Criminal Girls with 20 Pearls – STORY HITS MAINSTREAM MEDIA!
Just remember…The Mo’Kelly Report broke this story. Broke it wide open. WEEKS ahead of every source below.
And just FYI, the story is now INTERNATIONAL NEWS!
UK Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5941198/President-of-black-sorority-Alpha-Kappa-Alpha-sued-over-expenses.html
Essence Magazine
http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/news/articles/akas_trying_to_boot_president_mckenzie
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/30/sorority.lawsuit/index.html
NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/29/us/AP-US-Sorority-Statue-Spat.html?ref=global-home
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/29/AR2009072902748.html
AOL News
http://news.aol.com/article/alpha-kappa-alpha-sues-president-over/595073
Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090729/ap_on_re_us/us_sorority_statue_spat
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/29/barbara-mckinzie-alpha-ka_n_247388.html
Chicago Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1690163,CST-NWS-aka29.article
NBC4/ MSNBC
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32187477
Washington Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/07/27/daily12.htmlT
USAToday
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/07/black-sorority-president-sued-over-900k-wax-statue.html
ABC7/Associated Press
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6938183
NBC Chicago
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Alpha-Kappa-Alpha-Sorority-President-Accused-of-Buying-900K-Statue-of-Herself.html
Black Legal Issues
http://www.blacklegalissues.com/Article_Details.ASPX?ARTCLID=76ae9ebdbd&cat=Legal
AND…
Revelations have surfaced that (then) Senator Obama DISSED the sorority while on the campaign trail…
http://scribe.doublex.com/blog/xxfactor/obama-gets-cranky-about-alpha-kappa-alpha
Hey…you can’t put this on Mo’Kelly. It’s what Barack Obama said…not Mo’Kelly. Send your hate mail to him instead this time.
The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com. Mo’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.



How does one get the story to Jet or the NNPA?
mlowe@jetmagazine.com Mira Lowe is the editor and she's familiar with me and my work.
Great work Mo.
Mo: Was the Ed Gray interview or the AP story what you promised was coming (Big green letters) or are we waiting for another shoe to drop?
No, there's something else coming. Ed Gray was a "part" of it…but not "it." There's something else looming that I can't really talk about until it happens. Let's just say that this Bizjournal article beat something else that was supposed to be coming down the pike.
It's interesting to see how this is turning out- not the story/case (which is an issue in itself)- but the reaction/response, excitement/celebration and promotion of this season for this sorority, especially from those in Greek organizations. I couldn't be excited or fan flames when ZPhiB was having her season and I can't imagine promoting (sending out emails and sitting around gossiping) this mess either. Just as it was with Z Phi B and as it is with AKA and as it has been with and will be with the other members of the "divine" nine, the facts should be stated, the taunting could be left out and the support could be kicked up a notch- especially AMONG Greeks.
Greekdom lost a whole lot more than it's processes and rites of passage. The mutual respect among Greeks is gone. ".itch-.ssness" is alive and well. It's all very exhausting.
That is all…carry on.
Thank you for contributing JustAnn…
There is a similar theme throughout all my series and a similar theme throughout all of their respective criticisms. The main criticism levied is that all of “this” (whatever the situation/organization) should have been kept “in house.” The discussion of such issues should not ever be done in the public space and to do so embarrasses the writer (me) and the organization.
That’s the main criticism or it’s some variation thereof…
Let me put this on the record so everyone who reads this is clear. If it could’ve been handled internally, there would have been no “reason” for 8 members to file in effect a class action lawsuit against the organization.
If it could’ve been handled “internally” you would not have the organization’s president routinely suing its own members simply because she wanted to stifle them from forming any collective dissent against her.
You can not have all these lawsuits going back and forth and also argue this is an “internal issue.” This is no more an internal issue than the 100 million dollar lawsuit levied against the organization for the wrongful death of the Ivies here in California some years back. Was that an “internal issue” too? Of course not…it’s a COURT PROCEEDING, not a plenary session.
The honus is on the organization(s) to handle their business internally…not on the media to not talk about it when it becomes public domain. These lawsuits are available in the court documents, nobody NEEDS the FOWI or The Mo’Kelly Report in which to find them. So point #1, you can’t sue each other back and forth and then have the dirty nerve to complain that it’s followed in the press or complain about “how” it’s mentioned in the press.
Such issues are not internal in nature.
Now, how you go about handling things in its wake, at your next Boule…absolutely an internal issue. If AKA votes new certain “constraints” to avoid such similar occurrences in the future…absolutely an internal issue. If Barbara McKinzie sues another one of AKA’s members or member of the media…absolutely NOT an internal issue.
Here’s a parallel:
Families fight all the time and how they resolve them is “an internal issue.” But the moment the parents divorce and engage in a custody battle…no longer true. The moment one parent goes too far and abuses a child or another parent is arrested on domestic violence charges…no longer an “internal issue.” Depending on if you’re a high-profile individual, the court proceedings will be reported in the media.
AKA can’t sue each other back and forth and then blame the media for acknowledging the obvious. You can’t walk around reminding everyone of your glorious 101 year history (read: high profile) and then expect everyone to shut up while the at least 6 lawsuits in the past two years fly overhead.
The MOMENT the courts become involved for any reason…it’s no longer an internal issue. The moment the IRS becomes involved, it’s no longer an internal issue. That’s the whole point of the courts, you’ve said “your honor, we can’t figure this out on our own…we need you to step in.”
