After serving over 5 years in jail for a rape he didn't commit, ex-football prospect Brian Banks seeks to restart his life and an NFL career.

In 2001 Brian Banks was a budding NFL prospect at Polytechnic High in Long Beach, California.  Like most 16 year-old high schoolers he went one day to the local "makeout spot" with a fellow student.  Although they did not have sex and the meeting was consensual, Banks found himself charged with rape and facing a potential 41 years in prison.

15-year-old Chad Holley was punched and kicked over 30 times by 5 Houston police officers AFTER laying face down with his hands behind his head.  The Houston verdict today - acquittal.

In March 2010, 15 year-old burgulary suspect Chad Holley was running from police. After bing struck by a police car Holley fell down and immediately rolloed over on his stomach and put his arms out (palms down) signifying that he was no longer trying to evade police.  A few seconds later Holley folded his arms behind his head, again signifying to officers that he was ready to be taken in. 

Almost immediately after the 130-pound Holley folded his hands 5 police officers pounced on him and then the beating began.

Kelly Thomas, a 37 year-old, mentally ill and homeless man was beaten to death by Fullerton Police.  In the videotape of his beating he is heard screaming for his dad to help him and begging for his life.

On July 5, 2011, Kelly Thomas was approached by Fullerton California police at a local bus stop.  After attempting to search him and then sitting him on the curb for 20 minutes (without incident) the situation escalated and became physical.

(CNN) -- Marissa Alexander, a 31-year-old mother of three, is facing a mandatory 20 years behind bars. She had pinned her hopes for freedom on a motion for a new trial; that motion was denied Thursday in a Florida courtroom.

In late April, Alexander spoke to CNN as an inmate in the Duval County Jail in Jacksonville, Florida. "This is my life I'm fighting for," she said while wiping away tears. "If you do everything to get on the right side of the law, and it is a law that does not apply to you, where do you go from there?"

Superstar Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose and Knicks defensive stopper Iman Shumpert both see their playoff runs end after incurring ACL knee injuries.

In the first game of what was a potential championship run for the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose collapsed on the court; possibly ending the Bulls hopes for an NBA title.  With a little over a minute to go and the Bulls leading by 12 Derrick Rose drove through the lane, jumpstopped and landed on the floor in severe pain.  As he was helped off the court, it was later revealed that he had a torn ACL and would miss the rest of the playoffs.

George Zimmerman, gets $150,000 bail in the Trayvon Martin murder case

SANFORD, Fla. — Speaking publicly for the first time, George Zimmerman, the man accused of second-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, briefly took the witness stand at his bail hearing on Friday and apologized to Mr. Martin’s parents.

“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Mr. Zimmerman, 28, said in a soft voice as he took the stand with shackles at his feet and waist. “I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not.”

Pop Culture is nice and certainly can be interesting, but by definition it’s all style and little substance.  You read it, digest it and by tomorrow it’s forgotten.  It’s like substituting popcorn for your dinner every night.  Tastes good, but after a week you realize you’ve gotten no real nutrition. 

There’s a lot of pop culture on the web designed to keep you eating the popcorn every night.  On the other hand there are a host of African American blogs giving you the real meat and potatoes that will feed and nourish you.  Without further ado here is the new list of top black blogs 2012.

After 44 days of freedom George Zimmerman was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Earlier in the day Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey gave a news conference announcing the pending arrest and charge of Zimmerman who initially claimed self-defense in the shooting based on the controversial Stand Your Ground law.  At 8:30pm Zimmerman turned himself in to authorities at the Seminole County jail, where he was taken into custody.  It is expected that he will plead not guilty to the charges.

President Obama yesterday gave a scathing speech yesterday, blasting the Ryan Budget and the accompanying Republican future for America.  In the process he also took shots at Mitt Romney who endorses the Ryan Budget who at one point called it "marvelous". Many Democrats have been waiting for Obama to get tough and push back against Republicans for their policies and regressive vision of America.  After Obama's speech yesterday many Democrats now feel that Obama has gotten the message.

Michael Jordan today announces that he will return to the Charlotte Bobcats.  In a statement released this morning Michael said "Our team sucks so bad I just don't know what to do".  "Even at 50 I can still beat the bunch of scrubs on my own team!"

In a separate announcement Scottie Pippen said he will return to play with Michael.  When asked why, Pippen said "Wherever Michael go, I go too".  Read more of this amazing story below.