Even though Black and Latino people are significantly less likely to develop melanoma and other forms of skin related cancer, when they do contract the illness, it is often much worse than when contracted by those that do not have as much melanin.

Cases taken from the state of Florida, one of the sunniest states and home to significant Black and Latino populations, showed that 1,148 Hispanic and 254 Black cases respectively were among the 41,072 medical situations involving melanoma.

“The simple message is that even though Blacks and Hispanics are at lower risk, they can still get melanoma,” explained vice chairman of dermatology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center located at the University of Miami, Dr. Robert Kirsner, to media. “There seems to be a lack of awareness, so they're diagnosed at a later stage.”

41,072 cases of melanoma were entered in Florida's statewide cancer registry between 1990 and 2004, of which, the majority (39,670) was comprised on non-Hispanic white patients.

The trauma associated with this disease is often unbearable for some and totally intolerable others; for both groups, hope is on the way, manifesting itself in the form of a new groundbreaking procedure that might obliterate an ailment for which there used to be little to no aid.

A joint effort by members of Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health have developed a new bone marrow transplant method that is designed to be less painful and invasive yet more effective than its predecessors.

Nine of ten patients have been cured using the new method thus far.

Adults that display severe cases of the disease could not undergo treatment due to it proving too harsh a process for them.

Currently 2 million Americans, 1 in 12 Black Americans, carry the trait that causes Sickle Cell. 1 in 500 and 1 in every 1,000 Black and Hispanic births are to a child that has the disease.

To date, 200 children have been cured of Sickle Cell Anemia due to the new treatment method.

Several members of Denver's white citizenry were brutally attacked as they ventured into the downtown area.

The attacks were caught on tape, and all of the men featured were captured; still, authorities had no idea what type of monster they were facing.

In candid confessions, all of the captured suspects revealed that they specifically targeted white men, using the beating as a rite of passage into many of the cities gangs or for more survivalist reasons such as for money .

Usually one member of the group would shout “it smells like white people” or “I hate fu**ing white people” before commencing with the attack.

Around three dozen affidavits were given to over 36 gang members that are believed to have been involved in the attack.

After studying more than 250 Black adolescents, all of whom hail from stereotypical Black surroundings, researchers discovered that raising youths' feelings regarding ethnic pride around the 7th and 8th grades, resulted in significantly higher mental health while raising their self-esteem above the norm.

This finding proves that having a firm grasp of one's racial identity, and allowing them the opportunity of knowing “who” they are, is a vital tool in the achievements and sustenance of a healthy mental capacity.

The research also proved that knowledge combined with a positive outlook of one's racial identity served as a strong buffer against depression for boys.

“These findings imply that ethnic pride is important to African-American adolescents' mental health for other reasons than it simply makes them feel better about themselves as individuals,” said associate professor of human development and social policy at Northwestern Jelani Mandara, in the November/December issue of Child Development Health Journal. “These findings also imply that ethnic pride may be as important as self-esteem to the mental health of [Black] adolescents.”

All it took was one study to pinpoint a serious issue that has been plaguing the Black community since we were brought here centuries ago. For those who feel that we should get over the “fleeting” effects of a practice long gone, well, they obviously cannot know what it is to be robbed of one's entire heritage.

As a people, we are still reeling from a system that still has a grasp on us, and though it may not be as obvious as the overseer's whip or a Jim Crow-Segregation Era lawman, the traps and perils are still there to complete the same goals that existed before.

If you don't know your history, you are bound to repeat it, so let's educate one another in an effort to achieve the greatness that has eluded us as a collective people.

We are Americans, but we must never forget WHO we are, or from whence we came.

2010: Immerse yourself in Black History…not just for a month, but daily. Make your ancestors proud!

Gay rights activists have taken an unprecedented step in revealing some of histories most polarizing figures little secrets, namely, that they were all apart of the lesbian, gay, or bisexual community.

A controversial article has many, especially those in the Black community, highly pissed off.

A writer for British newspaper, The UK Guardian, is asserting that revolutionary and Black activist, Malcolm X, engaged in a myriad of gay, sexual relationships and was bisexual.

Peter Tatchell gives “credence” to his claim by citing unreliable second-hand sources, claiming that members of Malcolm's family and several Black activists have worked tirelessly to cover his homosexual relationships while keeping the media unaware of the “full spectrum” of his sexuality.

Tatchell even pointed to instances, cited by other misguided writers, of accounts putting the Black Liberation and civil rights icon in a dress!

There is no doubt that everyone has secrets, but this man (and everyone else who has added to this nonsense) should feel the shame of one million liars for attempting to tarnish the name of a man that played a huge role in the securing of our rights as Black Americans.

Malcom X served as the fiery sword to Martin Luther King's dove; his work has never truly been appreciated in mainstream society, but he is appreciated and idolized by those who are benefiting from his contributions to a legendary movement.