If you think general media should not or will not comment on an organization where its members and leadership are suing each other back and forth almost monthly, you are a fool.
In terms of embarrassment, this is not a reflection on the whole of the organization only the few in which you wish to rid yourself of. Organizations are LAUDED for rooting out corruption, not standing idly by and remaining quietly complicit.
Also, if you think that the lack of media coverage helps the organization eventually deal with the mess…you are a fool. The lack of media scrutiny has ALLOWED this to progress so far out of hand. The internal checks and balances failed, THAT is why it’s come to this point. The external pressure of the media is what will SAVE the organization.
All this talk of being discreet is a specious argument in these situations. It’s like saying you don’t want to go to the doctor because you don’t want anybody to know you have cancer…and haven’t figured out that all of the homeopathic remedies in your medicine cabinet have not only failed, but allowed your cancer to grow and metastasize.
Hmm…maybe I should say that again.
You collectively can continue your misguided discussions about “your business in the street” or deal with the business at hand and save the organization. Your choice, but discretion doesn’t mean a whole lot when your organization is on the brink of extinction because you failed to deal with the monster before it became uncontrollable.
To all of my detractors, I don’t need you to like what I’m saying or doing. My hate mail flows daily and if you haven’t figured it out, I’m undeterred and unrelenting. The more you hate, criticize and threaten, the more likely I will continue the endeavor. Right is right and wrong is wrong. I will not stand silent in the face of this.
Your organization made all of this “public fodder” by suing members left and right. Go blame Barbara A. McKinzie for doing such a ridiculous thing. None of my posts are done to ridicule “the sorority” or “the Church” only to root out the criminals in each/both. Somebody’s gotta do it…might as well be me.
So let the hate mail flow…
Mo…you the MAN! Great work with the AKA postings.
Mr. Kelly
I hope you know that many of us are very saisfied with your comments about our sorority. We also know that attempts to handle it internally were squashed. Finally we know that documents are public records. So far I've seen nothing but high journalistic integrity from you. Thanks
Yvonne, I appreciate your comments and understand that there are those who support me, but sometimes those who "yell" the loudest try to drown out the others. Thank you for your support and I'm glad you understand the intent in which I've addressed this.
Respectfully,
Morris
Mo,
Thank you for everything that you're doing. Members tried for months to address our concerns via our internal process; however, the Board of Directors refused to listen to the membership. Alpha Kappa Alpha is a beautiful sisterhood and I will always remain true to the vows that I took over twenty years ago. However, in order for sisterhood to remain, we must remove the cancerous Directorate for their lack of leadership, loyalty and sisterliness.
As always, Mo'Kellz rocks!
It's also on MSNBC…go Mo':
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32187477/ns/local_new…
Mo, as a 4th generation member, I'm pissed that members of the organization are angry with you. Our leadership is a hot mess! We have made BAM and the others feel like demigods! My great-grandmother (a founder) is turning in her grave! How dare we sit back and allow that woman do that? We have countless black children starving, 900k for a wax image? Is the wax based on weight? Shame on any soror that is not pissed at Nationals! Are we all that stupid that we can be led to the slaughter? We need to clean house, put on our big girl panties and get rid of the cancer in all of our organizations. Our first obligation should be to community and service. To uphold our collective community of conspiracy and service to mankind, not to that slew of crooks. Mo' keep it up. Sorors, step up.
Alise Burke
Kudos to the ladies of this organization who are not sitting idly by and allowing this madness. The Zetas could learn from the proactive steps that these members are taking. Kudos again, ladies!
And coming up quite soon -- http://reynoldsrevelations.com/
Check it out?
Esbee, there's no need for the Zetas to learn from the proactive steps of the AKA's because Barbara Mc Kinzie was fired as executive director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in the 80's due to questions about money. What people need to learn is what's done in the dark will come to light. Also, let's stop bashing one another and show some love. We need pray, love and support to get through this scandal.
Ooh lawdy lawdy miss claudy, the poop has definitely hit the rotary blade fan. And dare we say it? Mo saw the hot, stinky mess before the rest. Two snaps and a "J" twist for your investigative Journalism that informed, infused, and incited meaningful discourse… and definitely entertained.
Pink ladies, this is so sad that I am weeping with you. My (friendly) AKA jokes are not even appropriate at this time. You WILL get thru this with the dignity you deserve – and your Greek sisters FEEL for you.
It's not about the organization -- it's about the personalities that rise to the top of them and the culture of silence.
In this day and age, people are not going to sit back and let waste pollute wonderful organizations like AKA. (And, for the record to those expousing more silence from loyal Greeks who were "made right" -- I was!)
Will someone please tell me where's Lynn Green's comments on her beloved sorority? She had so much to say about the Zeta's and I can't find any comments about her beloved sorority on her Blog. A quote from one of her write-ups on Hicktownpress about Zeta Phi Beta.
“I belong to the greatest sorority on earth and we don’t tolerate that type of nonsense.”
Let me reiterate…this is not a thread to discuss what does or does not get commented on at Hicktown Press. Please take that up with her on her blog. But to her point…it seems it's not tolerated given the grass roots movement afoot.
[...] get me wrong. I am not Mo’Kelly. I will not be doing any investigative journalism or original reporting. But I do believe I [...]