In today’s top news, family, friends and fans pay their last respects to Etta James, GOP members are going crazy over “Captain Obama” and 400 are arrested at Occupy Oakland.

Etta James is laid to rest. [BET]

One GOP candidate depicts Obama as captain of a slave ship. [BET]

…And another RNC chairman compares him to the captain of the wrecked cruise ship Costa Concordia. [CNN]

400 arrested at Occupy Oakland. [LATimes]

President Obama tells colleges to lower costs. [BET]

U.N. chief tells African leaders to respect gay rights. [AFP]

The Help wins big at SAG. [AP]

Street art is Egypt’s latest revolution. [MSNBC]

Native Americans in South Dakota sue state for being edged out of early voting. [100R]

Report: Blacks and Latinos eat more sugary cereal. [BET]

Read on for the top stories circulating the web, from the latest on American casualties in Kabul to the next phase of Occupy Oakland.

Thirteen Americans killed in Kabul car bomb. [Wall Street Journal]

Lesbians in South Africa say they are victimized by men who believe they can “cure” their sexuality by raping them. [CNN]

Texas Gov. Rick Perry opposes Confederate license plates [USA Today]

U.S. playing greater role in African battles. [Black America Web]

Occupy protests in Oakland test mayor. [New York Times]

From the first major injury reported since the Occupy Wall Street movement began to the resurgence of  “birther talk” among President Barack Obama’s opponents, catch up on the most talked about headlines from around the web.

Occupy Oakland: Iraq vet critically injured by police projectile. [Mercury News]

EU heads locked in talks on debt. [BBC]

So wrong! Teacher accused of dragging, choking 6-Year-Old. [News One]

Snow blankets Denver area — after 80-degree day. [MSNBC]

Priests ignite trafficking feud. [Daily Beast]

Don’t expect end of GOP’s birther talk. [Black America Web]