One of our most proud Black leaders does not need to have his legacy besmirched, added to annals of unspoken, discredited Black leadership, all because one man is mad that he can't "marry" his old roommate from college.

The struggle by Black Americans for Civil Rights is not the same as the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) fight for the "right" to marry, and I am sorry for those that believe they are related in any way.

Bottom line, Malcolm X was an imposingly powerful and brilliant man in life, and he has surpassed legendary status in death. No man can take that away from him. Peter Tatchell is the worst kind of scum bucket, bottom-feeding, troglodyte resembling trash!

As*hole. . .

Nearly 28.4 million Americans partake in the Department of Agriculture's federal food stamp program for low-income families.

That figure allowed the federal agency to calculate that nearly half of all, and 90% of Black children, will use the colorful coupons during childhood. The same organization has also speculated that the current economic state of America's economy will likely drive those figures significantly higher.

A study by Thomas Hirschl of Cornell University, that made use of surveys conducted between 1968 to 1997, found that 49% of all children have utilized food stamps before their 20th birthday. Astonishingly, only 37% of white children were counted as having used the program at that time.

“The current recession is likely to generate for children in the United States the greatest level of material deprivation that we will see in our professional lifetimes,” remarked Dr. Paul Wise, a pediatrician at Stanford‘s Medical Facility.

A study conducted by the CDC earlier this year also revealed that one-third of Black Americans are clinically obese. That is nearly 36% of the all Black citizens, more than any other ethnic or racial group.

In its latest wild goose chase, the Bucks County, PA chapter of the NAACP has called for severe disciplinary action for one middle school teacher.

Matthew Curran, an eighth-grade math teacher at Lenape Middle School, has found himself at the mercy of a laughingly, mighty civil rights juggernaut after assigning students, what some are deeming, as “racist” math homework.

The lesson, solving equations using multiplication and division, seemed normal enough; the uproar actually surrounds a picture on the assignment, which is of a scruffy, unshaven, Black man donning a straw hat, with his mouth open wide, exposing a lack of teeth. Under the picture, a caption reads ”NO WAI!!!”

Parents of the offended Black student, Lanape's principle, Nick Chubb, and NAACP president John Jordan met to discuss the picture which the organization has publicly denounced as being “insulting” and “disparaging” in nature.

“I believe the meeting was productive, and we're working toward a resolution,” said Chubb to the media.

The group settled on “consequences” for the teacher and racial sensitivity training for all staff members.

It is safe to say that this entire ordeal was nothing less than a superior lesson in how to waste time, effort, and energy properly.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People…

A 21st century joke. . .

Calvin Stephens, chairman of the beleaguered party's Dallas chapter, has acknowledged the organization's demise.

“It kind of dissipated,” remarked Stephens. “The enthusiasm we had before, all the momentum doesn't exist now.”

Stephens was successful in swaying several business oriented, conservative voters to the party prior to President Obama's historic victory, but has found the same goal seemingly unachievable since.

“I don't mind taking on challenges, but I'm not crazy.”

Now it is up to Jonathan Neerman, chairman of Dallas County's GOP, to step in and save the social-cancer stricken party from destruction at the hands of a diversity impoverished status quo.

“I am appalled,” said the Topeka Democrat of the video in a written statement. If opossum is the other dark meat, what is the original dark meat he is referring to? …It is only logical to presume that Otto was making reference to the President's race…

Otto dons a baseball hat with the words “Opossum, the other dark meat” scribbled across the front  while criticizing President Obama and his political agenda.

“I have attempted to ignore Bill Otto's behavior in the past because I do not believe he is taken seriously by most Kansas legislators in either party, but his latest video crosses the line…. Bill Otto is an embarrassment.”

Otto is notorious for trying to disband the Kansas African-American Commission as well as remarking to an Black staffer about shooting Secretary of Health and Environment hopeful, Rod Bremby.

Merced County Police Department of Merced County California has tasked their Internal Affairs Division with investigating the incident which saw two police officers, both white, taze the wheelchair-bound man.

Williams, who was recently released from jail, adamantly maintains that he was never aggressive toward the either of the arresting officers and that he did not resist arrest. Naturally the “official” account of things differs greatly from the story that Mr. Williams has given.

A police report from Merced P.D. reads that John Pinnegar and Sergeant Rodney Court attempted to reason with Williams before any action was taken. After subduing the 40-year-old man, both officers noted that Williams was uncooperative to their demands, also noting that he outright refused to relinquish his two year old daughter to Merced County Child Protective Services.

The most painful moments in the ordeal may have come after the actual pain subsided. Williams was allegedly left outside, handcuffed on the pavement, nude from the waist down. A video clip taken by a neighbor verifies his claims. He also maintains that his shoulder was injured in the arrest limiting mobility in his wheelchair.