

On Tuesday, New Orleans rap phenom Lil Wayne (born Dwayne Carter) will report to New York’s Rikers Island prison to begin serving a 12-month sentence for weapons possession. The sentence begins just one week after the release of Rebirth, the rapper’s oft-delayed/much-anticipated new album. Wayne, who originally pleaded not guilty to weapons possession, changed his plea to guilty back in October 2009 in exchange for a reduced sentence. The felony charge stems from a July 2007 arrest in New York City, when police found a .40-caliber handgun in his tour bus.

But what does a 12-month prison sentence mean for Lil Wayne? The answer is simple: More fame. More money. One step closer to pop-culture immortality.

If Wayne can survive incarceration, and emerge unscathed, it’s quite possible he will cement himself as a modern-day folk hero — mirroring the legacy of populist artists such as Johnny Cash (who never served longer than a night in jail), and more closely, the late Tupac Shakur. Already considered by many as heir to the throne of Tupac, prison may just be the bizarre rite of passage that tips the scales for Wayne, turning even more fans on to his music and larger-than-life public persona. In essence, Lil Wayne’s incarceration may be worth more than his freedom. continue »

Prior to last week’s State of the Union address, Princeton University professor, and longtime social activist, Cornel West released a video expressing his disappointment in President Obama’s lack of action on behalf of America’s poor and working class citizens. In the video, West invokes a firm tone: “Despite your brilliance, and despite your charisma, I’m disappointed when it comes to the fundamental question, which is a question of priorities, a question of urgency: How deep is your love for poor and working people?”

West’s question, which bluntly calls out Obama’s populist campaign platform, is followed by brief acknowledgment of the challenges he is faced with as president.

“You are in a tough situation, I understand that… but if you cannot keep alive the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Myles Horton and Dorothy Day and Cesar Chavez, in the states, and connect it to the empowerment of those Frantz Fanon called the wretched of the earth, you will end up just another colorful caretaker of an empire in decline, and a culture in decay.” continue »

Jordan Miles following his arrest. (Photo: Terez Miles)

Take a look at the photos of Jordan Miles, the 18-year-old CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) high school student allegedly beaten by Pittsburgh Police on January 11, and it’s impossible to ignore the signs of force used in his arrest. And while it is questionable whether this level of force was required to subdue a man of Miles’ size, the incident is now center stage, with community groups calling for action and formal investigations set to begin.

On Tuesday, the FBI announced it will investigate allegations that Miles’ arresting officers — Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte, and David Sisak — brutally beat the teenager:

FBI spokesman Jeff Killeen says the probe is in an early stage that will determine whether there’s “a potential violation of federal civil rights criminal laws” and the need for a more thorough investigation.

Killeen says the assessment has begun even though the bureau has not yet received a letter from Jordan Miles’ attorney formally requesting a criminal investigation. (via Associated Press)

Supporters hold "Justice for Jordan" signs during Tuesday's protest. (Photo: Post-Gazette)

And on the heels of the FBI announcement, public outrage played out on the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. Miles’ CAPA classmates, along with local activists and community leaders from groups such as The Black Political Empowerment Planning Council (B-PEP), marched from outside CAPA to the office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, where a public rally was held. More than 50 classmates from Miles’ school took turns publicly expressing their grief, frustration, and anger over the police beating of their friend and classmate: continue »

What a Franklin-Regional Middle School student's prank says about race relations in east suburban Pittsburgh schools.

Two weeks ago, a Franklin-Regional Middle School student arrived at a basketball game wearing an Obama mask and carrying an empty container of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The student came to cheer for his home team who was playing against Woodland Hills, a school district with a large black population (Approximately one percent of Franklin-Regional students are black, according to the AP). According to Emery D’Arcangelo, Superintendent at Franklin-Regional, the student was trying to make a joke but used poor judgment.

“Our administrators reacted immediately and handled the situation appropriately,” D’Arcangelo told the Murrysville Star last week. The Superintendent went on to say that the incident had been addressed according to district policy, but did not elaborate on punishment. Franklin-Regional Middle School’s assistant principal, Ron Suvak, contacted Woodland Hills officials and offered an apology on behalf of the district. continue »

Jordan Miles' badly bruised head and face after being arrested by undercover Pittsburgh police. (Photo: Terez Miles)

On the night of January 11, Jordan Miles, an 18-year-old violinist and honor student at Pittsburgh’s prestigious Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) high school, was allegedly beaten by three undercover Pittsburgh Police officers. Miles was reportedly en route to his grandmother’s house at the time, though he never reached his destination:

According to the police criminal complaint, three officers on undercover patrol in Homewood — Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak — spied Mr. Miles at 11 p.m. Jan. 11 by a house on Tioga Street. Seeing a heavy object in his coat, they identified themselves as police and ordered him to stop.

Mr. Miles ran and the officers shot him with a Taser and struck him several times during a struggle. The complaint says with “Miles’s having assaulted two police officers, believing that he was armed, unable to handcuff him, and Miles not following any commands, [Officers Saldutte and Ewing] began to deliver knee strikes to both sides of Miles’s body in an attempt to get his hands behind his back … At this point Ofc. Sisak delivered 2-3 closed fist strikes to Miles’ head/face with still no effect.” continue »